Dial Calipers

Three common caliper

types are the vernier,
dial, and digital. The
Inside
type refers to how values
Reading
are displayed. Dial Dial Indicator
Jaws
calipers display 0.001
(0.001 inch resolution) Depth Rod
inch increments on the
Jaw Lock Screw
dial (fig 1). Calipers are
capable of inside,
outside, and depth
measurements. Before
use, clean the jaws and Beam
verify the zero setting.
Thumbwheel
Clean the outside reading
jaws by withdrawing Bezel Lock Screw
paper from the closed
jaws. With the jaws Outside Reading Jaws
closed verify the dial
needle points to zero. If Figure 1: Dial caliper main features.
there is a zero
discrepancy loosen the bezel lock screw, rotate the dial to align the needle with zero, and retighten the
lock screw.

Hold the calipers in your right hand and the measured part in
your left. Use the thumbwheel to close the jaws (for an
outside reading) on the part (fig 2).

Figure 2: Correct caliper use.

Reading calipers requires summing values from the beam and dial (fig 3). Along the beam inch
increments have major tick marks and 0.100 inch increments have minor tick marks. The beam reading
in figure four is 1.1 inch. Each dial increment represents one thousandths (0.001) of an inch. The dial
reading in figure four is 0.046 inch. Sum the beam and dial readings to obtain the total reading. The
total reading shown in figure four is 1.1 + 0.046 = 1.146 inch.

Inch Tick 0.1 inch Tick

Marks Marks

Beam reads
1.1 inch
Dial reads 0.046 inch

Figure 3: Making caliper measurements. The reading is 1.1 + 0.046 = 1.146 inch.

Accurate measurements require proper technique. Excessive thumbwheel force causes deflection and
erroneous measurements. Feel the force used when zeroing the jaws. Use the same force to place the
jaws when making measurements.
Laboratory: Measuring Instruments/Unit Conversions
Deliverables: Answer all question, make all measurements by next lab.

Working in teams, make all the measurements. Each team member should make all the measurements. Compare your
answers.

1. Use both a micrometer and caliper to measure the wire diameter on a paper clip. Write the measurements to the
nearest 0.001".

2. Use both a micrometer and caliper to measure the thickness of a stack of 10 sheets of paper. Write the
measurements to the nearest 0.001". What is the thickness of 1 sheet of paper?

3. Make the measurements indicated on each of the two machine parts you were given. Use the specified tool. Report
to the nearest 0.001".
 Unit Conversion Exercises – Save files to Dropbox Conversions by next lab.

1. Use Excel’s convert function to find the number of minutes in 4 days

2. Use Excel’s convert function to convert a torque of 3 foot pounds to newton meters

3. Use Excel’s convert function to find the convert the density of steel from 7.8 gr/cm3 to sg/in3

4. Use MathCAD and verify your answers for problems 1 to 3.

5. Find the speed of a ship moving at 30 knots in m/s

6. Convert 14.7 psi to kilopascals

7. Find the number of BTU/hour in 200 kW (kilowatts).

Experiment
Hydraulic Pumps

Purpose: To illustrate the mechanical advantage

in a hydraulic pump

Equipment:

 1 Hydraulic Pump
 2 Pump handle pieces
 1 Dial Caliper
 1 Ruler

Hydraulic Advantage

For this part of the lab use a wall thickness of

0.125” on the jack.
Step 5 Divide numbers from steps 2 and 4 by 2
Step 1 – Use the caliper to measure outside of and then square the number.
jack cylinder (A)
Step 2

Step 4
Step 2 Subtract 0.25” from this reading.

Step 6 Divide the numbers in step5 (Step 2/Step

Step 3 Measure the distance “across the flats” 4)
at (B).
Hydrolic Advantage

Step 7 Using a ruler, measure the stroke of the

Step 4 Subtract 0.25” from this reading smaller piston (C).

The hydraulic advantage will be the ratio of the Step 8 Pump the jack 10 times the then
surface areas of the two pistons. measure the distance the ram (D) raised

Step 9 Multiply the stroke by 10 and then divide

it by the number in step 8.

Hydraulic Advantage
Total Mechanical Advantage

Step 1 Identify the second class lever on the

diagram to the right. Label the fulcrum, load,
and where the effort would be exerted

Put the two handle pieces together and insert

them into the jack.

Step 2 Measure the distance from the fulcrum

to the load

Step 3 Measure the distance from the fulcrum

to the effort

Step 4 Find the mechanical advantage for the

lever (divide Step3 by Step 2)

Step 5 The total mechanical advantage will be

the product of the mechanical advantage for
the lever and the hydraulics
MechEng 111 Engineering Fundamentals II
Simple AC Alternator Lab
Due: At the end of laboratory

For this lab you are to work with one other person from your lab section. Each student should answer
all the questions on this lab form and submit them at the end of lab for grading.

Equipment:

7/16 Hex head bolt (1)

Rare earth magnets (4)
Magnet wire (24 gauge 6 yards)
Construction paper
Masking tape
Sandpaper

For this experiment you will be testing the simplified version of Faraday’s law introduced in lecture.

Where:
N is the number of turns of magnet wire
B is the flux density in Tesla’s
A is the area of the magnet in m2
Δt is the change in time

Part I – Estimating Δt.

1. Each team member should shake the 7/16 hex head bolt for 5 seconds while the other keeps
track of the time and number of shakes. (Hint: To get the best results, try to shake the bolt in a
horizontal plane as fast as you can while maintaining a consistent speed.)
2. Each team member should shake the bolt 3 times. Record your results in the table below.
3. Take the average of the readings.
4. Divide 5 seconds (the shake time) by the average number of shakes to get your estimates of Δt

Team member Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Average

(shakes)

Part II – Cutting wire and calculating number of turns

1. Use a meter stick, measure and cut 6 yards of the magnet wire, you will need two pieces one 2
yards long and one 4-yards long..
 2. Divide the 60” and 132” by the circumference (πD) of the bolt to estimate the ideal maximum
number of turns (N) for the different wire lengths. Note: we’re using 60 and 132” to allow about
6” of tail at each end of the wire to facilitate connecting to the oscilloscope.
3. Fill in the table with your findings.

Bolt OD (inches) Bolt circumference 2 Yards N 4 Yards N

Part III – Making the tube generator

1. Get a 4” piece of masking tape ready

2. Wrap your piece of construction paper around the shaft of the 7/16” hex head bolt.
3. Place the tape along the seam of the rolled paper to create the tube.
4. Leave the bolt in the tube and begin winding the magnet wire around the tube. Try to center
the windings as best you can, leaving about 1” of space on both sides of the wire. Be sure to
count the actual number of turns. Record the number of turns in the table below
5. Use the piece of sandpaper to clean off about 1” of varnish from each end of the magnet wire.
6. Remove the bolt and set it aside. Note: You will want to reinsert the bolt when creating your
second set of windings.

Part IV – Measuring Voltage

1. Turn on the oscilloscope.

2. Connect each of the probe ends to the de-
varnished ends of the magnet wire.
3. If the oscilloscope screen is not scrolling,
press the Main/Delayed button and then
underneath the screen press the third
button from the left, to set the scope to roll
mode.
4. Place 2 magnets inside the tube.
5. Holding the tube horizontal and with your
fingers over the open ends, try to shake the
tube at the same pace you did in Part I.
6. You can press the Single button to
pause the scroll on the scope.
7. Using the knob to the right of the
Main/Delayed button you can scroll
through the scope readings.
8. Using the button to the right of the
Main Delayed button, you can change
the horizontal scale (in seconds).
9. Using the button above the lit number
1 you can change the horizontal scale.
10. The horizontal scale is indicated by the
number in the upper left corner of the
scope’s screen. Each solid line
represents one major unit (i.e. 100
 mV). Each small line is 1/5th of a major unit (i.e. 20mV).
11. Each team member should obtain a voltage reading using 2 magnets and then using 4 magnets.
Record the voltages in the table below.
12. Disconnect from the oscilloscope and remove the magnets from the tube.
13. Re-insert the 7/16th hex head bolt into the tube. VERY IMPORTANT, otherwise you may crush
your tube.
14. Unwrap the wire on the tube.
15. Wrap your 4 yard length of wire onto the tube. Try to keep the windings in a single layer to get
the best results and try to leave room at each end of the tube for the magnets to clear the wire
coils.
16. Repeat the shaking steps at the oscilloscope and record your data.

Team N 4 ft – 2 4 ft – 4 N 12 ft – 2 12 ft – 4
Member Magnets Magnets Magnets Magnets

Write Up:

Each team member should summarize the exercise in a memo. Your memo should include:
a. A summary of all the data collected during the lab (time, voltage, windings).
b. The calculated voltages
c. A graph showing calculated and observed voltages.
d. Reasons you feel could explain the differences between these values.
MechEng 111
Engineering Fundamentals II
Team Building Laboratory
Deliverables: An alternator
Due: Next lab period.

The Challenge:

You and your project team mates are to compete against other team’s in your lab section. Your goal is
to create an alternator that produces the highest voltage.
The Reward:

The winning team from each lab section can receive up to 10 points for this lab exercise.

The Rules:

1. Each team will be given a box containing the identical items. Each box contains:
a. 4 magnets
b. Magnet wire
c. CD
d. 3 pencils
e. Multi-meter
2. The items may cut, folded, or torn as your team sees fit, you may only use glue and tape for
fastening.
3. You have this lab period to design your generator. The competition will run at the beginning of
the next lab period.
4. Judging is based on 2 criteria; the amount of voltage you generate; how close this is to the value
you calculate.
a. The team that creates the highest voltage earns 5 points, the rest of the teams 4.
b. The team that is the closest (absolute value) in their voltage prediction earns 5 points,
the rest 4.
5. The lab TA will be the final arbitrator with respect to disputed voltage readings.
MechEng 111
Engineering Fundamentals II
Team Building Laboratory
Deliverables: A tower of paper
Due: End of lab period.

The Challenge:

You and your project team mates are to compete against the other design teams in your lab section to
create the tallest tower using 5 sheets of 8 ½ x 11” paper.

The Reward:

The winning team from each lab section will receive 10 points for this lab exercise. The remaining other
teams will all get 8 points.

The Rules:

1. Each team will be given 5 sheets of 8 ½ x 11” paper.

2. The paper may cut, folded, or torn as your team sees fit.
3. Each team will be given 1 method for joining the paper, the available items are:
a. Tape
b. Staples
c. Paper clips
4. The first team to correctly answer a question will be able to choose their fastening method.
5. Teams may trade with each other (i.e. paper clips for tape…)
6. Teams will be given 15 minutes to plan their tower.
7. Teams will be given 30 minutes to build their tower.
8. Towers must be free-standing.
9. The lab TA will measure the height of each tower and record the results.
10. The lab TA will be the final arbitrator of any disputes.