Layout & Positioning

See Also: Internal Reference Standards
See Also: Calipers & Height Gages

Layout Dye

Also called “engineer’s blue,” layout dye is used to make layout marks visible. The dye dries quickly, and marks from calipers or scribers can be seen clearly. Layout dye can generally be removed with alcohol, acetone. Removing layout dye from knurls and similar details can be problematic, so only use the dye where it is necessary.

Layout Dye

Scribes

Punches

Squares

Squares are used for laying out

Machinists Square

Combination Square

Square Head

Combination square with a square head attached.

Protractor Head

Protractor Head

Center Head

Center heads are used on combination squares to find the center of round workpieces.

Using a center head to find the center of a cylindrical workpiece.

Cylinder Square

Calipers

Calipers are used for both measuring applications (see Calipers) and for layout purposes. Most slide calipers are made with hardened points so they can be used to scratch layout lines.

Dividers

Trammel

Straight Edges

Protractors

Sine Bars

Sine Bar

Angle Blocks

Adjustable Parallels

Adjustable Parallels

Planer Gage

Planer gages are a convenient way to establish a reference height.

Planer Gage

Expanding Mandrel

Expanding Mandrel

Surface Gage

Surface Gage

Setup Blocks

1-2-3 Blocks

1-2-3 Block With Threaded Holes

V-Blocks

V-Blocks

Adjustable V-Block

Collet Blocks

Collet Blocks

Bench Blocks

Bench Block