Digital Calipers and Micrometers....

[EmptyWallet]

I'm looking at purchasing a set of digital calipers and micrometers.

Anyone have any experience with these? What are some good brands? I know when purchasing some items a certain brand just dominates others (Fluke).

What brands are good? Any to stay away from?

I see the guy over at ToolGuyd suggested this model for a micrometer:

http://toolguyd.com/mitutoyo-digital-micrometer-ip65/



....any thoughts?

 

[Chuck122]

it depends on what you are doing. If you plan on using it as a mechanic, you can probably get away with just about any cheap digital calipers. If you are a machinist I really can't help you too much.
Also, if you are not doing precision work day-in day-out there is no point in spending too much on those.

 

[X1 Mike]

I won't tell you not to get them because you should learn to read a micrometer which is what a lot of people will say. I will tell you that my biggest beef against those are they are overly bulky.

 

[scaron]

have you considered just getting a nice dial caliper instead? you'll thank yourself when you don't have to go looking for batteries. i just picked up a nice mitutoyo 6" dial caliper with both english traditional and metric scales on eBay for like $50. i'm just going to toss my old HF digital one; the batteries have died and it probably costs about as much to get new batteries as it does to get a new cheapie caliper. i'm finding more and more i like to go analog for the basic instruments of measurement... so much more convenient.

if you want to hunt around for good used ones, here's some names to search for: starrett, mitutoyo, brown and sharpe, lufkin.

 

[Ruger_556]

I really like my dial calipers and indicator... I've know guys that like the digital but the only benefit I see to them is quick unit conversions (Metric - Standard and vise-versa)

 

[Stuey]

There are a lot of great brands, but I prefer Mitutoyo for calipers and micrometers because they haven't disappointed me. Amazon keeps offering those mics on sale, and Mitutoyo 6" digital calipers are often on sale at Enco, MSC, and elsewhere.

I do have manual calipers and will be buying manual vernier micrometer as well after the new year once my budget recovers.

With digital instruments you do have to keep an extra battery on hand, but they're not very expensive and the small inconvenience is grossly outweighed by the benefits.

There are 3 classes of instruments - dirt cheap that work kind of okay, middle ground which are sometimes overpriced dirt cheap models, and higher priced brand-name models like Mitutoyo, Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, and the such.


For calipers, 500-196-20 is a great model. For micrometers, there are a lot of little nuances. I went with the 293-340 because it was on sale, had the range I need (0-1"), and has a ratchet spindle. When the ratchet clicks, you know it's time to stop turning. Can't say I have tried a friction thimble yet, but I liked the idea of a ratchet thimble better. I don't recall which model I used in the research laboratory, but it might have been the same,

 

[Stuey]

Right now Mitutoyo 293-344 is on sale (lightning deal) for $105 on Amazon. It has a ratchet thimble, seems like a great buy. I almost wish I waited for this one, as it has a ratchet thimble vs. small diameter ratchet stop, but i) I didn't know this would go on sale, and ii) I'm used to the smaller diameter ratchet stop from the model I used in the lab. If I had missed that deal, I would certainly would get in on this one.

 

[X1 Mike]

My opinion on mic's is don't spend too much. I personally have a set of NSK's that I use and if I need anything better I should be using gage blocks and my interapid indicator.

Here is a single NSK

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NSK-1-2-Micrometer-New-/190995881258

They are being imported by Fowler now I believe and here is a complete renamed set.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B5HOU62/?tag=atomicindus08-20

For general automotive work I really don't think you need better than this.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JMW4AS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[zkling]

Mitutoyo on the calipers, definitely. What do you want to do with the mics?

 

[Mazdaratti3]

I'd go Mitutoyo as well.

 

[RCman]

Any reason to go digital?
Unless you can't read a standard one or need the output I wouldn't want the hassle of batteries.

Also check out Starrett, they make quality stuff in the USA (for some of the lines), but like Mitutoyo they will be on the upper end of the price scale.

 

[0.511MeV]

I'm of the opinion that calipers are basically an expendable item, much like tape measures. They are a tool used in the field or workshop, subject to dirt, grease, accidental damage, coolant, metal chips, etc. They will be probably die an early death even if you are very careful. I prefer to buy cheap enough that I won't get upset when they die.

Micrometers on the other hand, should be considered precision equipment and only the best is appropriate, in my opinion. Measuring with a mic should be done in more controlled conditions, over a clean work bench or surface plate etc, and they should be treated very carefully. I prefer Swiss brands like Tesa, Etalon, etc. Mitutoyo or Starrett are also excellent. I consider mics to be lifetime tools.

 

[454ragtop]

Having started with vernier, then got a dial type, before moving on to a Mitutoyo digital caliper, as they say, you're going to have to pry the digital out of my cold dead hands. Not sure where the battery concerns are coming from, but I go years between batteries. Cheaper calipers may have lower battery life, don't know. The ability to just look at the number, and being able to switch from inch to metric is worth it for me.
Jim

 

[scaron]

i dunno, i think there are definitely "fine" calipers; there are cheap, "quick and dirty" ones as well. i intend to baby my new mitu!! my dad still has his first dial caliper although he's picked up a few HF digi's up on the way as well... granted neither of us is "industrial use". but i think a (nice) caliper is definitely worth the same care as a nice micrometer.

 

[RCman]

...
but i think a (nice) caliper is definitely worth the same care as a nice micrometer.

I agree.

 

[X1 Mike]

I'm of the opinion that calipers are basically an expendable item, much like tape measures.

WOW!!!!

So are you telling me that my 6" Mitutoyo caliper that has the year "86" engraved in the back should be thrown away?

 

[ndoran]

if you plan on doing precision work you also need to budget for an annual calibration certificate, expect to pay somewhere around $75 for an annual calibration.

At work my calibration lab re-calibrates 250 calipers and micrometers every year plus literally thousands of other pieces of measurement equipment including torque wrenches, I have one technician spends who works full time calibrating torque wrenches, calipers, micrometers, dial gauges etc.

Most of our micrometers and calipers are Mitutoyo. They are used 16 hours per day 7 days every week in our production and inspection areas. We only need to replace 1 to 2 calipers/micrometers per year because they can no longer be calibrated in spec. the failure rate for calipers/micrometers at the recalibration time is 4%. We have been using Mitutoyo for 30 years.

Note a micrometer is more accurate than a vernier caliper and the digital versions are just easier to read. the common mistake is to confuse accuracy and resolution. If you are performing an accurate measurement you also need to quote the calibration report. Unless you are doing precision work you should only need to use the reading itself.

We do this in house because it is cheaper than going outside.

Re the life of a micrometer I own some personal micrometers which I get my guys to check for me and the life depends on how clean you keep it, if it gets dropped etc.: I have a Moore and Wright micrometer made in 1975 that is still in specification I also have a Mastercraft (Canadian tire) micrometer that is 5 years old and is still in calibration and has not needed to be adjusted.

Starrett are also very good we also have their products at work and I also own som of their products.

BTW before someone asks about torque wrenches we calibrate both the fixed value and variable value torque wrenches including Snap On units, again some of these are over 20 years old and used every day. With torque wrenches not only do we perform the annual calibration but the users also perform periodic checks during the day using the bench test gauges distributed throughout the production and manufacturing areas.

Hope this helps.

 

[EmptyWallet]

Right now Mitutoyo 293-344 is on sale (lightning deal) for $105 on Amazon. It has a ratchet thimble, seems like a great buy. I almost wish I waited for this one, as it has a ratchet thimble vs. small diameter ratchet stop, but i) I didn't know this would go on sale, and ii) I'm used to the smaller diameter ratchet stop from the model I used in the lab. If I had missed that deal, I would certainly would get in on this one.

Hmmmm I think I missed the lightening deal.

Link?

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I got this a few weeks ago and I really like it. Made in Japan.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001C0ZPSY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I'm of the opinion that calipers are basically an expendable item, much like tape measures. They are a tool used in the field or workshop, subject to dirt, grease, accidental damage, coolant, metal chips, etc. They will be probably die an early death even if you are very careful. I prefer to buy cheap enough that I won't get upset when they die.

Wow, thats news to me. At work we have a number of them in the tool room, most have been used rather hard, but work fine and have been in the tool room long enough that the cases are falling apart, but not the caliper.

One good reason for using a good digital one is that most are "coolant proof" and since the digital ones don't have gears and mechanisms in them, they are pretty bulletproof.

At home my "new" go to is a 6 inch Mitutoyo digital that I picked up at the flea market for $3 in the case. Battery cover was missing, battery had been taped in, battery was gone, I had no idea if it worked. Got it home, cleaned the case thoroughly, washed out the foam in the sink with some dish washing degt., cleaned the caliper with alcohol and Q tips, and used some lighter fluid to remove the sticky from the cellophane tape.

Turns out the battery cover was obsolete and not provided by Mitutoyo any longer. Someone on this board located one on the net in Ireland, the man shipped it to his Chicago office, they mailed it to me...... Free, last one, they just wanted it gone (I also had located one of that p/n in Indonesia). Pic is before the battery cover arrived. Battery is very common, easily found at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc, 357/SR44/LR44 always use the silver oxide version, the alkaline ones are ****.

Caliper works fine, tests good with my micrometer standards.

Charles

 

[cheechi]

Right now Mitutoyo 293-344 is on sale (lightning deal) for $105 on Amazon.

So first I missed the lightning deal you got. Then I passed on one that was only 0.0001" displayed, now I missed out on that deal today. You're killing me Stuey.

I did pick up a Mitu caliper on a deal recently but I really wanted a dig mic.

 

[davethorik]

I would never buy a digital micrometer under any circumstance. A coworker had one (Starrett) and parts were not available, and it was 3-4 years old. I have heard that most of the digital mics are like this.

Now digital calipers on the other hand...I have a set of Starrett 0-6" that I bought in '06/'07 and they still work good, although the ID jaws are worn slightly. They slide very smooth and hold zero well. And...they are still using the original battery!!! I have used these every day for almost every week day and a lot of weekends since then.

 

[Stuey]

Hmmmm I think I missed the lightening deal.

Link?

Yup, you missed it.

Your best bet is to check http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref=cs_top_nav_gb27 once a day or so and filter for tools & home improvement or industrial supplies. I have seen the same 2 or 3 mics go on sale a couple of times now.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Another advantage of a digital caliper that I use a lot is for comparison measurement. I will measure a standard or established part, zero my caliper then I can quickly measure the rest and see how far off they are from the standard. Makes for quick and easy in shop QC.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[EdT]

As is always the case, it depends on what you want to do and how often. I do a lot of machining a fab work in my home shop and I have some very nice measuring tools if I need them. However, for the frequency of use and the precision/accuracy required I find my go to tool is the cheapo HF digital calipers. They are adequate for the tasks I most often do. An expensive caliper digital or otherwise is just as damaged if you drop it and prang the tips of the jaws (for example). As mentioned above, the digital is very handy for figuring out how different one part is from another or figuring how much material is left to remove from something because they can be zeroed out and then the measurement shows the difference between the target dimension (0) and the part you're working on. Very handy. I use that feature a lot in lathe work. Also, a lot of my work involves metric stuff and the ability to convert quickly is a useful feature. I sometimes use the caliper just for a converter. If you're trying to measure bearing journal dimensions, it's not the tool. For that you need some good micrometers and, even then, for an absolute reading, they need to be calibrated and you have to know what you're doing. So, pick a tool that is up to the task you need to do, but don't go overboard and assume that just because you bought the most expensive one that the output of your efforts is automatically wonderful. Buying the most expensive tennis racquet does not make you a world class tennis player.

 

[Steinmetz]

Another advantage of a digital caliper that I use a lot is for comparison measurement. I will measure a standard or established part, zero my caliper then I can quickly measure the rest and see how far off they are from the standard. Makes for quick and easy in shop QC.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

Exactly. That's all I use mine for. It does the arithmetic for me when I'm turning to a diameter or milling to a dimension. Otherwise I use a dial caliper.

I've never owned a electronic digital micrometer, just the mechanical digital types. I don't use them often. I always use a conventional micrometer (I probably own more than forty of them).