Four Quick and Easy Steps to Reading an Inch Micrometer

Using four basic questions to get the thousandths reading on an inch micrometer.
What is the range? 0:08
What is the largest number visible on the sleeve? 1:05
How many lines are visible after the number? 1:50
What number aligns on the thimble? 2:29

[@ptonfire1]

Thx brother... Great teaching. Its been 6 years im catching up.

[@keithe2784]

This is SO helpful. Thank you!

[@marko1314]

Perfect explanation - Thanks

[@YerBrwnDogAteMyRabit]

Thanks man, this helped. 'Preciate it.

[@delbertsmith5229]

KISS. Keeping it simple. Love this. Great video 😊

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

Thanks! That is what my shop teacher, Mr. Leinbach, always said too. KISS - Keep it Simple (Stupid). And if I recall, he is the one who taught me to read a micrometer with this same method.

[@big_swervoyoutube6673]

bro you are a blessing wish you was my professor right now

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

Thanks so much for the feedback! I was very fortunate to have great teachers along the way and just passing along some of what I was taught.

[@Savingyourmoney-qu5qt]

Thank you sir. It was the best explanation 👏

[@waleedahmed6129]

Good teaching style

[@billylun9634]

Thankyou very much I learned a lot how to read a inch micrometer .

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

I am glad it helped!

[@joshblock1063]

I’ve been all over TH-cam looking for a comprehensive video on how to read a micrometer and this was by FAR the best!! Thank you so much!

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

Thanks for the positive feedback and I am glad to hear it was a help. You are welcome!

[@krishnabholan7913]

Thank you

[@Nograp]

Thanks

[@nickayivor8432]

Thanks 👍

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

You're welcome 👍

[@JCcanU]

turn it and read the 10ths marking 0.0001 to 0.0009

[@Theorangeman.]

What are the horizontal lines at the top for please

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

They are for reading one more decimal place; to the "ten thousandths" place. Most mechanic work does not require precision beyond the "thousandths or third decimal place" but some more precision work such as engine rebuild might require that. To read those lines, simply select which number on the sleeve aligns with one of the horizontal lines on the spinning thimble. Which ever number is aligned, that is what gets written in the 4th decimal place. (Hint: The number will always be a 0-9) I hope that helps!

[@Theorangeman.]

@@JimMackHeavyEquipment thanks for your input, yes it makes sense

[@zan3409]

thank you becuase my class is required to use those lines.@@JimMackHeavyEquipment

[@twoprcentmilk5795]

Ok so I have a 2-3 mic. The biggest number I see on the sleeve is 9 and that’s where the thimble stops. No lines after the 9 and the number on the thimble that lines up with the centre line on the sleeve is 8 so would that be 2.908? Anyone know?

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

Going by what you said it sounds like that would be reading 2.908" but that is a bit surprising to me. I find it a bit surprising that there would be no lines after the 9 on the sleeve. I have seen micrometers (for rotors) that measure from .3 to 1.3 but I have never heard of anything like what you are describing. Are you sure the micrometer is not just stuck and not opening up more?

[@ddd42809]

This is a good explanation. But I think this is missing one final step if you want to get that last .0001" of precision. You need to look at the long horizontal lines and choose the one that most closely lines up with the smaller horizontal lines on the indicator.

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

You are absolutely correct, to read to the .0001" you would add that fifth step. I didn't include that intentionally in this video because many of my students struggle reading just to the thousandths place. I am considering making another video to go over how to read to the ten-thousandths for those high-precision tasks like engine work.

[@khureh5569]

Where did you get the 1.000 from

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

In the first photo @ 0:41 , it shows that the micrometer is a 1 to 2" range. That means everything we measure will start with 1.000 and go up from there.

[@getwidit855]

The 1.000 lost me

[@tzboy2603]

Where you did you get the six from

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

I assume you are referring to the "6" in the third decimal place, or thousandths. This came from adding the .075 plus .001, which creates .076. (1 +5 =6). I hope that answers your question.

[@tzboy2603]

Thank you

[@kellysmith6704]

Very well done. I would just add something about the vernier scale.

[@JimMackHeavyEquipment]

@@kellysmith6704 Yes, I totally understand. I might make a second video that shows some more precise measuring and include the vernier scale. When we teach it to our students we teach this method the first year and then add the vernier the second year when they get into measuring engine parts. I found breaking it up that way seems to really reduce the amount of confusion.

[@zirk2211]

A little bit complicated after metric micrometers, but nothing to do only need to learn it.