How do you measure thickness?

[knight_toolworks]

I have been using digital calipers but they are not really the tool for the job.
So been thinking of some mechanical digital micrometers a 0-1 and 1-2 cost me about 100.00 for both locally. I don’t want a non digital readout. The mechanical display is fine for me and keeps the cost down. But are there better idea’s?

[beacon14]

the calipers work fine for me - what's the problem?

[knight_toolworks]

they work ok but it is easy to rock them and not get a accurate measurement. they are more for measure two points rather then two flat surfaces.

[Brady Watson]

$16 @ Harbor Freight...6" digital caliper. They work just fine. I've used them for measuring metal mechanical parts (which were cut on the Bot) & they are dead on. If you paid $100 for the others, take them back. You don't need that level of precision for the Bot. ANY metal digital caliper is more than adequate.

Perhaps you are not holding the caliper properly...Instead of using the thumbwheel, take your thumb and forefinger and squeeze the jaws of the caliper around the material. There's no 'rocking' using that method.

-B

[knight_toolworks]

no I said a mic not a caliper. to get a digital one they cost mroe. though I don't buy measuring tools from harbor freight they just don't hold up. but I don't buy expensive ones either but for good squares. but I also do metal work. here is what I was thinking 100.00 for a set of three http://www.grizzly.com/products/G5630

[cnc_works]

Steve, I can't speak to your preferences, but I must say that I used the $16 Harbor Freight digitals alongside my Mitutoyos for a couple years now and they are holding up perfectly and dead on accurate still when comparing. The other thing is the speed. For me a caliper is many times faster to adjust the jaws and read. As with Brady, I've evolved measuring techniques to get past any possible inaccuracies because of the jaw design. In fact, the shape of the caliper jaws lends itself to increased versatility...reading hole diameters for instance.

One of my favorite new tools over the last few months is a 4" digital caliper from Harbor Freight. Incredibly convenient to carry in an apron pocket and costing an amount that wouldn't bust the budget if they did stop working.

I might as well mention another gadget I got earlier this year...a Wixey digital angle meter. I think designed to set on a saw table, zero, then magnetically clamp to the saw blade so you can set your angle to within a 10nth of a degree. I'm thinking, though I haven't tried it yet, that it might check spindle perpendicular by clamping to a blank bit on the spindle, and checking for variation while rotating. By hand, that is.

Lastly, I guess while I'm on this runt of a rant, I might as well mention the HF digital micrometer that occasionally goes on sale for under $20. I clamp it on my Z axis and run it over the work or the table when I have to determine that I have an adequately flat surface to work from. The two nice things about this specific one is that it is easy to zero and that I can see it clearly all the way at the other end of the table...something that my poor old eyes can no longer do with a dial micrometer.

Anyway, my cent and a half contribution.

Donn

[conceptmachine]

Steve,
you should use what tool you are comfortable with,but i would recommend a friction thimble micrometer if that is what you want to go with.

[knight_toolworks]

I like the pinch method idea. but for the way I measure I like to keep the measurement locked and thats a pain with calipers.
having both types around my shop wil lbe the best I think. ehre someone finally made a digital caliper that reads in fractions and now don't need one (G)

[john_l]

I also use the metal HF digital calipers. I bought 5 of them, and keep some in the trucks.

Mine do have a button that you press to keep the measurement on the readout.

[dray]

I use these in the method that Brady described.

$9 at Harbor freight. Work fine.
If you are still having trouble, may need to resurface table

8775

[blaz_in_az]

Steve,
I just purchased a 6" digital calipers from www.PriceCutter.com (http://www.PriceCutter.com). Not only does it display inches, and milimeters, but FRACTIONS too! $39.99, cheaper at Grizzly, but higher shipping costs. Looks like unit Danny Ray shows, but also has auto shutoff. Remarkable Accurate and reasonably priced with every feature I needed.

Tim

[knight_toolworks]

of course they have one now after I bought the mechanical one that does fractions (G) but now I don't use much in the way if fractions.

[bcammack]

Here's a coupon, good through the 17th for that 6" composite Harbor Freight digital caliper. $5.99

Happy Fathers Day.


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