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Technical Drawing and Measuring Instruments

Industrial Manufacturing - Machinery and Electronics · 製造分野 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Mechanical Drawing Basics (Third-Angle Projection and Line Types)

Standard JIS mechanical drawings use 'third-angle projection', placing the top view above the front view and the right side view to the right.

Visible outlines of an object are drawn with 'thick continuous lines', while hidden edges are drawn with 'dashed lines'.

Center lines of circles and axes of symmetry are drawn with 'thin chain lines' (thin long-and-short dashed lines).

Dimension lines and extension lines are both drawn with 'thin continuous lines', and diagonal thin lines on cut surfaces are called 'hatching'.

Key points


  • (○ True) JIS mechanical drawings use 'third-angle projection', and both dimension lines and extension lines are drawn with 'thin continuous lines'.

  • (× False) Drawing hidden outlines or center lines with 'thick continuous lines' is FALSE (hidden lines use dashed lines; center lines use thin chain lines).

  • (× False) Calling the diagonal thin lines drawn on a cross-sectional cut surface 'center lines' is FALSE (they are 'hatching').
WordMeaning
third-angle projection
visible outline (thick continuous line)
dashed line (hidden line)
thin chain line (center line)
hatching (section lining)

Dimension Symbols (φ, R, C), Tolerances, and Fits

On a drawing, 'φ20' indicates a circle diameter of 20 mm, while 'R5' indicates a rounded corner with a radius of 5 mm.

'C2' indicates a 45-degree chamfer measuring 2 mm along each of the two adjacent surfaces.

When 'φ20±0.1' is specified, the allowable diameter range is from 19.9 mm to 20.1 mm inclusive.

In hole-and-shaft fits, a fit where the shaft is larger than the hole so parts are firmly fixed by press-fitting is called an 'interference fit'.

Key points


  • (○ True) 'φ20' means a 20 mm diameter, 'R5' means a 5 mm radius round, and 'C2' means a 45° chamfer of 2 mm.

  • (○ True) For 'φ20±0.1', the acceptable diameter range is 19.9 mm or more and 20.1 mm or less.

  • (○ True) A fit where the shaft is slightly larger than the hole to fix parts tightly is called an 'interference fit' (shimaribame).
WordMeaning
diameter (φ)
radius (R)
chamfer (C)
allowable range (tolerance)
interference fit

Measuring with Vernier Calipers and Outside Micrometers

A vernier caliper measures outer diameter, inner diameter, depth, and step height by adding the main scale reading and vernier scale reading.

For example, on a 0.05 mm vernier caliper, if the main scale reads 23 mm and the vernier aligns at 0.35 mm, the measurement is 23.35 mm.

On a 0.01 mm outside micrometer, if the sleeve reads 7.5 mm and the thimble reads 0.23 mm, add both values to get 7.73 mm.

The ratchet stop on a micrometer is used to keep measuring force constant and prevent measurement error.

Measuring with Vernier Calipers and Outside Micrometers

Key points


  • (× False) Saying a vernier caliper measures circuit voltage, current, and resistance is FALSE (it measures length, diameter, depth, and steps).

  • (○ True) Add both readings together: 23 mm + 0.35 mm = 23.35 mm on a caliper, and 7.5 mm + 0.23 mm = 7.73 mm on a micrometer.

  • (× False) Saying the micrometer ratchet stop is used to tighten the spindle as hard as possible is FALSE (it keeps measuring force constant).
WordMeaning
vernier caliper
main scale and vernier scale
outside micrometer
ratchet stop
measuring force

Dial Gauges, Height Gauges, and Limit Plug Gauges

A dial gauge (dial indicator) reads shaft runout or surface parallelism as a small displacement relative to a reference.

A height gauge is used on a precision flat surface plate (jouban) to measure workpiece height or scribe layout lines.

A limit plug gauge inspects whether a hole diameter is within tolerance using a GO end and a NO-GO end.

When inspecting a hole with a limit plug gauge, the hole passes inspection when the GO end enters and the NO-GO end does not enter.

Key points


  • (× False) Saying a dial gauge is used to directly weigh a part is FALSE (it measures shaft runout and surface parallelism).

  • (× False) Saying a height gauge is held against a rotating shaft to measure runout is FALSE (it measures height on a surface plate).

  • (○ True) In limit plug gauge inspection, a hole is acceptable when 'the GO end passes through and the NO-GO end does not pass'.
WordMeaning
dial gauge (dial indicator)
height gauge
surface plate
limit plug gauge
GO end and NO-GO end

Standard Measurement Temperature (20°C) and Unit Conversion

Because metals expand with heat, the standard temperature specified by JIS for precision dimensional measurement is 20°C.

When measuring a hot workpiece right after machining, wait until its temperature stabilizes under specified measurement conditions.

One micrometer (μm) is one-thousandth of a millimeter: 1 mm = 1000 μm (0.001 mm = 1 μm).

Therefore, 0.01 mm equals 10 μm, and 0.05 mm equals 50 μm (not 5 μm).

Key points


  • (○ True) The standard temperature for dimensional measurement specified by JIS standards is 20°C.

  • (○ True) For a hot workpiece right after machining, allow the workpiece temperature to stabilize before taking precision measurements.

  • (× False) Converting 0.05 mm to '5 μm' is FALSE (since 1 mm = 1000 μm, 0.05 mm equals 50 μm).
WordMeaning
standard temperature
thermal expansion
micrometer (μm)
unit conversion

Drawings and Measuring

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Official references