- 1). Examine the flat, parallel faces of the vernier caliper's jaws for any dirt or residue. Clean all debris from the caliper jaws prior to use.
- 2). Lay the object being measured on a flat surface. If possible, also lay the vernier caliper flat on the surface. Laying the object and the caliper flat help to avoid misalignment of the object in the caliper's jaws.
- 3). Open the jaws of the vernier caliper until one jaw lays on either side of the object.
- 4). Slide the vernier caliper's jaws shut until they gently touch both ends of the object being measured. Ideally, the object should lay flush against the caliper's jaws, and the object should be level and parallel between the caliper's jaws.
- 5). Tighten the locking screws along the top of the vernier caliper to lock the caliper's jaws in place.
- 6). Remove the object from the caliper. The jaws should stay immobile.
- 7). Locate the vernier scales on the caliper. As the caliper jaws moved, a vernier scale traveled with them along the base scale of the caliper.
- 8). Read the number on the main scale that lays opposite or just to the left of the "0" on the vernier scale. This is the first part of your measurement.
- 9). Identify which line on the vernier scale most closely aligns with a main scale line. This value finishes the measurement. For calipers using English values, the vernier scale represents .001-inch, while the vernier scale on metric calipers are often in millimeters.
- 10
Add the value of the number opposite the "0" mark and the value of the best-aligned vernier scale marking together. For example, if the "0" measures at 1.24 inches, and the "7" mark aligns best on the vernier scale, the final measurement is 1.247 inches.
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