Article: To take a measurement, you will need to displace space on your spindle. Align the base of the spindle with the item to be measured. Push the dial indicator against the item, counting the number of revolutions made to double-check your accuracy. Hold the gauge in place to take your measurement. Depending on how your small gauge is labeled, it could count just your revolutions or track the measurement. Take down the number of revolutions or the measurement itself if it's printed on the gauge. If the dial indicator did not make at least one revolution, then skip to reading the large gauge because the small gauge only matters if the indicator makes at least one full revolution. If your small gauge shows revolutions or does not provide a clear measurement, take the number of marks displaced and multiply it by the length that is represented by one revolution. For example, if one revolution equals .1-inches, then you would calculate three marks on the small gauge as 3 X .1=.3-inches. The big outer face should be marked with 100 notches. Most dial indicators will be labeled at the 5's or 10's to make it easier to read. Determine which marker the hand best lines up with, then take down the number. Make sure that you count if the gauge makes complete revolutions. For example, it may completely circle once and then land on the notch next to 30. Remember to add the calculations from both the small and large gauges. Remember that the larger gauge represents a smaller measurement, so while the small gauge might measure in tents, the outer gauge measures in thousandths. If the hand is pointing at 30, then it means 30 thousandths. To calculate the measurement, divide the number by 1,000. For example, 30/1000=0.030-inches. Take both the small gauge and large gauge measurements and add them together. In the examples above, you'd have 0.3+0.030=0.330-inches. This is your reading from the dial indicator.

What is a summary?
Press the spindle against the item to be measured. Count the marks displaced on the small gauge. Calculate the measurement. Count the marks displaced on the large gauge. Calculate the measurement. Add the two calculations together.