Directions for using the interactive Gage Block Activity calculator:

Note: On the last page of this handout, you will find a copy of the gage block sets (both English and metric) that are used for this activity. It is also available separately under the link Gage Block Sets. You must refer to it when you do the Gage Block Activity.

Step 1: Type in the measurement you would like to “build” using gage blocks.

In this example, we have typed in 3.5565. Hit the ENTER key after typing the number. Note that the very same measurement will appear directly below the original next to the “Amount to go:” label.

Step 2: Now select and type the size of the first gage block you wish to use. You can only use gage blocks that are in the “set” (refer to the last page of this handout), and you cannot use a block more than once.

If you picked a block that is from the “set” it will report OK next to it. Note that the calculator reports “Amount to go:” above. That helps you determine what your next block should be. Continue to refer to that as you select additional blocks.

Note how the calculator will tell you when you have selected a block not in the set:

Step 3: Keep selecting gage blocks until the “Amount to go:” value reaches 0. That means the blocks you selected add-up to the desired measurement.

Note: If you scroll down the Gage Block Activity page, you will see a similar tool for doing metric gage blocks:

Block Thicknesses of an English Gage Block Set

9 blocks 0.0001” Series

0.1001

0.1002

0.1003

0.1004

0.1005

0.1006

0.1007

0.1008

0.1009

49 blocks 0.001” Series

0.101	0.102	0.103	0.104	0.105	0.106	0.107	0.108	0.109
0.110	0.111	0.112	0.113	0.114	0.115	0.116	0.117	0.118
0.119	0.120	0.121	0.122	0.123	0.124	0.125	0.126	0.127
0.128	0.129	0.130	0.131	0.132	0.133	0.134	0.135	0.136
0.137	0.138	0.139	0.140	0.141	0.142	0.143	0.144	0.145
0.146	0.147	0.148	0.149

19 blocks 0.050” Series

0.050	0.100	0.150	0.200	0.250	0.300	0.350	0.400	0.450
0.500	0.550	0.600	0.650	0.700	0.750	0.800	0.850	0.900
0.950

4 blocks 1.000” Series

1.000

2.000

3.000

4.000

Block Thicknesses of a Metric Gage Block Set

9 Blocks 0.001 mm Series

1.001

1.002

1.003

1.004

1.005

1.006

1.007

1.008

1.009

9 Blocks 0.01 mm Series

1.01

1.02

1.03

1.04

1.05

1.06

1.07

1.08

1.09

9 Blocks 0.1 mm Series

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1.5

1.6

1.7

1.8

1.9

Block Thicknesses of an English Gage Block Set

Block Thicknesses of a Metric Gage Block Set

9 Blocks 0.001 mm Series

9 Blocks 0.01 mm Series

9 Blocks 0.1 mm Series

9 Blocks 1 mm Series

9 Blocks 10 mm Series