Digital Calipers

[Grant Lamontagne]

Anyone else use these?  I usually use the manual ones, but I decided this time to treat myself and get a digital set.  So far I'm pretty happy with them.  I can't say I know this brand, but I paid full retail (about $40) for them so I hope they are halfways decent! 

Mind you I could have probably gotten them (or a better set!) for all of about $6 on eBay, but I wanted them NOW since I'm bored, what with this silly broken ankle and all.





They seem to be reasonably accurate- there's a lot more margin for error in my fingers than there is in these calipers anyway, so the old math lessons of Significant Figures versus Doubtful Digits comes into play. 

Def

[Fortytwo]

Are those plastic? Or do they only look plastic in the picture? My understanding is that for digital calipers what you get with increased price is slower discharge-rate. Meaning that cheap ones will tend to always be out of juice just when you need them (and that's why I stay mechanical).

[Aloha]

I got a cheap one from HF&T.  I stow mine without the battery for the reason above.  They've been great for those wanting a cheap tool. 

[kmanct3]

I use digital all the time, I have 3 sets , Brown and Sharpe , Mitutoyo , and some off brand. Very handy. General is not a bad brand at all

[dks]

I have a metallic, digital one, form LIDL. I think it was around 10 Euro. It is often seen in my photographs.
I have had it for a few years and the battery is fine. It switches off automatically after some time, and manually, from what i recall.

I do have some cheap manual ones, but i do not see much point in using them any more.


The sad thing is, that after a few years if not now, most young people will not be able to read manual calipers, micrometers etc..

[Grant Lamontagne]

I use digital all the time, I have 3 sets , Brown and Sharpe , Mitutoyo , and some off brand. Very handy. General is not a bad brand at all

That's good to know.  These seem to be mostly plastic although the package said something about carbon fiber.

It also says that it is accurate to .01mm, which seems pretty accurate considering the flex and expansion/contraction of the plastic is going to be greater than .01mm isn't it?

Def

[Whoey]

I really should invest, in the meantime I frequently use my extremely accurate multitool.org ruler

[Syph007]

Ive been using cheap ones from Canadian tire (http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-digital-caliper-0586800p.html#.VtCrdea4zio)  that look similar, for years now and they are perfectly accurate to within 0.001".  I inherited a Mitutoyo from my brother in law, and yes its more accurate but I dont make parts that need to be accurate to 0.0001" so I dont use them.

If you're curious digital calipers measure distance by a change in capacitance and that's a pretty accurate method. 

[kmanct3]

Unless you work at a Tool and die or manufacturing company those are perfectly fine  . I am a machinist by trade and have used many different ones with no problem.

[eldorf.dragonsbane]

I have 4" set of digital calipers that I bought at Harbor Freight years ago. I regularly use it for everything from reloading (to insure the rounds are at the proper length), to model building, to customization of pewter miniatures for gaming, etc... When not in use for any extended length or time I do take the button cell battery out to prolong its life.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Ive been using cheap ones from Canadian tire (http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-digital-caliper-0586800p.html#.VtCrdea4zio)  that look similar, for years now and they are perfectly accurate to within 0.001".  I inherited a Mitutoyo from my brother in law, and yes its more accurate but I dont make parts that need to be accurate to 0.0001" so I dont use them.

If you're curious digital calipers measure distance by a change in capacitance and that's a pretty accurate method. 

The styling of that one and my set look very similar,  and the case appears to be almost identical.  I wonder if they both came from the same manufacturer?

Def

[jzmtl]

Mastercrap is what I use too. Apparently these cheap ones has literally 100x the standby current of a mitotoyo, which I can confirm since battery is almost always low/dead after sitting unused for a while.

I still have no idea wtf is the chart on the back is for, so I threw it out after taking the caliper apart to clean.

[Syph007]

I get about a years worth out of one battery, but I do use them daily so I dont know about standby time.  5 packs for those batteries are $1 on ebay so I stocked up.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thread Necro! 

Just pulling this back up because I just happened to have a few sets of my regular use calipers handy and easily assembled for a photo!

Top to bottom:

My regular, daily use metal calipers that I use more than any other, including the digital ones in the original post.  I am not a machinist, and a millimetre is good enough for my needs without having to go into fractions of millimetres.  They aren't perfect, but they are rugged and get the job done.

In the middle is my brass set that I use on more fragile items that might be scratched by the steel one above.  It may be a cheap pot metal type steel, but it could leave a mark if used incorrectly, so I keep these softer brass ones clean in a case between uses.  Megan likes it for her jewelry, and that's really the reason I got it.

Last up is the plastic set.  I buy these in packs of six and they are the ones I loan out or use for dirty or risky jobs they may not come back from.  They are actually quite well made for plastic calipers, and there really isn't the "slop" I would have expected from plastic.  Even better, a six pack of these costs a whopping $16.50 CAD, so if they get lost, stolen, broken, stained etc, it's not a big deal.  They are also handy to give away to people who have never used them, but are excited to learn a new instrument, and it opens up a new world for them.

Sound silly?

My father, a retired Combat Engineer for the military didn't have a set or know how to use them.  He's in his 80's.  I bought him a set, showed him how to use them and he was absolutely thrilled.

A lot of folks don't use them and never learned how.  These plastic ones allow you to make the world a slightly better place without breaking the bank! 

Def

[Farmer X]

 

[PitCarver]

Never thought about getting a digital set.
I've always got by with a couple of the brass ones.

My wife even got me one of these.
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Hey, it's fun to add things to my mini things.

[AzteCypher]

I have two sets of digital ones.  One in the garage and one in my office.  The ones in my garage have more plastic so they can take the abuse.  I use it for measuring all sorts of bolts, openings, threads, etc.

The ones in my office I use a lot for my 3D printing when I'm trying to get real accurate measurement.  I get a lot of use out of them.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Never thought about getting a digital set.
I've always got by with a couple of the brass ones.

My wife even got me one of these.
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Hey, it's fun to add things to my mini things.

That is a very cool set!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have two sets of digital ones.  One in the garage and one in my office.  The ones in my garage have more plastic so they can take the abuse.  I use it for measuring all sorts of bolts, openings, threads, etc.

The ones in my office I use a lot for my 3D printing when I'm trying to get real accurate measurement.  I get a lot of use out of them.

I have a Da Vinci Mini W+ and I use my calipers a lot when I'm 3D printing.  My Da Vinci is far from being the most accurate printer out there, so again, any measurement within +/- 1mm is more than good enough.

One of these days I'll upgrade to a Bambu Labs or something, but for now my Da Vinci is doing a good enough job of supporting my meager design skills.   

Def

[Vidar]

I have some. I recognize the little brass one which is nice to have on the desk. Then some digital ones 150-200mm sizes which are frequently used, a 300 mm manual one which is not frequently used, and a 1500mm steel one which isn't used every year. (But when you need it there are few other options, and fewer still within a budget).

I don't have any callipers with clock style reading. I get digital, and often prefer manual, put clock versions just seem like a middle ground with a clumpy add on? Am I missing something?

[lister]

I have digital ones, they are great for guick work. Though the batteries do tend to run out of power at most anoying times. So I also have a regular one.

And I have this set of credit card sized ones. Why? Something something gadgets... 

[MadPlumbarian]

Talk about opening an old subject, I have one but I’ll have to find it, the last time I remember seeing it I want to say was in the basement, but who knows
JR

[IMR4198]

    A plastic vernier caliper.  Good for a quick and dirty measurement.  Had them for ages.  Best wishes.  G
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[MadPlumbarian]

Ha, I found it, lol..
JR

[lister]

Is the battery dead?   

 

[TheNELocksmith]

Have two of the LIDL 'parkside' branded ones. They're fine for what I need, one lives on my desk at work and I bought a second to keep in the van for use on site. They don't see as much use as the workshop ones but do come in handy. Were about a tenner from memory. I have a set of brass ones somewhere, they're empire brand I think and are smaller about 100mm in length.