Dial Indicators Applications














Dial Indicators Applications

Dial Indicator are applied to various activities as follow :
* To check for runout when fitting a new disc to an automotive disc brake. Runout can rapidly ruin the disc if it exceeds the specified tolerance (typically 0.05 mm or less).
* In a quality environment to check for consistency and accuracy in the manufacturing process.
* On the workshop floor to initially set up or calibrate a machine, prior to a production run.
* By toolmakers (moldmakers) in the process of manufacturing precision tooling.
* In metal engineering workshops, where a typical application is the centering of a lathe's workpiece in a four jaw chuck. The DTI is used to indicate the run out (the misalignment between the work piece's axis of rotational symmetry and the axis of rotation of the spindle) of the work piece, with the ultimate aim of reducing it to a suitably small range using small chuck jaw adjustments.
* In areas other than manufacturing where accurate measurements need to be recorded (e.g., physics).
Dial Indicator

Dial Indicators General Specifications

Dial Indicators General Specifications
There are several variables in dial indicators:

* Analog versus digital/electronic readout (most are analog)
* Dial size. Typically referred to be American Gage Design Specification (AGD):

AGD Diameter range (in) Diameter range (mm)
  • 0 1–1 3/8 25–35
  • 1 1 3/8–2 35–50
  • 2 2–2 3/8 50–60
  • 3 2 3/8–3 60–75
  • 4 3–3 3/4 76–95

* Accuracy
* Range of travel
* Number of dial revolutions
* Dial style: balanced (e.g., -15 to 0 to +15) or continuous (e.g., 0 to 30)
* Graduation style: positive numbers (clockwise) or negative numbers (counterclockwise)
* Revolution counters, which show the number of revolutions of the principal needle.
Dial Indicator