Measurement of diameters of wires using laser and optical fiber

A simple technique is described to measure diameters of thin as well as thick wires using laser, optical fiber and microprocessor. A wire, whose diameter to be measured, is moved across the laser beam between laser and optical fiber. This changes the output of the photodetector for a finite time duration which is determined using a microprocessor. The product of the time duration and the velocity with which the wire is moved gives diameter.