{"id":719,"date":"2019-09-22T10:59:59","date_gmt":"2019-09-22T15:59:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robotsbench.com\/?p=719"},"modified":"2023-12-18T21:52:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T02:52:58","slug":"digital-calipers-reviews-for-makers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/robotsbench.com\/digital-calipers-reviews-for-makers\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Calipers Reviews for Makers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TLDR; The Neiko 01407A Electronic Digital Caliper<\/a> is a great option for small project with a decent price. For a premium tool, the Mitutoyo 500-197-30 Advanced Onsite Sensor (AOS) Absolute Scale Digital Caliper<\/a> is hard to beat, but a lot more expensive.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calipers have long been a staple of the engineering and building community. However, they were traditionally very limiting in terms of both cost and accessibility, so few makers would have one on their bench. Until recently, calipers were analog devices that were difficult to read, and would often cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Modern digital calipers are now not only extremely easy to use but very affordable as well. You don’t need to be an engineer to get a lot of use out of calipers. When you’re building things, a set of digital calipers can make your work easier and more efficient when you’re trying for example to fit a project in a case, or replicate a small part. Theses digital calipers will help you choose the best option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should you look for in a set of digital calipers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The market options for digital calipers are more varied than ever so it is important to know what features are available and what you need. Some features are a must-have for any project, whereas some might only be needed for more specific applications. At its simplest a caliper is simply an adjustable set of jaws that have the ability to display the distance between those jaws. But there are a lot of additional features to consider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resolution<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the key selling points when working with calipers is the resolution. This refers to how small of a distance the caliper can accurately measure. Generally, most calipers will have at least a 0.0005″ resolution. In other words, the caliper can measure increments as small as five ten-thousands of an inch. On the other hand, for most hobbyist project, you generally do not need to worry about resolution: even the least expensive calipers will have more than enough resolution to satisfy your needs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depth and Interior Measurement Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned earlier, the main use of calipers is to measure the distance between the jaws. But this only allows measuring the outside size of an object. Often, it is useful to be able to measure the inside of an object, such as a pipe or the opening of a container. For this, many calipers have a second set of jaws that are mounted in reverse orientation, allowing the inside measurement to be taken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, some calipers have a depth option. This takes the form of a small extension to the end of the caliper, which can be stuck into a hole or opening to measure the depth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unit Conversion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When working on a project, it is common to have to switch back and forth between units. While it is possible to convert millimeters to inches manually, this can be an annoying and slow process that slows down your workflow. Many calipers offer the option to convert on the fly with the push of a button. Further, some calipers offer the ability to display inches in fractions, making the size easier to equate to the units you’re usually see when purchasing parts or on your measuring tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Absolute and Relative Measurement Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two ways in which a caliper can measure an object: the absolute measurement, and the relative measurement. The absolute measure is simply the distance between the jaws at any point. This is the most obvious way to use a caliper and is generally the default option. However, having the ability to utilize a relative measurement is useful in many instances. A relative measurement option allows you to zero the measurement at any point and then begin measuring from that point. Thus, if you need to compare the difference in the thickness of two objects, a relative mode will facilitate that without requiring additional math. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the digital calipers that we will review:<\/p>\n\n\n\n