linjemått

Linjemått, translated as line measure, is a term used in Swedish to describe a measuring instrument designed to determine lengths along a straight line. The concept centers on a rigid or fixed straight edge that is marked with a graduated scale, allowing users to read and transfer precise distances. Linjemått is often distinguished from flexible measuring tapes (måttband) and from simple rulers (linjal) by its emphasis on straightness and accuracy in marking or transferring measurements.

Construction and varieties commonly include a straight, flat bar or ruler made of wood, steel, aluminum, or plastic, with metric graduations (millimeters and centimeters) or occasionally imperial scales. Some versions incorporate a sliding or adjustable cursor to help transfer measurements to a workpiece, while others are fixed-length rulers used for direct reading. In professional contexts, linjemått may be designed to tight tolerances to ensure accurate scribing, marking, or alignment.

Usage spans carpentry, metalworking, and engineering, where precise lines or positions must be established along a straight axis. Typical tasks include marking cut lines, laying out components, and transferring measurements from drawings to material. Linjemått can serve as a stable reference for straightness and parallelism in layouts, and it is often used in conjunction with other tools such as set squares or calipers.

Historically, linjemått competed with or complemented tape measures and folding rulers, with the choice largely dependent on required rigidity and accuracy. In modern practice, the term is less common in everyday language, with many craftsmen opting for måttband or linjal, but linjemått remains a recognized category of straight-edge measuring tools.