Thanks so very much for this outstanding block of instruction. Yup, I finally got it, especially the ten thousandths part. I recently got a micrometer and was having issues understanding the vernier scare. You made my day. I'm 75 years old, retired military with lots of time to play. Looking forward to buying a metal lathe and putting this knowledge to use. My wife just smiled . Thanks again... Ken Bartlett Marina CA
Thanks for taking the time to explain how to read a micrometer in such plain everyday terms. This is my third time to watch this particular video and I'm always amazed at how simply some things can be explained! Thanks for taking time out of your life to share these videos. Paul
Forty-eight years ago in Metals Technology One is where I met Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis had to suffer through two years with me, but the skills I learned then still serve me well today at 63. He taught me how to arc weld, gas weld and braze, bend sheet metal, rivet, spot weld, run a lathe, a horizontal mill, a shaper, grind lathe tools and so much more... He didn't teach me how to read a mic though as I had already learned that skill in the part-time job I had at a local machine shop. Only classes I got an A. Old Shop teacher rock!
My industrial arts teacher showed me this technique in the ninth grade and I used it to teach my ninth grade students. It works well by applying a concept they are familiar with. Thanks for watching. Tom
I got my first Lufkin mic from my grandpa, so I gues that's what got me interested in them. I collected them over the years and now have an entire tool box full of nothing but Lufkin tools, many of them NOS. I don't live far from Saginaw, so there is lots of Lufkin stuff in the area as well as on eBay. My latest addition to the collection is a couple of bricks from the old factory, given to me by another Lufkin collector. Glad you enjoyed the video. Tom
My 9 year old grandson wanted to know how to read a micrometer so I dug your video out and he got it immediately. In fact, your video taught me how to read a micrometer a few years ago. I hope you will again post your super informative machining videos. Looking forward to learning from them.
You are welcome. My high school machine shop instructor taught me that technique and I've passed it on to many others over the years. Glad you enjoyed the video. Tom
Absolutely. Genius. I was taught micrometers in shop class in the early 90's. It was a real struggle to understand the measurements I was getting. Almost 30 years later and this makes complete sense...or cents, as you put it! Thank you!
I can't take credit for the concept. It's how I was taught by my high school shop teacher and I used it when I taught shop in the 70's. Glad you enjoyed it. Tom
Thank You. I have been trying to learn how to read a Micrometer from a text book and just couldn't get it. A few minutes from your video and it is so simple now. Thanks again.
EXCELLENT!!.. I like your analogy to Pennies, quarters and Dollars!!.. makes it so easy to understand!! Thank YOU.. and congrats on your Dollar Ingenuity Concept!.. a clear winner!
Im Australian, we dont have quarters or pennies or use imperial measurement anymore since the early 70s, but i could still understand you perfectly! Thankyou for a clear explanation.
Very nice technique, Tom. Every instructor needs to develop analogies, as some students clue in best that way. The best instructors have several for each topic so they can say the same thing in different ways. You never know which way will flip which "light switch," so having a bag full is really helpful!
I've watched a couple of your videos, in fact I searched the micrometer one out because I could see that the one in the screenshot for that vid showed a vernier mike. Your videos appear to me to be informative and accurate, and I will watch more when I have more time. Best wishes from me.
Great videos Tom! I am just teaching myself how to use my new mill and lathe. I wish you could come over and work in my garage with me! Your videos have proved to be very valuble answering the questions that seem too simple to ask! Thank you!
Wow. I've been using micrometers for a while and your explanation just cut my calculation time down significantly. Why didn't I think of the loose change idea?? Great!!
very cool im always confused with the last micrometer,i almost always go with the first one but now im going to use it more often after your explanation. thanks Tom Denis
Not to be overly dramatic here butni have to tell you THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Currently enrolled in fast-track styled manufacturing class at the local community college. 5 month worth of clases compressed onto 12 weeks. I graduate Monday. Not to be a braggart, but for the most part, I'd like to think I'm somewhat intelligent. I get A's on all my math exams. But for some reason I could not get this damn micrometer! Dial calipers are fine. Vernier calipers, no problem. But you put that godawful micrometer in my hand, I was completely lost. My instructor even took time to stay after class for 2 days to try walk me through how to read this friggin instrument. And I just couldn't get it! I read the instructions carefully in my book I still couldn't get it. The "how-to" would soak in just a little bit. But by the next day, nothing! I'd completely forgotten how to read it. Left standing there with a blank look on my face lol. Randomly came across your video few days ago and EVERYTHING immediately clicked! I decided to wait a few days before posting this comment to make sure that I fully understood the concept without having to come back to your video for a refresher. Didn't need to refer back to your video, not even once. I'm showing this video to my instructor. He regularly plays TH-cam videos on the smart board as a learning aide for the class. A couple of us struggled with the mic. But no one struggled nearly as bad as I did. If your video was able to make reading a mic easy for me, it'll definitely help out others in future classes. So again, thanks big time! I plan on a career in the NDT inspection field. Got a couple interviews lined up for entry level NDT. But if I can't even read something as simple as a mic, I felt like I might as well quit. Not so much anymore. 👍😊
+Wray D Wow, that brings back memories. I learned to use a slide rule in college, but then calculators came out and I never touched it again. Glad you enjoyed the video. Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for this video... I always used to read the "dollars" first, but from now on I will read the "pennies" first. Somehow it seems easier that way.
thanks so much..really helpful..... I have a question ? Im measuring a watch mainspring and the thickness read 1 then 6 Cents... so that would be 1.06 ? then i multiplied that by 25.4 then divided by 1000 to get measurements in MM.. is this ok?
This is neat! I'm in my first week of a machining class for aerospace manufacturing and the book is confusing the hell out of me. Tutorials are more efficient for learning.
Tutorials are a better way to learn IF you actually follow along and do the work yourself. Just watching the tutorial won't do it. It's good to hear that you enjoyed the video. Tom
Thank you Tom. Every once in a while, I have been ask what are those things. Meaning my micrometers. I always say they are instruments for very precise measuring. Accurate to 1 thousands of a inch. Then i proceed in showing them how to take a reading. Which always seems to zoom over there head. I know its not them, but my terrible explanation of how to add up the graduations. The changes method you described is so simple. Its almost like, why didn't I think of that. Thanks again .
Very nicely done video, you have done a great job of breaking it down so it is easily understood. I did find one error, you stated there are "4" divisions between each set of numbers. I believe there are only "3" 25/50/75, I understand what you are trying to say but some starting out might be confused. Thanks Brad
Brad. I think mentioning that there are three dividing lines between the tenth marks would be even more confusing. Pennies, quarters and dollars make it all pretty easy to comprehend. Thanks for watching. Tom
Just a thought... What if You used a scriber to actually point at the magic numbers You're talking about - as You say the numbers? Would've made the whole thing a lot easier to follow.
Paul Duvigneaud Thanks Paul. I was taught this method my machine shop instructor and I used it when I taught industrial arts. It has always been well received. Tom
I'm in the UK so I'd need pence and pounds!! We have no nickels and dimes, quarters or bits!! Anyway, nice tutorial good camera work and narration. I've just bought a beautiful condition pre-owned Mitutoyo metric mic with a vernier scale....millimeters divided into thousandths! Man thats going to be damn interesting to read when I get it in the post next week.
On a standard 1000ths of an inch, 1"-2" or 3"-4" scale micrometer (not Vernier) do you just add the scale size of the micrometer before the decimal, while still using the "pocket change" correlation? And if the spindle (the pennies) lands between two "pennies", do you just add a 5 (half) at the very end of the measurement?
+CaptHarpoon Yup. For a 1-2. you add 1 and for a 2-3 you add 2. You can indeed interpolate for in between thousandth readings. The vernier scale on a tenth reading mic just makes it easier. Tom
Hi Tom - super useful video however my students and I noticed an error. At the 5:00 mark you state that we see 21 pennies, but we notice 23 pennies showing. Great strategy for students to learn what can be a confusing operation.
No. You're wrong and he is correct. What Tom forgot to explain is that on the tenths micrometer the increments are 5-tenths of a mil (i.e. half a penny). So it's 20 plus 3 set of .5 which is 21.5 mils. Then add the .3 of the vernier and the 450 on the barrel you get 471.8 mils or 0.4718 inches.
I was taught the same Pocket Change concept, but in reverse of your version. Instead of 21 pennies plus 2 quarters plus 3 dollars, start at the larger denomination. 3 dollars 50 cents plus 21 cents. - Measure that bug that's crawling around on your bench..:-)
Sorry Tom but how do you get .0001-.0009 readings on the Etalon? E.g. .4781, .4782, etc...if adding .0005 to the vernier? This is where I get hung up with Etalons, adding the vernier scale marks.I suspect it has something to do with the thimble marks, long or short. The "little bit over" past zero can either be added to the vernier as .0001 or .0005", depending on which line is past zero, yes?
The Etalons are a bit confusing because they are slightly different, but the only difference is that 5 of the ten vernier marks have been replaced by an extra shorter mark between the thousandth marks on the thimble. When you decide how many tenths to add to your reading, just determine whether the zero mark on the barrel is before or after the shorter half thousandth mark on the thimble. If before, you add 0-5 tenths to the reading, if after you add 5-10 tenths, depending on which of the 5 vernier marks line up with a division on the barrel. Once you get used to the difference, the Etalons are much quicker and easier to read. Hope this helps. Tom
Thanks Tom, that clears it up. I've been using my Etalons just as you describe, but after reading more on these mics, I got a little confused. I own 3 Etalons, they're really the most accurate mics I've seen.
There are 25 divisions on the thimble (thousandths or pennies), and 21 of them are showing past the 8 (tenths or dollars) division on the barrel. Eight tenths (.8") plus twenty one thousandths (.021") makes a reading of .821". If you are having trouble visualizing this, you should watch the video again in its entirety.
I see the confusion. On mics that measure .001, the thimble has 4 marks to the next number. The Etalon has 9 to the next number which makes those lines .0005. Theyre trying to count them as a .001 mic. and itll be wrong every time. Count every other line as a normal mark or .001 which is 21.So my question on the Etalon mic. On other side of the Vernier, what are the little slit marks on back side of spindle? I think I seen 3 of them. Is that to limit the movement from expansion / contracting or.....?
The five spaces between numbers on any thimble each represent .001". The Etalons have an additional mark half way between, representing .0005", which reduces the vernier marks on the barrel from ten to five. This makes it much easier to interpret the .0001" increments on the vernier. Tom
Tom, No disrespect here, but could you do a couple more of these on the vernier scale. Seems to be a ton of confusion and we need remedial training. Thanks for the Videos!
I could, but the reality is very few, if any novices have the need for a tenth reading micrometer. Measuring to that precision requires quality, well maintained machinery, a healthy dose of skill and experience, plus controlled (temperature) conditions. There has been some confusion regarding the vernier scale on the Etalon micrometer, because it is outside the norm, so if anything I would re-shoot this video using a different micrometer. Thanks for watching. Tom
Good video! I've got a very old Lufkin 1" Pre mat finish on the thimble and barrel... Mine only has paint in the recess around the brand and patent pads. The brand on mine is The Lufkin Rule Co. Saganaw Mich. Made in U.S.A. No. 1911 Anyway nice method for the upstarts! :o] O,,,
OK, I Think maybe some of the confusion is because all of the numbers aren't shown on the Vernier scale. Would you always add the additional .05 to the measurement when using this scale? I think I understand, just want to be sure! Thanks for the educational video..
With this particular brand of micrometer (Etalon), .0005" is added when the line on the barrel is more than halfway to the next division on the thimble.
I guess equating .1" to a dollar and .001" to a cent might help some students quasi-understand the concept, because they already have the concept of US currency. But I think that kind of cheats them of actually understanding. Show them the screw of a micrometer. Show them a .100" gage block (or 10 of them). Show them a .025" shim (or 4 of them). Show them a .001" shim and .010" shim. Then show the blocks and shims next to the screw.
Learning by association is a common and effective teaching strategy. I used this same technique to teach ninth graders in the 70's and it was highly successful. No one left my industrial arts class not understanding how to read a micrometer. Tom
To really mix it up use a Vernier caliper. My dad taught me how to read mic's and Verniers when I was a kid. When I was working many years later I took a Vernier caliper to work and used it to measure something on the lathe. I tried to teach others how to read it but they were totally lost. I guess they were spoiled by dial calipers at the time (early 1970's). I wish I had thought of the dollar concept.
Oh yeah since this is a learning video (I don't know if you're sentimental)... The reason I'm proud of my 1" Lufkin, is because it was handed down to me by my mentor who was old and very experienced, and a great teacher! I also have a similarly old Lufkin inside mic set up to 6". LOL I was young then, but am now old decrepit and retired! :o] O,,,
I too have several Lufkin tools in the old S&K machinist's chest downstairs, all older than we are. Starrett this and Mitutoyo that... I'll take a good Lufkin any day.
Yes, Lufkin was the best. I just wish that I would have had a chance to tour the factory in Saginaw before it shut down. I did acquire a couple bricks from it from another collector that I'm using as book ends for my catalogs. My ultimate goal is to find a Lufkin tool chest to house my collection. Tom
+Toms Techniques Lufkin gages, HOT DAMN, YES! LOVE IT. Also, VERY GOOD INSTRUCTION. This is how I taught myself in the day. Also applies to "VERNIER" calipers and several others.
Yup. Lufkin tools have always been my favorite. I only wish I had visited the factory years ago when they were still in business since it was only about an hour and a half away. Nothing left there now but a vacant lot. Tom
i keep getting .4713 I thought when adding the vernier you have go four decimals over.0003. making .400+..050+.021+.0003. making the number on the vernier the last number on your reading. Am i wrong with this thought if so i need to talk to my teacher. i am confused thank you for the video.
+bruce jobe On the Etalon micrometers, the vernier has five lines instead of ten (I explain that pretty thoroughly at 4:00 on the video), so the divisions on the thimble have an extra line between them to compensate. That's where your .0005" discrepancy is coming from. Tom
Tom, Thanks... I love all your videos. I must be blind. I count 3 tick marks past 20 not one. making it .4738 If I'm wrong ... can you show me what .473 looks like?. HELP
+Mando Manf The long tic marks on the thimble represent .001". The short ones represent .0005". When you say three tic marks past twenty, you must mean .0015" past the 20, which would make the reading .4715, plus the .0008" on the vernier scale, for a reading of .4718". To make it read .473", the thimble would read .023", or the third long tic mark after 20 (4 dollars+2 quarters+23 cents). Hope that helps. Tom
Not sure what your point is, but it sounds like you might be forgetting the fact that Etalon micrometers have a .0005" mark between each .001" mark on the thimble, hence the .4718 reading instead of .4713.
Where did the number 21 come from? Wish You could point at the actual lines when You mention them. Then, You would've been a master teacher. Now, You're only an expert micrometer reader. I used to know this, but Your explanation confused me.
Sorry, Tom! We don't have those type of money here - SO I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! I see several others in here, that are as frustrated as I am. You made a very interesting video very bad, when You started rushing through the most important parts. I've watched it again and again and again, over the last couple of months. Still confused! BTW, I do know how to use and read a micrometer - so no need to teach me that! I just wanted to have a look at Your approach...That's all.
Erling, In this video, I use U.S. currency as an aid in understanding how to read a micrometer, graduated in Imperial units. If you are unfamiliar with U.S. currency and/or Imperial units, this is probably not a good video for you to use. I thought about doing a similar video for micrometers using metric units and some other form of currency, but that is all unfamiliar to me, so it hasn't happened and probably won't happen for a while. Sorry for any frustration you may have experienced. Tom
Erling Weiseth think of the second shortest as .001 and the most shortest line as the half mark in between that number. the thimble pasted past .020, so the next line would be 20.5. the larger line would be 21. so what would the next be..... u guessed it, 21.5. then add what ever number is on the vernier scale which is 3 to that 5 which gives u 8.
The thimble has 25 divisions (the longer lines) and 21 of them are showing past the zero line. Add that to the 2 lines showing past the 4 (quarters) and add that to the 4 (dollars), which equals 21+50=71 cents plus 4 dollars, or .471, plus the .0008 that is showing on the vernier scale (.0005+.0003), or .4718. Tom
You weren't paying attention Brian! :) Watch the section starting at 3:58, where I explain how those divisions on the thimble for Etalon micrometers represent .0005" increments and why they did it that way. Tom
Etalon uses a vernier that is numbered from 0 to 5, so it doesn't wrap around the barrel so far. Consequently, there is and extra mark between each thousandth division on the thimble. That's where the extra .0005" came from. I hesitated to use the Etalon as an example for that very reason, but it's such an excellent micrometer that I couldn't resist. I'll probably re-make the video at some point showing a mic with a ten division verier as well. Or maybe I won't include tenth reading micrometers at all because they are basically overkill to the novice machinist. Tom
On the Etalon micrometer, each thousandth division on the thimble is divided into two .0005" parts so only five vernier lines are required on the barrel instead of ten.
Your video is fine, no doubt about. But I do not understand why they use Imperials units in the US until today. It is not fail-save because it is not linear and terrible to read from the analog micrometer.
oh darn i thought i understood until you got to 21...you were methodical at the beginning and then just rushed thru the end without thorough explanation
Go back and review the section at 3:55 and you'll find that the divisions on the thimble of an Etalon micrometer represent .0005" increments, which should account for your confusion. Tom
Probably the same reason Great Britain uses miles on their street signs, sells ale in pints and weighs themselves in pounds; tradition. Most of our automotive and scientific industries are now metric, but pretty much everything else is imperial.
Thanks so very much for this outstanding block of instruction. Yup, I finally got it, especially the ten thousandths part. I recently got a micrometer and was having issues understanding the vernier scare. You made my day. I'm 75 years old, retired military with lots of time to play. Looking forward to buying a metal lathe and putting this knowledge to use. My wife just smiled .
Thanks again...
Ken Bartlett
Marina CA
Thanks for taking the time to explain how to read a micrometer in such plain everyday terms. This is my third time to watch this particular video and I'm always amazed at how simply some things can be explained!
Thanks for taking time out of your life to share these videos.
Paul
MrMarcaap
Thanks for watching Paul. It's good to hear that the videos are helping.
Tom
Forty-eight years ago in Metals Technology One is where I met Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis had to suffer through two years with me, but the skills I learned then still serve me well today at 63. He taught me how to arc weld, gas weld and braze, bend sheet metal, rivet, spot weld, run a lathe, a horizontal mill, a shaper, grind lathe tools and so much more... He didn't teach me how to read a mic though as I had already learned that skill in the part-time job I had at a local machine shop. Only classes I got an A. Old Shop teacher rock!
Thank you thank you thank you. Not for me but for all the people I have to teach to read a mic. This is the simplest no nonsense way of describing it.
My industrial arts teacher showed me this technique in the ninth grade and I used it to teach my ninth grade students. It works well by applying a concept they are familiar with.
Thanks for watching.
Tom
I got my first Lufkin mic from my grandpa, so I gues that's what got me interested in them. I collected them over the years and now have an entire tool box full of nothing but Lufkin tools, many of them NOS. I don't live far from Saginaw, so there is lots of Lufkin stuff in the area as well as on eBay. My latest addition to the collection is a couple of bricks from the old factory, given to me by another Lufkin collector.
Glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom
My 9 year old grandson wanted to know how to read a micrometer so I dug your video out and he got it immediately. In fact, your video taught me how to read a micrometer a few years ago. I hope you will again post your super informative machining videos. Looking forward to learning from them.
You are welcome. My high school machine shop instructor taught me that technique and I've passed it on to many others over the years. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom
Absolutely. Genius. I was taught micrometers in shop class in the early 90's. It was a real struggle to understand the measurements I was getting. Almost 30 years later and this makes complete sense...or cents, as you put it! Thank you!
I can't take credit for the concept. It's how I was taught by my high school shop teacher and I used it when I taught shop in the 70's. Glad you enjoyed it.
Tom
Thanks. I've always enjoyed showing that technique to people and watching the look on their face when they "get it". Glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom
Thank You. I have been trying to learn how to read a Micrometer from a text book and just couldn't get it. A few minutes from your video and it is so simple now. Thanks again.
EXCELLENT!!.. I like your analogy to Pennies, quarters and Dollars!!.. makes it so easy to understand!! Thank YOU.. and congrats on your Dollar Ingenuity Concept!.. a clear winner!
Thanks, but I can't take credit for the analogy. I was shown it by my shop teacher in high school. I guess it left a lasting impression. :)
Tom
Im Australian, we dont have quarters or pennies or use imperial measurement anymore since the early 70s, but i could still understand you perfectly! Thankyou for a clear explanation.
Thanks Tom, You took all the fog away on how to read a Mic. Great information as usual.
+Mark Wynn
I always enjoy showing people that method and the look on their face when it clicks. :)
Very nice technique, Tom. Every instructor needs to develop analogies, as some students clue in best that way. The best instructors have several for each topic so they can say the same thing in different ways. You never know which way will flip which "light switch," so having a bag full is really helpful!
I cannot explain how much this helped me finally get this idea you saved me from doing badly on this part of my practical exam I thank you man
Good to hear. The technique definitely makes cents. ;)
Thanks Denis, I'm glad it cleared up some of your confusion about a tenth read mic.
Tom
I've watched a couple of your videos, in fact I searched the micrometer one out because I could see that the one in the screenshot for that vid showed a vernier mike.
Your videos appear to me to be informative and accurate, and I will watch more when I have more time.
Best wishes from me.
Thanks for watching
Excellent Donald. Think how much more productive you'll be with all that extra time.
Glad you enjoyed the demo.
Tom
Great videos Tom! I am just teaching myself how to use my new mill and lathe. I wish you could come over and work in my garage with me! Your videos have proved to be very valuble answering the questions that seem too simple to ask! Thank you!
No question is too simple to ask.
Glad you are enjoying the videos.
Tom
Love those light bulb moments.
Thanks,
Tom
This was brilliant! I never knew it was like dollars, quarters and cents! this helped me pass my class thank you very much!
You are welcome Bill. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom
Thanks! Glad you got something out of the video. Either approach will work, this just happens to be the way I was taught years ago.
Tom
Thanks Brian, I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Tom
Wow. I've been using micrometers for a while and your explanation just cut my calculation time down significantly. Why didn't I think of the loose change idea?? Great!!
Money makes everything better. :)
This was very helpful and intuitive. Thanks for uploading/ sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Great video for all enthusiasts of machining related concepts. Thanks for the public service!
Thank you for watching!
And for taking the time to comment.
Tom
No problem!
Thank you sir. It was very helpful. It helped me a lot in my metrology and Quality Control Practicals.
very cool im always confused with the last micrometer,i almost always go with the first one but now im going to use it more often after your explanation.
thanks Tom
Denis
OMG Thank you! I have watched a number of demos and thought I was completely stupid because I did not understand. You made this EASY!
That is good to hear!
Thanks Ken, I love to hear about the light bulb moments. That's what makes it all worthwhile. Time to get that lathe and start making chips.
Tom
Not to be overly dramatic here butni have to tell you THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Currently enrolled in fast-track styled manufacturing class at the local community college. 5 month worth of clases compressed onto 12 weeks. I graduate Monday. Not to be a braggart, but for the most part, I'd like to think I'm somewhat intelligent. I get A's on all my math exams. But for some reason I could not get this damn micrometer! Dial calipers are fine. Vernier calipers, no problem. But you put that godawful micrometer in my hand, I was completely lost.
My instructor even took time to stay after class for 2 days to try walk me through how to read this friggin instrument. And I just couldn't get it! I read the instructions carefully in my book I still couldn't get it. The "how-to" would soak in just a little bit. But by the next day, nothing! I'd completely forgotten how to read it. Left standing there with a blank look on my face lol.
Randomly came across your video few days ago and EVERYTHING immediately clicked!
I decided to wait a few days before posting this comment to make sure that I fully understood the concept without having to come back to your video for a refresher. Didn't need to refer back to your video, not even once.
I'm showing this video to my instructor. He regularly plays TH-cam videos on the smart board as a learning aide for the class. A couple of us struggled with the mic. But no one struggled nearly as bad as I did. If your video was able to make reading a mic easy for me, it'll definitely help out others in future classes.
So again, thanks big time! I plan on a career in the NDT inspection field. Got a couple interviews lined up for entry level NDT. But if I can't even read something as simple as a mic, I felt like I might as well quit. Not so much anymore. 👍😊
Good to hear. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thank you....I had forgotten over the years
Yes, it's much easier to understand a concept when you can associate with something you are already familiar with.
That just hit the spot for this old man. Thanks
You are very welcome.
I have never even held a micrometer, and I would bet that I could take an accurate reading (of 1/1000's) because of this video! THANK YOU!
Thanks Ron, I'm glad you liked it.
Tom
Great video, reminds me of using my slide rule where I would interpolate between the lines to get reading.
THANKS
Wray
+Wray D
Wow, that brings back memories. I learned to use a slide rule in college, but then calculators came out and I never touched it again. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom
I like that! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Tom, thanks for this video... I always used to read the "dollars" first, but from now on I will read the "pennies" first. Somehow it seems easier that way.
This is the best one i have seen!
thanks so much..really helpful..... I have a question ? Im measuring a watch mainspring and the thickness read 1 then 6 Cents... so that would be 1.06 ? then i multiplied that by 25.4 then divided by 1000 to get measurements in MM.. is this ok?
Thank You. That's a lot of help.
Excellent. Thanks for watching.
Great videos!
You are a gentleman and a scholar :)
This is neat! I'm in my first week of a machining class for aerospace manufacturing and the book is confusing the hell out of me. Tutorials are more efficient for learning.
Tutorials are a better way to learn IF you actually follow along and do the work yourself. Just watching the tutorial won't do it.
It's good to hear that you enjoyed the video.
Tom
thank you! i have been getting into machining as a hobby and was given a couple micrometers but had no idea how to read the darned things lol
Knowing how to use your tools is always a good thing!
Thanks for watching.
th-cam.com/video/YOk0FRQlc3c/w-d-xo.html
Thank you Tom. Every once in a while, I have been ask what are those things. Meaning my micrometers. I always say they are instruments for very precise measuring. Accurate to 1 thousands of a inch. Then i proceed in showing them how to take a reading. Which always seems to zoom over there head. I know its not them, but my terrible explanation of how to add up the graduations. The changes method you described is so simple. Its almost like, why didn't I think of that. Thanks again .
Glad you could use it.
Tom
This was really helpful, great video 👌
Thanks!
Very nicely done video, you have done a great job of breaking it down so it is easily understood. I did find one error, you stated there are "4" divisions between each set of numbers. I believe there are only "3" 25/50/75, I understand what you are trying to say but some starting out might be confused. Thanks Brad
Brad.
I think mentioning that there are three dividing lines between the tenth marks would be even more confusing. Pennies, quarters and dollars make it all pretty easy to comprehend.
Thanks for watching.
Tom
Just a thought... What if You used a scriber to actually point at the magic numbers You're talking about - as You say the numbers? Would've made the whole thing a lot easier to follow.
Great video!! The best example well explained. As soon as you related to money the like went off.
Paul Duvigneaud
Thanks Paul. I was taught this method my machine shop instructor and I used it when I taught industrial arts. It has always been well received.
Tom
Would have loved to have been taught by you, but I guess I just did. Great video.
+EndTheTrendNow
Thanks.
It is definitely be more fun to teach face to face, but a video lesson is better than nothing. Glad you enjoyed it.
Tom
Perfect thanks Tom!
Thanks for watching
Nice explanation, very easy to remember......now you got me looking for an Edlelan !!
Nicest mic you'll ever use.
Etalon
1st day in "machining" class micrometer was beating me up---Thanks for making understandable!
Laura Peacock
It's always easier to learn something new when you can relate it to something you already know.
Thanks for watching.
Tom
I'm in the UK so I'd need pence and pounds!! We have no nickels and dimes, quarters or bits!! Anyway, nice tutorial good camera work and narration.
I've just bought a beautiful condition pre-owned Mitutoyo metric mic with a vernier scale....millimeters divided into thousandths! Man thats going to be damn interesting to read when I get it in the post next week.
Genius, thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching
Thanks for this video! Now I know how to read one of these things.
Yup. If you can make change, you can read a micrometer.
Glad you enjoyed the video.
Tom
I loved woodshop. This stuff makes me wish I took metalshop too.
What do you mean? This IS metal shop. It's never too late to learn a new skill.
Tom
Thank you 🎀
Freaking brilliant. Thanks.
Thanks for watching.
On a standard 1000ths of an inch, 1"-2" or 3"-4" scale micrometer (not Vernier) do you just add the scale size of the micrometer before the decimal, while still using the "pocket change" correlation? And if the spindle (the pennies) lands between two "pennies", do you just add a 5 (half) at the very end of the measurement?
+CaptHarpoon
Yup. For a 1-2. you add 1 and for a 2-3 you add 2. You can indeed interpolate for in between thousandth readings. The vernier scale on a tenth reading mic just makes it easier.
Tom
+Toms Techniques Thanks Tom. Your video simplified reading the micrometer a great deal
LOVE your old LUFKIN mic.
I wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately they literally don't make them like that any more.
Tom
Thanks for that!!
Love your videos
Thanks
Hi Tom - super useful video however my students and I noticed an error. At the 5:00 mark you state that we see 21 pennies, but we notice 23 pennies showing. Great strategy for students to learn what can be a confusing operation.
No. You're wrong and he is correct. What Tom forgot to explain is that on the tenths micrometer the increments are 5-tenths of a mil (i.e. half a penny). So it's 20 plus 3 set of .5 which is 21.5 mils. Then add the .3 of the vernier and the 450 on the barrel you get 471.8 mils or 0.4718 inches.
awesome, thank you sir
You are welcome!
Ok, I totally new to this. Can you point with a pencil on the second and third scale?
Ok, I'm pointing. Can you see it?
wow that was really usefull cheers Tom
Thanks, Nigel.
thanks for making the video.
Love the money reference
2:27 EUREKA!!!!!!!! MOMENT In aviation school in Las Vegas rn. Thanks!!!!
I was taught the same Pocket Change concept, but in reverse of your version. Instead of 21 pennies plus 2 quarters plus 3 dollars, start at the larger denomination. 3 dollars 50 cents plus 21 cents. - Measure that bug that's crawling around on your bench..:-)
Is it a bug or an inch worm?
Toms Techniques Who knows, it might be a .999 inch worm! Only one way to find out
Sorry Tom but how do you get .0001-.0009 readings on the Etalon? E.g. .4781, .4782, etc...if adding .0005 to the vernier? This is where I get hung up with Etalons, adding the vernier scale marks.I suspect it has something to do with the thimble marks, long or short. The "little bit over" past zero can either be added to the vernier as .0001 or .0005", depending on which line is past zero, yes?
The Etalons are a bit confusing because they are slightly different, but the only difference is that 5 of the ten vernier marks have been replaced by an extra shorter mark between the thousandth marks on the thimble. When you decide how many tenths to add to your reading, just determine whether the zero mark on the barrel is before or after the shorter half thousandth mark on the thimble. If before, you add 0-5 tenths to the reading, if after you add 5-10 tenths, depending on which of the 5 vernier marks line up with a division on the barrel. Once you get used to the difference, the Etalons are much quicker and easier to read.
Hope this helps.
Tom
Thanks Tom, that clears it up. I've been using my Etalons just as you describe, but after reading more on these mics, I got a little confused. I own 3 Etalons, they're really the most accurate mics I've seen.
Hi Ken can point out to me where did you get 21 penny so many lines in the thimble
There are 25 divisions on the thimble (thousandths or pennies), and 21 of them are showing past the 8 (tenths or dollars) division on the barrel. Eight tenths (.8") plus twenty one thousandths (.021") makes a reading of .821". If you are having trouble visualizing this, you should watch the video again in its entirety.
I see the confusion. On mics that measure .001, the thimble has 4 marks to the next number. The Etalon has 9 to the next number which makes those lines .0005. Theyre trying to count them as a .001 mic. and itll be wrong every time. Count every other line as a normal mark or .001 which is 21.So my question on the Etalon mic. On other side of the Vernier, what are the little slit marks on back side of spindle? I think I seen 3 of them. Is that to limit the movement from expansion / contracting or.....?
The five spaces between numbers on any thimble each represent .001". The Etalons have an additional mark half way between, representing .0005", which reduces the vernier marks on the barrel from ten to five. This makes it much easier to interpret the .0001" increments on the vernier.
Tom
Tom, No disrespect here, but could you do a couple more of these on the vernier scale. Seems to be a ton of confusion and we need remedial training. Thanks for the Videos!
I could, but the reality is very few, if any novices have the need for a tenth reading micrometer. Measuring to that precision requires quality, well maintained machinery, a healthy dose of skill and experience, plus controlled (temperature) conditions.
There has been some confusion regarding the vernier scale on the Etalon micrometer, because it is outside the norm, so if anything I would re-shoot this video using a different micrometer.
Thanks for watching.
Tom
Thank you, this old thing got it.
Excellent
Good video! I've got a very old Lufkin 1" Pre mat finish on the thimble and barrel... Mine only has paint in the recess around the brand and patent pads. The brand on mine is The Lufkin Rule Co. Saganaw Mich. Made in U.S.A. No. 1911 Anyway nice method for the upstarts! :o]
O,,,
OK, I Think maybe some of the confusion is because all of the numbers aren't shown on the Vernier scale. Would you always add the additional .05 to the measurement when using this scale? I think I understand, just want to be sure! Thanks for the educational video..
With this particular brand of micrometer (Etalon), .0005" is added when the line on the barrel is more than halfway to the next division on the thimble.
I guess equating .1" to a dollar and .001" to a cent might help some students quasi-understand the concept, because they already have the concept of US currency.
But I think that kind of cheats them of actually understanding.
Show them the screw of a micrometer. Show them a .100" gage block (or 10 of them). Show them a .025" shim (or 4 of them). Show them a .001" shim and .010" shim. Then show the blocks and shims next to the screw.
Learning by association is a common and effective teaching strategy. I used this same technique to teach ninth graders in the 70's and it was highly successful. No one left my industrial arts class not understanding how to read a micrometer.
Tom
Or you can just get a digital Mitutoyo ;)
Thanks for the video though! Very informative and needed to be made!
+ben_r_
No batteries required!
Thanks for watching.
Tom
To really mix it up use a Vernier caliper. My dad taught me how to read mic's and Verniers when I was a kid. When I was working many years later I took a Vernier caliper to work and used it to measure something on the lathe. I tried to teach others how to read it but they were totally lost. I guess they were spoiled by dial calipers at the time (early 1970's). I wish I had thought of the dollar concept.
Correction on last comment. I see what we missed. Thimble increments are broken into halves and sleeve vernier counts to 5. Teachable moment!
Oh yeah since this is a learning video (I don't know if you're sentimental)... The reason I'm proud of my 1" Lufkin, is because it was handed down to me by my mentor who was old and very experienced, and a great teacher! I also have a similarly old Lufkin inside mic set up to 6". LOL I was young then, but am now old decrepit and retired! :o]
O,,,
I too have several Lufkin tools in the old S&K machinist's chest downstairs, all older than we are. Starrett this and Mitutoyo that... I'll take a good Lufkin any day.
Yes, Lufkin was the best. I just wish that I would have had a chance to tour the factory in Saginaw before it shut down. I did acquire a couple bricks from it from another collector that I'm using as book ends for my catalogs. My ultimate goal is to find a Lufkin tool chest to house my collection.
Tom
+Toms Techniques
Lufkin gages, HOT DAMN, YES! LOVE IT.
Also, VERY GOOD INSTRUCTION. This is how I taught myself in the day. Also applies to "VERNIER" calipers and several others.
Yup. Lufkin tools have always been my favorite. I only wish I had visited the factory years ago when they were still in business since it was only about an hour and a half away. Nothing left there now but a vacant lot.
Tom
i keep getting .4713 I thought when adding the vernier you have go four decimals over.0003. making .400+..050+.021+.0003. making the number on the vernier the last number on your reading. Am i wrong with this thought if so i need to talk to my teacher. i am confused thank you for the video.
+bruce jobe
On the Etalon micrometers, the vernier has five lines instead of ten (I explain that pretty thoroughly at 4:00 on the video), so the divisions on the thimble have an extra line between them to compensate. That's where your .0005" discrepancy is coming from.
Tom
Tom,
Thanks... I love all your videos. I must be blind. I count 3 tick marks past 20 not one. making it .4738 If I'm wrong ... can you show me what .473 looks like?. HELP
+Mando Manf
The long tic marks on the thimble represent .001". The short ones represent .0005". When you say three tic marks past twenty, you must mean .0015" past the 20, which would make the reading .4715, plus the .0008" on the vernier scale, for a reading of .4718". To make it read .473", the thimble would read .023", or the third long tic mark after 20 (4 dollars+2 quarters+23 cents).
Hope that helps.
Tom
Hmmm I thought once you get to the venier scale in this case it was 3, that all you do is put 3 at the end of your answer?? But you added. Hmmm 🤔
Not sure what your point is, but it sounds like you might be forgetting the fact that Etalon micrometers have a .0005" mark between each .001" mark on the thimble, hence the .4718 reading instead of .4713.
Where did the number 21 come from? Wish You could point at the actual lines when You mention them. Then, You would've been a master teacher. Now, You're only an expert micrometer reader.
I used to know this, but Your explanation confused me.
I get .4623?
That is incorrect. Watch the video again. :)
Sorry, Tom! We don't have those type of money here - SO I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!
I see several others in here, that are as frustrated as I am. You made a very interesting video very bad, when You started rushing through the most important parts. I've watched it again and again and again, over the last couple of months. Still confused!
BTW, I do know how to use and read a micrometer - so no need to teach me that! I just wanted to have a look at Your approach...That's all.
Erling,
In this video, I use U.S. currency as an aid in understanding how to read a micrometer, graduated in Imperial units. If you are unfamiliar with U.S. currency and/or Imperial units, this is probably not a good video for you to use. I thought about doing a similar video for micrometers using metric units and some other form of currency, but that is all unfamiliar to me, so it hasn't happened and probably won't happen for a while.
Sorry for any frustration you may have experienced.
Tom
Erling Weiseth think of the second shortest as .001 and the most shortest line as the half mark in between that number. the thimble pasted past .020, so the next line would be 20.5. the larger line would be 21. so what would the next be..... u guessed it, 21.5. then add what ever number is on the vernier scale which is 3 to that 5 which gives u 8.
Where the hell you getting 21?
The thimble has 25 divisions (the longer lines) and 21 of them are showing past the zero line. Add that to the 2 lines showing past the 4 (quarters) and add that to the 4 (dollars), which equals 21+50=71 cents plus 4 dollars, or .471, plus the .0008 that is showing on the vernier scale (.0005+.0003), or .4718.
Tom
@@TomsTechniques well if you used metric all would be much much easier....
All of my machines and tools are imperial, so I doubt using the metric system would be much easier.
@@TomsTechniques its ok...the only ones left on the planet, right?
actually Liberia and Myanmar still do. Just saying ;)
unfortunately I ultimately must ask myself. Am I as smart as a 5th grader? thx for this one, finally learned how to read it
Thanks, I've always like this method.
Tom
So how was that 21? It was 23.....right?
You weren't paying attention Brian! :)
Watch the section starting at 3:58, where I explain how those divisions on the thimble for Etalon micrometers represent .0005" increments and why they did it that way.
Tom
Got it! Thanks! Great educational video!
I got .4713. where you get the extra .0005
Etalon uses a vernier that is numbered from 0 to 5, so it doesn't wrap around the barrel so far. Consequently, there is and extra mark between each thousandth division on the thimble. That's where the extra .0005" came from. I hesitated to use the Etalon as an example for that very reason, but it's such an excellent micrometer that I couldn't resist. I'll probably re-make the video at some point showing a mic with a ten division verier as well.
Or maybe I won't include tenth reading micrometers at all because they are basically overkill to the novice machinist.
Tom
Toms Techniques I understand it now, though I didn't get it at first. These are the micrometer I wanted to read
list count kya h
Huh?
I'm reading it as .4713 what am I doing wrong?
In other words, I don't understand why you added .0005 to .0003
On the Etalon micrometer, each thousandth division on the thimble is divided into two .0005" parts so only five vernier lines are required on the barrel instead of ten.
@@TomsTechniques I get it now. Thank you for the quick response!
Ok Mom.
Your video is fine, no doubt about. But I do not understand why they use Imperials units in the US until today. It is not fail-save because it is not linear and terrible to read from the analog micrometer.
Let's just not go there, Justin.
oh darn i thought i understood until you got to 21...you were methodical at the beginning and then just rushed thru the end without thorough explanation
Go back and review the section at 3:55 and you'll find that the divisions on the thimble of an Etalon micrometer represent .0005" increments, which should account for your confusion.
Tom
I'm quite surprised that America uses the Imperial measuring system, since they have (and have always had) a Decimal currency system.
Probably the same reason Great Britain uses miles on their street signs, sells ale in pints and weighs themselves in pounds; tradition. Most of our automotive and scientific industries are now metric, but pretty much everything else is imperial.
@@TomsTechniques But the UK has only quite recently gone Decimal.
America, by comparison, has always been Decimal.