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How to Read a Dial Indicator

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Last Updated: January 3, 2021 References
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Dial indicators can be used to check round parts like wheels for straightness and are
commonly used in machine shops. While the dials may seem confusing at first, they’re
easy to read once you understand what they mean. It’s easy to read a dial indicator if
you calibrate your dial indicator, understand the parts of a dial indicator, and take a
measurement.

Part
1 Calibrating Your Dial Indicator

1 Mount your dial indicator on a stand. Your dial indicator should have an
attachment that you can use to secure it to a stand. The stand will
stabilize your dial indicator while you take your measurements.[1]
If you do not have a stand, it is still possible to calibrate your dial indicator,
but it will not be as easy.

2 Turn the outer dial face until the hand points to 0. The outer dial face
can be moved by twisting the rim of the dial. Spin the outer face until the
hand hovers over zero. Your calibration measurements will ensure that the
dial indicator does read measurements starting at zero.[2]
If you discover errors, you will be able to correct for them by readjusting
the outer face so that the hand hovers over the zero point.

3 Begin displacing your spindle. Stop at every 1/10 measurement to

calculate errors. Continue to check for errors at 1/10 measurements for
the first two revolutions of your dial.[3]

4 Check for errors at half revolutions. For the next five revolutions, stop
at every half revolution to calculate for errors, rather than at the 1/10

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Do not let go of the spindle because you will need to check for errors in
the reverse.

5 Begin to reverse your revolutions. Follow the same error-checking

procedure, but in reverse. Check the measurement at each of the same
points, so for the first five revolutions you will stop at the half revolution to
measure. Then check the measurement at the 1/10 marks for the remaining
two revolutions.[5]

6 Take five measurements of the same item. Displace the spindle five
times using the same surface. Move the spindle quickly for some
measurements and slowly for others. Write down each of the five
measurements to check for deviations. Because you’re measuring the same
surface repeatedly, each measurement should come out the same if your dial
indicator is ready to use.[6]
If your dial indicator is showing errors, adjust the outer face and clean the
spindle. Dust can accumulate on the spindle and cause issues with taking
measurements. Repeat the calibration process until there are no errors.

Part
2 Identifying the Parts of a Dial Indicator

1 Look at the faces on your dial indicator. The hands will move when you
press the spindle at the bottom of your gauge. The outer face, which can
be turned by twisting the outer rim of the face, takes the smaller
measurements, usually in one-thousandths. The inner face, which is small
and stationary, keeps track of the number of revolutions.[7]
Some dial indicators may have more than one face. If yours does, consult
the instruction documents for more information about the extra faces.
Your manufacturer will also print the range of measurements on either
your dial indicator or the instructions that come with it. They commonly
measure from .001-1.0 inch.

2 Measure how long your spindle is. The spindle extends from the
bottom of your gauge and is used to take the measurements. To take a

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3 Identify the measurement marks. You should see 100 marks on the
larger face that represent .001 inches. The length of your spindle and
number of revolutions that the hand makes on the larger face when the
spindle is fully inserted will determine how the marks on the small face are
measured.
For example, if you can insert your 1-inch long spindle for 10 revolutions,
then each revolution measures .1-inches.[9]

Part
3 Taking a Measurement

1 Press the spindle against the item to be measured. To take a

measurement, you will need to displace space on your spindle. Align the
base of the spindle with the item to be measured. Push the dial indicator
against the item, counting the number of revolutions made to double-check
your accuracy. Hold the gauge in place to take your measurement.[10]

2 Count the marks displaced on the small gauge. Depending on how

your small gauge is labeled, it could count just your revolutions or track
the measurement. Take down the number of revolutions or the measurement
itself if it's printed on the gauge.[11]
If the dial indicator did not make at least one revolution, then skip to
reading the large gauge because the small gauge only matters if the
indicator makes at least one full revolution.

3 Calculate the measurement. If your small gauge shows revolutions or

does not provide a clear measurement, take the number of marks
displaced and multiply it by the length that is represented by one
revolution.[12]
For example, if one revolution equals .1-inches, then you would calculate
three marks on the small gauge as 3 X .1=.3-inches.

4 Count the marks displaced on the large gauge. The big outer face
should be marked with 100 notches. Most dial indicators will be labeled at

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example, it may completely circle once and then land on the notch next to
30. Remember to add the calculations from both the small and large
gauges.[13]

5 Calculate the measurement. Remember that the larger gauge

represents a smaller measurement, so while the small gauge might
measure in tenths, the outer gauge measures in thousandths. If the hand is
pointing at 30, then it means 30 thousandths.[14]
To calculate the measurement, divide the number by 1,000. For example,
30/1000=0.030-inches.

6 Add the two calculations together. Take both the small gauge and large
gauge measurements and add them together. In the examples above,
you'd have 0.3+0.030=0.330-inches. This is your reading from the dial
indicator.

Community Q&A

Question

Which part is the main scale in a dial gauge?

Community Answer

The outer face, which can be turned by twisting the outer rim of the face,
which takes the smaller measurements, usually in one-thousandths. The
inner face, which is small and stationary, keeps track of the number of
revolutions.

Question

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Community Answer

No. 0.30 would be 3 on the small dial and 0 on the large dial. If you are
getting a reading of 0 on the small dial and 30 on the large dial, the reading
would be 0.030.

Tips

Use a mount when it’s possible.

Keep careful track of your revolutions, especially when the inner face circles
multiple times because it can get confusing.

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References

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
3. https://www.mitutoyo.co.jp/eng/products/menu/QuickGuide_Dial-Indicators.pdf
4. https://www.mitutoyo.co.jp/eng/products/menu/QuickGuide_Dial-Indicators.pdf

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8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A
14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrRcEg0NB9A

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