Dial Indicators

Dial indicators measure the linear distance between two points. They consist of a pivoting needle attached to a dial face and a spring-loaded case. When there’s no force applied to them, the needle holds against a stop inside the case. But when there is force, it moves away from the stop.

The pros of using dial indicators are that they are compact, lightweight, and accurate. They are helpful in environments where other types of measuring equipment would be impractical or impossible (such as underwater or in space). Mainly because they don’t need power sources, and they don’t produce any noise that might interfere with other equipment.

Their best applications include industrial design (to make sure parts fit together correctly), quality control (to make sure individual units meet specifications), assembly work (to ensure components are aligned properly), automotive repair (to determine whether repairs have been made correctly), and agriculture (to measure crop growth).