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Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:32 pm
by HALODIN
Hello,
I'm conscious my digital calipers are at the lower end of the market and they probably need replaced. In the grand scheme of things, the price isn't a major factor but what is critical is they're extremely accurate and reliable, good enough for a gunsmith.
With that in mind, can anyone suggest a set that will do the job?
Cheers,
Craig.
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:33 pm
by Demonic69
The ones that adafruit stock are supposedly some off the best around
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:36 pm
by HALODIN
These little fellas? Are they good enough for a gunsmith?
http://www.adafruit.com/products/294
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:40 pm
by Demonic69
Those ones yeah. Apart from form factor I can't see you needing anything more. Not sure if there are different styles that would suit a gunsmith more though
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:32 pm
by dromia
I bought a set of them a couple of years ago, measured fine but there was no on/off switch and the battery life was sh!te 2-3 months with light daily use so I binned them.
Went back to my old Moore and Wright vernier and bought a magnifying glass, happy now.
I'm still using the micrometer as I haven't had to change the battery yet and gets more use that the calipers did.
Digital, a pig in a poke at best.
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:44 pm
by Demonic69
My digital calipers were only cheap but get a fair bit of use and the battery lasts ages. Must have had a duff set Adam :-)
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:49 pm
by dromia
Could be, but I can't be arsed with companies that employ the Ikea model of quality control. Get the customer to do it. Like Mitutoyo do.
Analogue good!
Digital bad!
Too much to go wrong with digital kit in my experience, and easy to build in obsolescence.
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 5:56 pm
by billgatese30
We use Mitutoyo almost exclusively at work and its good stuff. Vernier calipers are only ever good to approx .02mm anyway so if you get some gauge blocks (or measure a machined block with something more accurate like a calibrated micrometer) you can verify the readings of your calipers and save yourself some time and effort.
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:00 pm
by dromia
The Mitutoyo measured OK it just ate batteries, everytime you picked the damn thing up you expected it to be dead.
I use a 1" gauge block.
Re: Good digital calipers
Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2014 6:04 pm
by billgatese30
dromia wrote:The Mitutoyo measured OK it just ate batteries, everytime you picked the damn thing up you expected it to be dead.
I use a 1" gauge block.
Either duff batteries or a duff instrument at a guess then, however horses for courses and if you can use an old fashioned vernier then they are no less accurate!
