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Digital Vernier on sale at Maplins - £10

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RandyT:

I just want to support what Fozzy has been saying.  I've been using these things for years.  Last place I worked, we spent almost $300 on a set of Mitutoyos, and everyone was always fighting over them.  I got tired of it and ordered a half dozen of these, based on the set I bought for myself earlier.

They always read the same as the Mitutoyos, but were just a shade lower in quality of the overall construction.  One of my past machinists told me these were junk when he sent me some out of spec parts one time.  So we got out his gauge blocks for some tests and he whistled a different tune.

For about $10 more (maybe not from this source) you can pick up a set that has a larger display.  The display isn't the only difference. That model also seems more sturdy and more Mitutoyo-like in construction.

In any event, yeah, if you need a set, don't hesitate.  But for most in this hobby, a cheap set of plastic ones will suffice (or a ruler :) )

RandyT

councilface:
 Im not having a dig guys but I've worked in metrology for over ten years now. There are scores of reasons why the mitutoyos arent measuring accurately anymore, but brand new - they are the best. What you guys are doing is a bit like comparing a Ford to a Rolls Royce (Or a sinclair spectrum to the supreme C=64 - if you like).
 Saying that these verns will be fine for what we use them for. I use a crappy pair of mitutoyos that failed UKAS calibration. They also come in handy when I cant find my adjustable spanner  ;)

Franco B:

--- Quote from: councilface on January 26, 2008, 06:54:44 pm ---They also come in handy when I cant find my adjustable spanner  ;)

--- End quote ---
When I was at secondary school I found a boy using a vernier caliper as some kind of adjustable wrench to do the nuts up on his bike, now that was funny!

RandyT:

--- Quote from: councilface on January 26, 2008, 06:54:44 pm --- Im not having a dig guys but I've worked in metrology for over ten years now. There are scores of reasons why the mitutoyos arent measuring accurately anymore, but brand new - they are the best. What you guys are doing is a bit like comparing a Ford to a Rolls Royce (Or a sinclair spectrum to the supreme C=64 - if you like).

--- End quote ---

I used to grind and polish glass flat to within 1/10 of a wavelength of light, but to apply those same considerations when sanding a wood panel is silly.  I think what is being said here is that, for anything but the most demanding measurement requirements, these are as good as the Mits.  The error is is about +/- .001"  My experience is that, when used properly, it is less than that.

How many here will know the difference in accuracy of a single thousandth of an inch (or less) between these and the Mits?  Certainly not enough to quibble over the superiority of something costing 10x more.  Verniers aren't capable of the same accuracy as micrometers or gauge pins for the really tight tolerance stuff anyway.

RandyT

Fozzy The Bear:

--- Quote from: RandyT on January 27, 2008, 08:59:55 pm ---I used to grind and polish glass flat to within 1/10 of a wavelength of light, but to apply those same considerations when sanding a wood panel is silly.

--- End quote ---

I have to agree with Randy...... It reminds me of a story told by a friend of mine who sent an engine crankshaft to a formula1 race car manufacturer that he knew, to have it reground. It came back with a tolerance sheet showing the grinding marked to 0.010 which he assumed was 100Th of an inch!! he rang them up and ranted that his crankshaft was going to be way too far out of tolerance and he wanted his money back and a replacement shaft.  He had this little rant and then the person on the other end of the phone said... "you do realise that we ground it to a tolerance of 100Th of a micron not 100Th of an inch don't you!!"  there was more than an embarrassed silence at that point....

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

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