Mitutoyo problems

[faiee]

I purchased a new mitutoyo digital caliper a few months ago, model no. 500-196-20.
Periodically the caliper will switch itself from inches to mm or when measuring the ID of an item will turn off when the ID measuring tangs make contact with whatever I am measuring.
I don't feel like i am pushing hard at all when measuring, just enough for it to be snug and give the proper reading. Is there an electrical short somewhere, a problem with my battery?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PelicanPines]

Sounds like a short... call their customer service

 

[tool_scrounge]

One question - from whom did you buy it? There is a large number of counterfeit Mitutoyo calipers out there (especially new on Ebay and thru third party sellers on Amazon from what I have read) that look like the real thing but are not. A big clue is Mitutoyo calipers have amazing battery life because they go to virtually no power draw when turned off. The clones one do not have this feature.

 

[Advan]

I mean no disrespect by this, but there are fakes out there. Are you certain you bought genuine?

 

[faiee]

It came with all of the papers, original inspection certificate w/ matching serial numbers and warranty booklet etc. It also recently passed a UKAS accredited calibration.
Certain that it is genuine.

I will get some pictures on monday as they are in my toolbox.

Edit: should also add that its still on the new battery I put in it in april, how long do the counterfeit batteries last?

 

[royesses]

The fake calipers eat batteries. Mitutoyo calipers have electronics that allow the batteries to last a year or more. It is possible that you got a defective Mitu as that can happen. It will be under warranty so contact Mitu for warranty service. They stand behind their tools.

Roy

 

[Olafur]

They fake the paperwork too.It's more likely to be genuine if the certificate is signed by pen, and not just copied.

After some research I bought mine off Ebay from Japanese seller. I decided to go with 200mm IP67 version because they are still made in Japan.

A bit expensive but no regrets.

 

[txvwnut]

What I found with mine was the battery contacts would get a little oxidation on them and cause mine to shut off. I quit using it when it wouldn't stay calibrated and went back to my vernier caliper.

 

[Wamsutta]

I purchased a new mitutoyo digital caliper a few months ago, model no. 500-196-20.
Periodically the caliper will switch itself from inches to mm or when measuring the ID of an item will turn off when the ID measuring tangs make contact with whatever I am measuring.
I don't feel like i am pushing hard at all when measuring, just enough for it to be snug and give the proper reading. Is there an electrical short somewhere, a problem with my battery?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

That's the dead give away right there. Warranty replacement time.

 

[Olafur]

What I found with mine was the battery contacts would get a little oxidation on them and cause mine to shut off. I quit using it when it wouldn't stay calibrated and went back to my vernier caliper.

Odd. Usually you have to drive a sizable truck over them to get destroy them. Perhaps you got one of the Chinese fakes, or a dud.

 

[faiee]

I should probably have mentioned the issues are periodic. They do not happen all of the time.
I will contact mitutoyo later in the week if that's the case.

 

[jbaccell]

The ones I bought on eBay were counterfeit. They came with all the paperwork you described.... Took some effort but after surfing the net and the Mitutoyo website, I was able to verify that they were in fact fakes and got my money back through PayPal.

 

[faiee]

The ones I bought on eBay were counterfeit. They came with all the paperwork you described.... Took some effort but after surfing the net and the Mitutoyo website, I was able to verify that they were in fact fakes and got my money back through PayPal.

Could you send me some pictures of the defining features of a counterfeit? They were purchased from a private seller with over 12 years of account history, not a business.

 

[txvwnut]

Odd. Usually you have to drive a sizable truck over them to get destroy them. Perhaps you got one of the Chinese fakes, or a dud.

Nope bought it in 1987 right after they came out. I was of the thinking that the electronic digital had to be the best thing, in reality that 50 year old vernier I got is actually the best thing.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Could you send me some pictures of the defining features of a counterfeit? They were purchased from a private seller with over 12 years of account history, not a business.

Post a clear picture of the unit. Fakes are sometimes pretty good, but usually still identifiable. Mitutoyo digital calipers are probably one of the most faked tools currently made.

 

[faiee]

Post a clear picture of the unit. Fakes are sometimes pretty good, but usually still identifiable. Mitutoyo digital calipers are probably one of the most faked tools currently made.

Having spoke to someone at work whose had a few pairs he assures me they are genuine and the only issue is the battery contacts which have been bent out, problem seems to be solved.

I found when the battery is removed and put back in before the capacitors discharge it switches back to metric & when the caliper was on its end (how i was measuring the ID of something) the battery wasn't making proper contact.

This all explains the issues I was having.