WTB: Digital/Vernier Calipers

[apelly]

I have two pairs. They're crap. One's vernier, old and abused, the other is digital but eats batteries three meals a day - no auto power off. Also it doesn't have a thumb wheel. 

Can anyone recommend a reasonable pair? Metric please.

[robrenz]

What is reasonable$

[apelly]

That's a fair question and the answer is I have no idea. Say, under US$150?

[mjrandle]

Budget: Measumax or Kinchrome
Quality: Mitutoyo

Just depends on what you intend to use them for ... and whether others will want to borrow them!

Cheers,

Mike

[robrenz]

Then the answer is very easy, get these.  They will not lose the zero setting no matter how fast you move the slider. I have  used literaly hundreds of these built into some of the products I make and I use them in the shop daily. I don't know if that is the very best price but it is not bad.

Edit: battery (1 SR44) lasts over a year and I never turn them off.

[Paul Moir]

Mitutoyos are pretty much the most highly regarded, and you're in their price range.

That said, no digital caliper really autopowers off anymore.  They can't or they'll loose their position if you move it while they're off.  They just blank the display to make you feel better.  Of course, the LCD display consumes practically nothing.

[robrenz]

These Mitutoyo absolutes remember position even when the slider is removed from the beam As long as it has battery power it will not lose its origin setting.  I found this out because I chop the calipers up to use them as a built in absolute readouts and I remove the slider from the beam while modifying them for my application.

[apelly]

Then the answer is very easy, get these.  They will not lose the zero setting no matter how fast you move the slider. I have  used literaly hundreds of these built into some of the products I make and I use them in the shop daily. I don't know if that is the very best price but it is not bad.

Edit: battery (1 SR44) lasts over a year and I never turn them off.

FUCK ME!

Living in New Zealand really blows sometimes. Amazon will not ship those here. Sigh. At least we have the internet these days so I'll shop around.

[apelly]

These Mitutoyo absolutes remember position even when the slider is removed from the beam As long as it has battery power it will not lose its origin setting.  I found this out because I chop the calipers up to use them as a built in absolute readouts and I remove the slider from the beam while modifying them for my application.

You chop up an instrument like this? <shudder>

[apelly]

Ordered Mitutoyo ABSOLUTE 500-196-20

Thanks for your help guys.

[robrenz]

I make these custom cases that hold the guts of the digital and a short piece of scale. There are buttons and a battery screw that go into the case. They are air purged to keep out all the grinding swarf of the machines they go on. That is a very inexpensive way to get an absolute position indicator compared to any industrial options.

[Robreeves]

I have no idea if they ship outside the US, but Harbor Freight has all kinds of digital calipers that are super cheap.  Not horrible quality.  You can find articles on the web about interfacing them via RS-232 also.

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=calipers

http://robocombo.blogspot.com/2010/12/using-tis-launchpad-to-interface.html

[Corporate666]

I make these custom cases that hold the guts of the digital and a short piece of scale. There are buttons and a battery screw that go into the case. They are air purged to keep out all the grinding swarf of the machines they go on. That is a very inexpensive way to get an absolute position indicator compared to any industrial options.

From one machinist to another, and assuming you are making that from raw material, nice machining work! 

How are you getting those slots in the back - slitting saw in a second setup? 

[robrenz]

Thanks, yes from bar stock and a thin woodruff cutter for the slots. The main purpose of the slot is to get a flat wall behind those little .094 diameter pillars that are hollow milled. They have 0-80 tread formed holes that hold the digital guts in place. I machine the plastic housing of the caliper to fit in that cavity and have 2 delrin rails that hold the scale in location.

[slateraptor]

Can anyone recommend a reasonable pair? Metric please.

TESA || Mitutoyo...I'd say Browne & Sharpe (TESA rebadge) but my personal vernier is imperial and IDK if they're still manufactured.

I have no idea if they ship outside the US, but Harbor Freight has all kinds of digital calipers that are super cheap.  Not horrible quality.

That's a first.

[deth502]

vernier or digital.

what about a dial caliper? the precision of a digital, without haaving to worry about batteries EVER.

[apelly]

Thanks, but too late for me guys. Hopefully it helps the next guy.

[Dave]

what about a dial caliper? the precision of a digital, without haaving to worry about batteries EVER.

Nope. Digital readout is far more convenient to use and it also offers the null function. Is it really that difficult to swap a button cell once a year?

[deth502]

what about a dial caliper? the precision of a digital, without haaving to worry about batteries EVER.

Nope. Digital readout is far more convenient to use and it also offers the null function. Is it really that difficult to swap a button cell once a year?

yes.

yes it is.

[Galaxyrise]

Then the answer is very easy, get these.

While this advice is a year old, I suspect it's still current   (though it looks like the model number is -30 now) I've never used calipers like this, and I'd like to get one... but I'm unsure between the 6 and 8 inch version.  Is see you're recommending the 6, is the 8 just extra money or is it actually detrimental to have the longer one some times?

[BillWojo]

As a machinist I like the 8" better and the Micy's are first class. Over that I use Starrett Master verneer calipers, easy to read for verneers and exceptionally well made.

BillWojo

[robrenz]

+1  I have a 6" and 24" of the Starrett master verniers and the 50 division vernier is much easier to read.

[marshallh]

I have one of those Mitutoyos that was linked and used it since last year. Really solid and gives me zero problems.
Have the 6 inch one since I do mostly small pcb work.

[apelly]

I'm unsure between the 6 and 8 inch version.  Is see you're recommending the 6, is the 8 just extra money or is it actually detrimental to have the longer one some times?

The ones recommended by Rob are excellent. I'm very happy with them.

Bigger is better however. Occasionally I want larger ones, but when I weighed up the price difference I opted for 6". I'm still happy.

[HighVoltage]

I make these custom cases that hold the guts of the digital and a short piece of scale.

robrenz,
That is impressive machining!

I have used many different digital calipers over the years and the one that is the best for the money really is the
Mitutoyo ABSOLUTE 500-196-20
There is also a shorter (100 mm) and a longer version (300 mm) available from Mitutoyo
Interestingly, I find myself using the 300 mm long one most often.

Only one problem with Mitutoyo, same as with multimeters.
One is not enough and suddenly you are ending up with five.