Johansson Comparator

Fig 2: The mechanism of sigma comparator

2

Fig 3 The cross strip hinge used in sigma comparator

Fig 1: Sigma mechanical comparator

Back Pressure Type

Flow or Velocity Type

Definition of straightness of a line in two planes :

A line is said to be straight over a given length, if the
variation of the distance of its points from two planes
perpendicular to each other and parallel to the general
direction of the line remains within the specified
tolerance limits;
the reference planes being so chosen that their
intersection is parallel to the straight line joining two
points suitably located on the line to be tested and the
two points being close to the ends of the lengths to be
measured.

10

STRAIGHTNESS

11

Flatness

Squareness

Straight Edge Tool

15

Straightness Measurement using

Autocollimator

Flatness Measurement

Procedure
Carry out straightness test on all lines AB,BC,AC
etc. Tabulate readings upto the Cumulative error
column.
Let Plane passing through points A, B & D be
assumed to be an arbitrary plane, relative to
which the heights of all other points may be
determined. For it, the ends of line AB, AD & BD
are corrected to zero and thus the height of A, B
& D are zero.
The Height of point I is determined relative to
plane ABD=000.
As I is the midpoint of AC also all the points on AC
can be fixed relative to the arbitrary plane
assuming A=0 and correcting I on AC to coincide
with midpoint I on BD.

 Point C is now fixed relative to the arbitrary plane

and points B & D are set at zero, all intermediate
points on BC and DC can be corrected accordingly.
The Position of H & G, E & F are known, so it is
now possible to fit in lines HG and EF. Midpoint of
these lines also coincide with known position of
midpoint I.
In this way, the height of all the points on the
surface relative to the arbitrary plane ABD are
known.

Flatness error of surface states that the departure

from flatness is the minimum separation of a pair of
parallel planes which will contain all points on the
surface.

 The calculation for final correction to

determine the minimum separation of
a pair of parallel planes which just
contain all the points on the surface is
made by Graphical Method
Two points on opposite sides having
maximum positive and negative values
are selected and joined together by a
line XX.
Let these point be R and S. Draw a line
YY parallel to XX to represent the
plane ABD as shown in the figure.
Set off to scale the height of all points
relative to YY by taking projections
from all the points on the surface.
By inspection draw a close pair of
parallel lines ZZ and ZZ which will
contain all of the points.

 The distance between these two

lines is a measure of the error in
flatness.

Principle of operation of Optical Flat

Fig 1 Flatness testing by interferometry

N.P.L. Flatness Interferometer

The Pitter-NPL Interferometer

Constant Deviation Prism