Marking out or layout means the process of transferring a

design A design is the concept or proposal for an object, process, or system. The word ''design'' refers to something that is or has been intentionally created by a thinking agent, and is sometimes used to refer to the inherent nature of something ...

pattern A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated l ...

to a workpiece, as the first step in the manufacturing process. It is performed in many industries or hobbies although in the repetition industries the machine's initial setup is designed to remove the need to mark out every individual piece.

Manufacturing

Marking out consists of transferring the dimensions from the

plan A plan is typically any diagram or list of steps with details of timing and resources, used to achieve an Goal, objective to do something. It is commonly understood as a modal logic, temporal set (mathematics), set of intended actions through wh ...

to the workpiece in preparation for the next step, machining or manufacture. Typical tools include: *

Surface plate A surface plate is a solid, flatness (manufacturing), flat wiktionary:plate, plate used as the main horizontal datum reference, reference plane for precision inspection, marking out (layout), and tooling setup. The surface plate is often used as ...

or ''marking out table'' — provides a

true True most commonly refers to truth, the state of being in congruence with fact or reality. True may also refer to: Places * True, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in the United States * True, Wisconsin, a town in the United States * ...

surface from which to work * Angle plates — assist in holding the workpiece perpendicular to the table *

Scriber A scriber is a hand tool used in metal work to mark lines on workpieces, prior to machining. The process of using a scriber is called scribing and is just part of the process of marking out. It is used instead of pencils or ink lines, because th ...

— is the equivalent of a pen or pencil. It literally scratches the metal surface leaving behind a fine, bright line *

Height gauge A height gauge is a measuring device used for determining the height of objects, and for marking of items to be worked on. These measuring tools are used in metalworking or metrology to either set or measure vertical distances; the pointer is sh ...

or ''scribing block'' — allows lines to be scribed at a preset distance, from the tables surface * Surface gauge — an ungraduated comparison measuring tool that performs much the same function as the vernier height gauge. It is often used in conjunction with a

dial indicator In various contexts of science, technology, and manufacturing (such as machining, metal fabrication, fabricating, and additive manufacturing), an indicator is any of various instruments used to accurately measure small distances and angles, and w ...

and a precision height gauge. * Marking blue — to provide a usable

writing Writing is the act of creating a persistent representation of language. A writing system includes a particular set of symbols called a ''script'', as well as the rules by which they encode a particular spoken language. Every written language ...

surface by covering any existing scratches and providing a contrasting background * Profile gauge * Protractor — to assist in the transfer of angular measurements *

Combination square A combination square is a multi-purpose measuring and marking tool used in metalworking, woodworking, and stonemasonry. It is composed of a Ruler, rule and one or more interchangeable heads that can be attached to the rule. Other names for the tool ...

— an alternative tool for transferring angular measurements *

Square In geometry, a square is a regular polygon, regular quadrilateral. It has four straight sides of equal length and four equal angles. Squares are special cases of rectangles, which have four equal angles, and of rhombuses, which have four equal si ...

— to transfer 90° angles to the workpiece * Punches — either prick or center punch to create permanent marks or dimples for

drill bit A drill bit is a cutting tool used in a drill to remove material to create holes, almost always of circular cross-section. Drill bits come in many sizes and shapes and can create different kinds of holes in many different materials. In orde ...

s to start in ** Automatic center punch — a spring-loaded punch that creates prick punch marks without the need for a ball peen hammer * Ball peen hammer — used in conjunction with the punches to provide the striking blow needed * Dividers or measuring compass — used for marking out circles of any desired radius, * Parallels to aid in holding workpieces in specific positions and comparing measurements.

Welding

As welding does not always require the use of fine tolerances, marking out is usually performed by using centre punches,

hammers A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nail (fastener), nails into wood, to sh ...

tape measure A tape measure or measuring tape is a long, flexible ruler used to measure length or distance. It usually consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fibreglass, or metal (usually - hard steel alloy) strip with linear measurement markings. Types Ta ...

s and

chalk Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock. It is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton that had settled to the sea floor. Ch ...

. The "chalk" is actually a small pre-cut block of

talc Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, with the chemical formula . Talc in powdered form, often combined with corn starch, is used as baby powder. This mineral is used as a thickening agent and lubricant ...

(

soapstone Soapstone (also known as steatite or soaprock) is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock. It is composed largely of the magnesium-rich mineral talc. It is produced by dynamothermal metamorphism and metasomatism, which occur in sub ...

). These talc blocks can be sharpened to a stronger point than the softer

blackboard A blackboard or a chalkboard is a reusable writing surface on which text or drawings are made with sticks of calcium sulphate or calcium carbonate, better known as chalk. Blackboards were originally made of smooth, thin sheets of black or da ...

chalk. The color of the chalk provides good contrast against the dark color of the hot rolled steel that is generally used.

Woodworking

Illustration showing how to use a marking gauge

carpentry Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. C ...

and

joiner Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining pieces of wood, engineered lumber, or synthetic substitutes (such as laminate), to produce more complex items. Some woodworking joints employ mechanical fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, ...

y practice a pencil is used for marking while in cabinetmaking a marking knife provides for greater accuracy. A storey pole is used to lay out repeated measurements such as the location of joints in

timber framing Timber framing () and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy Beam (structure), timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and Woodworking joints, joined timbers with joints secure ...

, courses of siding such as wood shingles and clapboards, the heights of doorjambs and the courses of bricks in

masonry Masonry is the craft of building a structure with brick, stone, or similar material, including mortar plastering which are often laid in, bound, and pasted together by mortar (masonry), mortar. The term ''masonry'' can also refer to the buildin ...

.Frane, James T.. Craftsman's illustrated dictionary of construction terms. Carlsbad, CA: Craftsman Book Co., 1994. 339. Carpenters typically mark out framing members ''on-center'', the measurements are to the centers of each member.

References

{{Authority control Metalworking measuring instruments Woodworking