How to Read a Metric Dial Indicator
Some people feel trepidation when faced with a metric tool, but reading a metric dial indicator works the same way as reading a dial indicator that features standard inch-based increments. All the information needed to work out the measurement can be found on the face of the instrument itself -- the only thing you need to do differently is convert the measurement to inches, if applicable. The key to taking measurements with any dial indicator is knowing the value of the individual increments on the dial face.
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Instructions
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Study the face of the dial indicator. Look the values of the increments listed on the face of the indicator. Most metric dial indicators utilize 0.01 mm or 0.02 mm increments.
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Measure an object normally.
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Observe the larger dial on the indicator. Record the value of the number the dial points to. If the dial points to 15, the value would be 0.15 mm if the indicator uses 0.01 mm increments, or 0.30 mm if the indicator uses 0.02 mm increments.
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Observe the number the smaller dial points to on the smaller scale. This number represents the number of times the larger dial made one full rotation around the face of the indicator. Calculate the value represented by this number. If the indicator uses 100 0.01 mm increments around its face, each rotation of the smaller dial represents 1 mm. So if the smaller dial points to the number 7, this represents 7 mm worth of larger dial rotations.
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Add together the values shown by the large and small dials. Using the previous numerical examples and 0.01 mm increments, the 7 registered by the smaller dial and the 15 registered by the larger dial add together to create a final measurement of 7.15 mm. If the indicator used 0.02 mm increments, the measurement would be twice that amount.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a calculator or pen and paper to help with the math if necessary.
Some models don't feature the smaller dial. Record the rotations of the larger hand manually if your indicator doesn't count it for you.
References
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