What do you understand by Metrology? Explain it in few words.

• It is basically the science of measurement.
• The purpose of this discipline is to establish means of determining physical quantities.

### Important Terminologies

#### Nominal Size

This is used for general identification purposes and size of any part is defined during its drawing.

#### Basic Size

The size of a part to which all limits of variation is applied. It is a theoretical concept.

#### Actual Size

It is the actual measured dimension of a part.

Note: The difference between basic and actual size should not exceed certain limits otherwise it will interfere with the interchangeability of the mating parts.

#### Upper or High or Maximum Limits

It is the largest permissible size for a dimension, out of the two extreme permissible sizes for a dimension.

#### Lower Limit

It is the lowest permissible sizes for a dimension.

#### Tolerance

It is the difference between upper limit and lower limit. This is also the maximum permissible variation in a dimension.

#### Zero Line

A straight line corresponding to the basic size and the deviations are measured from this line.

#### Deviation

It is an algebraic difference between a size (actual, maximum) and the corresponding basic size.

#### Actual Deviation

It is the algebraic difference between an actual size and the corresponding basic size.

#### Upper Deviation

It is the algebraic difference between an actual size and the corresponding basic size.

#### Lower Deviation

It is the algebraic difference between minimum size and the corresponding basic size.

#### Mean Deviation

It is the arithmetical mean of lower and upper deviations.

#### Fundamental Deviation

This is the deviation, either the upper or the lower deviation, which is nearest one to zero line for either a hole or a shaft.

#### Unilateral and Bilateral Limits

Unilateral limits occur when both maximum limit or minimum limit are either above or below the basic size, but in the case of Bilateral limits maximum limit is above and the minimum limit is below the basic size.