Recommendation? Digital Caliper

annr

annr

Joined
Nov 15, 2006
Messages
9,412
I'm looking for a digital caliper to measure work pieces with thickness: 7.5 mm, 7.75 mm, 8.0 mm, etc., range, and lengths ~ 46-47mm. Would like reading out to the 2nd decimal point. (FWIW, I use mitutoyo dial indicator and am very happy with that for my application.) I see mitutoyo calipers run in the $120-$305 range.

Recommendations appreciated.
 
I have a cheap Harbor Freight 6" digital caliper that I took to use at work (small start up). At some point, they decided that we needed to have certain things calibrated so my HF calipers ended up being calibrated by a metrology company. It has passed calibration for 5 years +.

There are two things that I don't care for on calipers. First are the calipers that zero when the power is turned off. If the power is turned off (by user or an auto off function), when it is turned on again the display reads zero. My HF ones do this. Second thing I dislike is the auto off. Yes it does make the battery last longer, but it usually turns off at the wrong time. Add insult to injury when you turn it back on, it zeros its self.

I also have a pair of Mitutoyo calipers. These keep the measurement/position when the power is turned off, also no auto off. I like them a lot better.

Mitutoyos cost me about $150 (at least 15 years ago). HFs $9.99(with coupon) about 5 years ago.
 
Back in the day I was taught calipers are only as accurate as a scale.

When precise measurements are needed use a micrometer.

I have a variety of higher cost ones, and cheapies.....they all work for what we are doing.


*I need to stop using mine as a scribe
 
Phydeaux said:
I have a cheap Harbor Freight 6" digital caliper that I took to use at work (small start up). At some point, they decided that we needed to have certain things calibrated so my HF calipers ended up being calibrated by a metrology company. It has passed calibration for 5 years +.

There are two things that I don't care for on calipers. First are the calipers that zero when the power is turned off. If the power is turned off (by user or an auto off function), when it is turned on again the display reads zero. My HF ones do this. Second thing I dislike is the auto off. Yes it does make the battery last longer, but it usually turns off at the wrong time. Add insult to injury when you turn it back on, it zeros its self.

I also have a pair of Mitutoyo calipers. These keep the measurement/position when the power is turned off, also no auto off. I like them a lot better.

Mitutoyos cost me about $150 (at least 15 years ago). HFs $9.99(with coupon) about 5 years ago.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. I went for the iGaging and will see how it works. Not ruling out the Mituotoyo....
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Back in the day I was taught calipers are only as accurate as a scale.

When precise measurements are needed use a micrometer.

I have a variety of higher cost ones, and cheapies.....they all work for what we are doing.


*I need to stop using mine as a scribe
Click to expand...
I have an analog caliper that really only works as a comparitor--and not too accurate as it turns out.

My micrometer and dial indicator/anvils won't get around this work piece. I'm measuring a segment of a tube that has been planed flat (to some extent) on the inner surface. Need caliper jaws to get this.
 
annr said:
I have an analog caliper that really only works as a comparitor--and not too accurate as it turns out.

My micrometer and dial indicator/anvils won't get around this work piece. I'm measuring a segment of a tube that has been planed flat (to some extent) on the inner surface. Need caliper jaws to get this.
Click to expand...
I had to look up analog...... I've always called them Vernier. Who I believe was named after......
I was taught by old school German toolmakers, so many years ago that my vernacular might be different than todays. haha :)
 
Crag the Brewer said:
I had to look up analog...... I've always called them Vernier. Who I believe was named after......
I was taught by old school German toolmakers, so many years ago that my vernacular might be different than todays. haha :)
Click to expand...
You are correct! I avoided “Vernier” as I didn’t know if it would ring the right bells! I wrote a book with a section on measuring and gaging and indeed I refer to the analog caliper as Vernier.😀 (so I dated myself!)
 
annr said:
You are correct! I avoided “Vernier” as I didn’t know if it would ring the right bells! I wrote a book with a section on measuring and gaging and indeed I refer to the analog caliper as Vernier.😀 (so I dated myself!)
Click to expand...
Haha....My Jo-blocks ARE Jo blocks
 
annr said:
You are correct! I avoided “Vernier” as I didn’t know if it would ring the right bells! I wrote a book with a section on measuring and gaging and indeed I refer to the analog caliper as Vernier.😀 (so I dated myself!)
Click to expand...
I thought "vernier" was a type of scale that is ON the caliper.
I have a couple of the cheap HF digital calipers. A digital caliper is very convenient but if I really need to measure accurately I get out the micrometer. I also have an old vernier caliper to use when the batteries are dead in the HF digital. I find that the batteries don't last very long so I buy them in bulk on ebay.
 
bdmicarta said:
I thought "vernier" was a type of scale that is ON the caliper.
I have a couple of the cheap HF digital calipers. A digital caliper is very convenient but if I really need to measure accurately I get out the micrometer. I also have an old vernier caliper to use when the batteries are dead in the HF digital. I find that the batteries don't last very long so I buy them in bulk on ebay.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is true about the scale and thus the name AND the other reason I did not mention it. Other devices can have vernier scales.

My micrometer will NOT measure my workpiece— approx. 75 mm x 1.5 mm x 8 mm. Due to it’s convex/concave/flat “sides” I can’t think of a micrometer or contact point that will measure all of the detail I need.

When I want to really measure accurately, I use a mounted dial indicator that can not do this job either.

Good tip on the batteries. Another shortcoming for me is reading the vernier scale; not as easy as it once was.
 
annr said:
Another shortcoming for me is reading the vernier scale; not as easy as it once was.
Click to expand...
Reading glasses?
I have relatively low strength reading glasses that I use for computer work and slightly stronger ones for actual reading. And then I have a few pairs with very strong lenses that I use in my workshop when I need to see fine detail, these are 4.0 diopter or higher.
 
bdmicarta said:
Reading glasses?
I have relatively low strength reading glasses that I use for computer work and slightly stronger ones for actual reading. And then I have a few pairs with very strong lenses that I use in my workshop when I need to see fine detail, these are 4.0 diopter or higher.
Click to expand...
Great idea! lol I’ve got more glasses than you can imagine and see a specialist for this! Just wonky vision that I compensate for—gets harder over time.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Back in the day I was taught calipers are only as accurate as a scale.

When precise measurements are needed use a micrometer.

I have a variety of higher cost ones, and cheapies.....they all work for what we are doing.


*I need to stop using mine as a scribe
Click to expand...

LOL, I use mine as a scribe 50% of the time! It's a great function for calipers and works better than most anything (aside from a height gauge). I haven't noticed any wear on the tips of any of my calipers.

I am an engineer and own 3 pairs of Mitutoyos and several cheap pairs (as well as a few dial calipers).
The Mitutoyos are significantly better than anything cheap, one of my pairs is about 20 years and came from a guy who was really hard on tools. It still works perfectly. They are smoother and less likely to have issues than any other brand I've seen. The quality is immediately apparent.

Having said that, the cheap pairs are accurate and seem to be plenty durable. I bought a set off Amazon for $15 (M MOOCK brand which means nothing) that is working perfectly. I had to clean a bunch of grinding slivers off it and sand every edge lightly to break the burrs but for $15 I am very impressed!
 
Macchina said:
LOL, I use mine as a scribe 50% of the time! It's a great function for calipers and works better than most anything (aside from a height gauge). I haven't noticed any wear on the tips of any of my calipers.

I am an engineer and own 3 pairs of Mitutoyos and several cheap pairs (as well as a few dial calipers).
The Mitutoyos are significantly better than anything cheap, one of my pairs is about 20 years and came from a guy who was really hard on tools. It still works perfectly. They are smoother and less likely to have issues than any other brand I've seen. The quality is immediately apparent.

Having said that, the cheap pairs are accurate and seem to be plenty durable. I bought a set off Amazon for $15 (M MOOCK brand which means nothing) that is working perfectly. I had to clean a bunch of grinding slivers off it and sand every edge lightly to break the burrs but for $15 I am very impressed!
Click to expand...
Yeah..... I don't use my Mitutoyo's as scribes...haha Just the cheap ones. But I still feel guilty.

And twenty years is Just being broken in......
Most of my stuff is ancient. 😁
 
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