Measurement Scale and Protractor

Measurement Scale

Scales are used for measurement of lengths and distances on the drawing. Scales are made of wood, steel, ivory, celluloid, plastic or card board. Stainless-steel scales are more durable. Scales may be flat or of triangular cross-section. 15 cm long and 2 cm wide or 30 cm long and 3 cm wide flat scales are in common use. They are usually about 1 mm thick. Scales of greater thickness have their longer edges bevelled. This helps in marking measurements from the scale to the drawing paper accurately. Both the longer edges of the scales are marked with divisions of centimetres, which are sub-divided into millimetres. Least count of such scale is generally 1 mm. The scale is used to transfer the true or relative dimensions of an object to the drawing. It is placed with its edge on the line on which measurements are to be marked and looking from exactly above the required division, the marking is done with a fine pencil point. The scale should never be used as a straight-edge for drawing lines. Parallax error will be nil or least while using thin/tapered edge scales.

A number of kinds of scales are available for various types of engineering design. Scale is a measuring stick, graduated on both its edges with different divisions to represent the corresponding actual distances of ground according to some fixed proportions. Such scales are known as RF scales or representative fraction scales. Such scales facilitate rapid marking off distances on drawing. Scales of various representative fractions (RFs) are available in the market e.g., 1:1, 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, 1:25, 1:50, 1:100, 1:200, 1:500, 1:1000, etc. the proportion 1:50 means that 50 units on the ground is represented by 1 unit in the drawing. The card-board scales are available in a set of eight scales. They are designated from M7 to M8 as shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Scale Set Designation

Designation	Scale
M1	1:1
	1:2
M2	1:2.5
	1:5
M3	1:10
	1:20
M4	1:50
	1:100
M5	1:200
	1:500
M6	1:300
	1:600
M7	1:400
	1:800
M8	1:1000
	1:2000

Fig. 1 Scale

Protractor

Protractors are used for constructing and measuring angles. Protractors are generally semi-circular in shape. The base diameter of the semicircle serves as the straight edge. A semi-circular protractor can measure and construct angles of any measure between 0⁰ to 180⁰. Least count of the protractor is generally 1⁰. Protractor is made of wood, tin or celluloid. Protractors of transparent celluloid are in common use. The protractor is used to draw or measure such angles that cannot be drawn with set-squares. A circle can be divided into any number of equal parts by means of the protractor.

Fig. 2 Protractor