A height gauge is a measuring device used to determine the height of objects or mark repetitive heights. It has a vertical column with a sliding unit that can move up and down. An arm extends from the gauge to contact the object being measured. Height gauges can be vernier, dial, or digital/electronic. Vernier height gauges rely on user skill while digital gauges provide precise electronic measurements. Height gauges are used to mark lines, check hole depths, and mark locations on machine parts.

1. HEIGHT GAUGES:
BASIC INTRODUCTION
• Height gauge, also called Vernier height gauge, is a widely used
bench top tool.
• A height gauge is a measuring device used either for determining
the height of something, or for repetitious marking of items.
• It is much more capable than calipers but not as complex as a
coordinate measuring machine (CMM).
• Vernier height gauges, however, greatly rely on users’ skill.
• The first electronic height gauge emerged during the mid-1980s.
• These measuring tools are used in metalworking or metrology to
either set or measure vertical distances.

2. BASIC CONSTRUCTION
• A height gauge has a vertical column.
• A unit is attached to this column which slides up and down.
• An arm protrudes from the gauge coming into direct contact
with the part being measured.
• Each height gauge features a solid base giving the vertical
column enough stability that it remains at a right angle to the
table’s surface.
• The moving slide is engraved with vernier calibrations
enabling setting to an accuracy of 0.02 mm
• The height of the scribe’s point can be finely adjusted with a
thumbscrew .

3. SIMPLE DIAL HEIGHT GAUGE

4. SIMPLE VERNIER HEIGHT GAUGE

5. DIGITAL HEIGHT GAUGES

6. Applications
• These are used to mark out lines and widely used on surface
plates and on machine tables.
• The height gauge with an indicator attachment is used for
checking of surface holes.
• The height gauge with a scribe attachment is used to mark
reference lines and locations on castings and forgings.

7. Working
• The work to be marked out with a vernier height gauge must be set
vertically on a surface plate.
• The height of the scribe is set with the moving slide’s fine adjusting screw.
• The marking out lines are then scribed onto the work’s surface by steadily
moving the vernier height gauge along the surface plate .
• On some vernier height gauges, the height of the main scale can also be
finely adjusted.
• This enables measurements to start from a convenient reading, which is
useful if the shape of the workpiece is such that it needs to be mounted
on a parallel strip .

9. OTHER TYPES
• Digital dial height gauge: It is like a dial height
gauge, but with a counter for more precise
measurement.
• Electronic digital height gauge. A height gauge
featuring a digital display of measurements.
– These units can also include features such as instant inch-
to-millimeter conversion, a hold option that temporarily
saves your measurements and the ability to set any
position to zero.

10. DIGITAL / ELECTRONIC GAUGES
 High specification electronic height gauges can carry
out different measuring tasks including step
heights, internal/external diameters and centre-line
distances. The electronic height gauge is extremely
precise up to 0.001in. and claims consistency of
±0.0001in.
 The digital height gauge is made from high
quality, hardened stainless steel. It comprises a solid
cast iron base which is robust to ensure rigidity and
stability of the instrument; and extending from the
base up is the beam which includes a printed scale in
both imperial and metric format.

11. ELECTRONIC HEIGHT GAUGE

12. • Usually, imperial digital scales range from 0 to 12 inches while
the metric scale ranges from 0 mm to 300 mm. They can even
measure up to 80 inches or 2000mm.
• An electronic measuring slider is mounted on the beam .
• The slider comes with a carbide scriber tip on one of the jaws.
The slider together with the attached scriber can slide up and
down along the scale and be locked in place.
• There is also a data output port where by the data can be
sent to a computer or a printer via a special cable.

13. PREPATORY STEPS
• To use and read the digital height gauge
correctly, follow these general steps below:
• Step1: Clean the working platform and put
the digital height gauge on it.

14. PREPATORY STEPS contd. …
• Step 2: Dry the surface of the protective
sticker of the digital height gauge.

15. PREPATORY STEPS contd. …
• Step3: Fix the measuring jaw of the digital
height gauge

16. PREPATORY STEPS contd. …
• Step 4: Loosen the locking screw of the height
gauge
.

17. PREPATORY STEPS contd. …
• Step 5: Move the slider to check if the LCD
displays and all the buttons work properly.

18. TAKING MEASUREMENTS
• Step 1: Usually the point of measurement is the working
surface of the platform. Make the measuring jaw and
platform surface gently touch (measuring force: 3-5N), the
value on the LCD should be 0, or press ON/OFF/ZERO button
to make it 0.

19. TAKING MEASUREMENTS contd. …
• Step 2: Hold the rod against the surface plate
and adjust the movable jaw to the nearest
centimeter or inch.

20. TAKING MEASUREMENTS contd. …
• Step3: Get the reading from the large LCD
screen directly. As shown, it is 13.52mm here.