Course Number : 40506

Course Title: Engineering Metrology

SPRING 2025
Lectures and Grading
• Lectures – 3 Lectures per week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)

• Attendance compulsory – Low attendance (as per UG Rules) will lead to

subject de-registration.

• Grading
o Teacher’s Assessment (Class Test + Attendance) – 15% +5% (Class Test : 14th April 2025
(Monday) - 6.30 PM to 7.30 PM)

o Mid Semester – 30%

o End Semester – 50%

Books
Textbooks:
1. Engineering Metrology, R. K. Jain , Khanna Publishers
2. Metrology and Measurements, Bewoor Kulkarni, TMH Publication
Reference Books:
1. Dimensional Metrology, Connie L. Dotson, Thomson Learning, 2009
2. Metrology for engineers, Frederick Wise Galyer, Shotbolt, 1990,ELBS

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Introduction
Metrology – Science of Measurements (Includes both theoretical and practical aspects).

Metrology deals with the establishment, reproduction, conservation and transfer of units of
measurements and their standards. Derived from the Greek word ‘metrologia’, which means
measure.

Also concerned with the correctness of measurement.

Why Metrology?

• Day to day Life – Measurement of Physical quantities

• Scientific investigation

• Quality and Quality Control

• Vital for trade and commerce 4

Different aspects of Metrology:
• Legal Metrology – Part of Metrology which treats units and methods of measurements
as well as measuring instruments in relation to the technical and legal requirements.

• Mandatory and legal bindings on the units and methods of measurements and measuring
instruments.

• Lack of legislation – leads to uncertainty.

• Main Objective: To maintain uniformity of measurement in a particular country.

• Legal metrology ensures the conservation of national standards and guarantees their
accuracy in comparison with the international standards.

• Example : In 1976, Parliament enacted comprehensive law, Standards of Weights and

Measures Act 1976, to establish the International System of Units (SI) – To regulate
interstate trade and commerce and consumer protection. 5
Different aspects of Metrology:
• Applications and importance of Legal Metrology :

o Commercial Transactions

o Industrial Measurements (to promote interchangeability for mass production)

o Measurements needed for public health and human safety.

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Different aspects of Metrology:
Different aspects of Metrology:

• Deterministic Metrology – Method in which part measurement replaced by process

measurement.

• Manufacturing systems and sub-systems are optimised to maintain deterministic

performance withing acceptable quality levels.

• System processes are monitored by temperature, flow, pressure, force, vibrations, acoustic
sensors etc.

• Applications : High precision manufacturing machinery and control systems to achieve

accuracy at micro-and nano levels.

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Different aspects of Metrology:
Different aspects of Metrology:

• Dynamic Metrology – Group of techniques employed for measuring small variations

that are of a continuous nature.

• For Example : Recording continuous measurements over a surface.

• Have advantages over individual measurements of a distinctive character.

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Inspection and Need for Inspection
• Inspection - procedure in which a part or characteristics of a product, e.g.
dimension, is examined to determine whether it conforms to the design
specification.

• Industrial relevance : Various components that come from different locations or

industries are then assembled at another place.

• Dimensions of the components must be well within the permissible limits to

obtain the required assemblies with a predetermined fit.

• Industrial inspection is a very important aspect of quality control.

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Need for Inspection
o Ascertain that the part, material, or component conforms to the established or
desired standard.
o Accomplish interchangeability of manufacture.
o Ensuring that no defective product reaches the customers or end users.
o Provide the means of finding out inadequacies in manufacture.
o Purchase good-quality raw materials, tools, and equipment that govern the quality of
the finished products.
o Co-ordinate the functions of quality control, production, and other departments of
the organization.
o Take the decision to perform rework on defective parts.
o Promote the spirit of competition, which leads to the manufacture of quality
products in bulk and adopt better production techniques. 10
Types of Inspection
o Visual Inspection

o Manual inspection

o Automated inspection – Contact and Non-Contact type

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Important Terminology in Metrology
o Nominal or Basic Size : Required Size or Size on which the limits of size are based
which are assigned in accordance to its function.
o True Size : Theoretical size of a dimension, free from any errors of measurement.
o Actual Size: Value of size obtained using measurement with permissible error.
o Exact Size : Value of size that has been obtained with highest metrological accuracy
attainable in practice.
o Approximate size : Value of size obtained with an error exceeding the permissible
limits or error.
o Error of Measurement : Difference between true value of the size being measured
and the value found by measurement.
𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 𝑀𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 − 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
% 𝐸𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = ∗ 100 = ∗ 100
𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑇𝑟𝑢𝑒 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
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Important Terminology in Metrology
o Correction : Value added algebraically to the indicated or measured value to obtain
the actual value of the size being measured.
o Correctness of measurement: Quantitative characteristic or value that shows how
close to zero are the systematic errors of measurement results.
o Calibration : Process of determining the value of a quantity being measured
corresponding to a pre-established scale or value.
o Sensitivity : It is the quotient or amount of the increase observed in the variable
indicated by the pointer for the corresponding increase in measured quantity.
o Discrimination or Resolution : Ability of a measuring instrument to track or record
small changes in the measured quantity.
o Repeatability : Ability of a measuring instrument to give same value every time when
the measurement of a particular quantity is repeated.
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Important Terminology in Metrology
o Response Time : Time that lapses after a sudden change in the measured quantity
until the instrument give a value or indication that is differing from the true value by
an amount less than the permissible error.

o Measuring range : Range of values of the measured quantity for which the error
obtained from a single measurement under normal or a given set of conditions
doesn't exceed the maximum permissible error. Limited by maximum and minimum
capacity.

o Reference: Physical quantity or property to which quantitative comparisons are to be

made, which is internationally accepted.

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Important Terminology in Metrology
• Precision : Repeatability of a measurement process.

• Accurate : Agreement of a measured value with the true value.

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Ref : Engineering Metrology and Measurements, N.V. Raghavendra and L. Krishnamurthy, Oxford University Press
Thank you

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