Digital Readout Verniers - reliable?

[Walky]

Hello All

l have a job at hand that l will need to take some bore measurements using telescopic gauges and 300mm vernier calipers. l tend to go cross eyed using the old style vernier scales.
All the new ones for sale seem to have digital readouts
- are they reliable enough to take measurements to give to a machinest to manufacture a new crosshead?
- do the professionals use these type of readouts?
- how much do you have to spend to get a caliper that is up to standard?

Thanks Guys

Walky

[Rob Charles]

Hi, I use both digital and regular dial type calipers. I have found that the digs and the dials are about the same accuracy as long as they are both quality tools. I only use digs or dials if I am working to plus /minus .005. When I do anything fussy I use Micrometers and in the case of bores telescoping gauges/inside mikes. Dial/Dig Calipers don't give me the right "feel" to get a good reading as they "spring" easily.Rob

[Craig M. Strader Sr.]

Yes they are, I use the Starrett No.721, and they're rather nice. Now they're about 10 years old so some new and improved digitals are going to be out there. The only grip I have about the digitals is when the battery goes, they're useless, so keep a set of the ol' dial calipers handy when they do.

[K D Redd]

I do not have/use a digital caliper because of the stated battery problem stated above. For measuring a bore as in a cylinder bore, I use a dial bore gauge set with a trusted micrometer.

Kent

[Peter]

The accuracy is mostly based on the proper feel by the user. This is true for me atleast, I assume most other human beings. I will make test measurements and practice with standards and jo blocks. I do the same with a mike, its all in the 'feel'.

The trade off is the easiest to read instrument is the most expensive and probably die the soonest. I dont like the digital primarily because my friend got a B&S digital caliper and it died. A vernier will last a life time and a dial caliper should last as long as you keep it clean and use it with care. A dial is easy to read and I think gives me better sense and feel for whats happening than digital.

Electronic CRAP buy definition is a crap shoot. A silicon chip or any electronic instrument might last a very long time or could die the day you take it home. One person getting 100 years service from a Starrett, will not translate into your starret lasting 6 months. Electronics is ALWAYS a stastitics crap shoot. YOU NEVER KNOW. IMHO. Batteries too, more BS.The dial type have a problem with grit and chips getting inside, while the electron have no moving parts (at least that I can see) so depending on the work environment a digital might be better than a dial.

Even some of the cheep Chinese dial calipers will surprise you. I got one that has a real nice feel to it. Went back to buy 2 more and the next lot was rough. I walked away. That Chinese still works perfect and seems as accurate as my nice clean and pristine cased Starrett.

[Walky]

Thanks Guys

l will keep my eye out for a dial vernier caliper

Walky

[Ray Freeman]

Walky,seeing you are an Aussie I'll put one more opinion on. I use this stuff for a living and if your eyes are getting a bit weak,use a good set of digital verniers and you will never go back. I have had accuracy problems with the chinese ones but I bought a set of 300 mm Mitsutoyo around 10 years ago and love them. They have been in daily use and I have replaced the battery once.As with any vernier they are reliable for 2 thou.
If you need accurate bore measurements use a inside mike and check it against a outside mike.

[2manyhobbies]

I have a set of 6" Mitutoyo digital calipers that are quite accurate, and reliable. In the six or so years I have had them I changed the battery once. Another nice feature is that they have an absolute "origin" and a "zero" setting - comes in handy when measuring. One little trick I use when measuring bolt holes (when in line with each other) is to measure a hole with the inside calipers, zero (incrementally) then measure to the longest part of the holes - this will give you the centers without any calculation. When you want to clear the offset just turn them off and on.
Long and short of it is that I use these so much I would spend the money on them again.

[Craig A]

Peter is 100% dead right!
If you don't have the right "feel" you might as well use a bent coat hanger.......
It's very difficult using even a 24" vernier because of the weight.
I used a borrowed 24" digital a few years ago for measuring a large engine cylinder. I had to use in inside spring caliper to get readings however.
I tested myself with my "old fashioned" (but near new) import 24" vernier and came up with the same readings.......days apart so I couldn't rely on memory.......
A lot of times being a thousandth or three off won't matter.......but if gets to being very critical file finishing will do the trick.......if it didn't get too big or small already

[johnny-farmall]

My experience with calipers(dial or digital) is u can take a few people to check the bore or od and get a different reading by each person. If the part that u are boring needs to be close ,i would suggest using id mics or a dial bore gauge.

[John Newman, Jr.]

Don't know how metric dial calipers are set-up, but for the inch measuring ones they are available with .100" or .200" per dial revolution. The better ones are .100" per rev. For more 'mature' eyes - it is easier to see the graduations.

[j dayman]

I have used my 6" dial Mitutoyo calipers for about 25 years with no problems whatsoever.

In that time I have tried digital ones at work and again Mitutoyo have been excellent. However digital ones at work from Fowler and Starrett (with very high costs) have had big problems with batteries, internal shorts, loss of accuracy over time (probably due to shrinking sensor strip decals) and failing displays.

I agree with others, get or borrow a bore gauge to measure bores, a caliper can't measure deep enough to get a few readings over the bore depth to see what the true condition is, as well as the skill of use issue others mention.

[Walky]

Thanks again

l have got a pair of 6" Mitutoyo Verniers and Micrometer - they are a good tools.
When l can track down a larger pair l will get those.

Long time since l have done any serious machining so l will be easing into the project and getting some help along the way.



Walky

[Samuel.G]

I would not waste money on digital calipers unless you buy a top quality make like Mitutoyo or Starret. I paid $130 for a pair of (supposedly) allright quality chinese digital calipers, and when I got them home, I found they had 4 thou of taper between the tip of the jaws and the base! Digital calipers also need to be kept Clean. Any oil or water on the scale will cause a dodgy reading. Even the sweat from your hands can throw off the cheaper ones.
I have a 6" pair of Mitutoyo vernier calipers that I use every day at work, and they seem to work well for me. Good luck, keep hunting!

[grub54891]

20 year's with the Mitutoyo vernier calipers,Haven't failed me yet.Also have the dial set and they are also good.

[ronm]

My son came from work w/a set of Fowler digital calipers that somebody dropped, so they scrapped them. The end of one jaw was bent a little. I checked them w/the standard pins from my mike set, & they were right on the money...no problem. We dressed the bent end off, & they are good enough for him...They had been calibrated just before being dropped. Waste not, want not, I say...

[Richard W.]

I have used Mitutoyp digital calipers for years, maybe a couple of decades during my 38 years working in machine shops. They are nice and work very well. I have replaced them when they wear out. The jaws become tapered and measure correctly up high in the jaws. All calipers will wear in use and it's cheaper to replace than repair. I just got a new Mitutoyo 8" coolant proof digital caliper about 3 years ago. They have proven to be real nice. I will never go back to dial calipers because a speck of dust in the rack can throw them off. I even had a pinion shaft bend in a set. Cost of repair was 2/3 of a new one. That seems to be a standard repair cost. Most everyone has had their caliper jump a tooth from grit getting in the rack. With the digitals all you need is a battery or to wipe the coolant off of them. Plus you have the advantage of instant inch to metric conversion with in the caliper measuring range.

Also I have started using the lower priced Harbor Freight digital calipers. I have the 4" and 8" ones. They have given me really good service at work where I use them daily. I use the 4" the most. I get a little over a year of battery life with them. Which is about the same as the Mitutoyo calipers. You do have to get good batteries. Some cheap ones don't last and its the same with batteries as with everything else. You get what you pay for.

The 4" digital calipers usually go on sale for about $15.00 and I have 2 of them. As you can see by the price its much faster and cheaper to buy a new caliper than to repair the old one. Assuming it needs more than a battery.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47256

I still have a 12" dial caliper that is working fine so far. But when it gives me trouble, I will replace it with a 12" digital caliper from Harbor Freight. Several guys at work also use the Harbor Freight digital caliper including my leadman. They are holding up in the machine shop very well.

Richard W.