Digital Calipers

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:06 pm

I jsut got a email special from preachtree I thought you turners would like, digital calipers inside and outside.
See http://www.ptreeusa.com/edirect_021811.htm

Now if someone would order them quick and tell me, are they worth it or not I would really appreciate it.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:26 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:I jsut got a email special from preachtree I thought you turners would like, digital calipers inside and outside.
See http://www.ptreeusa.com/edirect_021811.htm

Now if someone would order them quick and tell me, are they worth it or not I would really appreciate it.

Insufficient information in that description! No Specs! No detail re what 'pieces' you get(interchangable 'arms'?). Zeroing? Mode control?

I like the technique, but it has to have a rotary encoder and a lot of conversion going on!

I would be concerned re accuracy and repeatability since they are ignored in that 'ad'.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:59 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Insufficient information in that description! No Specs! No detail re what 'pieces' you get(interchangable 'arms'?). Zeroing? Mode control?

I like the technique, but it has to have a rotary encoder and a lot of conversion going on!

I would be concerned re accuracy and repeatability since they are ignored in that 'ad'.

Good Grief! It costs $30.00 and it is to be used on wood working projects. We're not engineering a replacement for the shuttle (are we?).

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:28 pm

JPG40504 wrote:Insufficient information in that description! No Specs! No detail re what 'pieces' you get(interchangable 'arms'?). Zeroing? Mode control?

I like the technique, but it has to have a rotary encoder and a lot of conversion going on!

I would be concerned re accuracy and repeatability since they are ignored in that 'ad'.

Good Grief! It costs $30.00 and it is to be used on wood working projects. We're not engineering a replacement for the shuttle (are we?).

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:59 pm

dusty wrote:Good Grief! It costs $30.00 and it is to be used on wood working projects. We're not engineering a replacement for the shuttle (are we?).

LOL. Good one Dusty, I agree with you 100%. They probably work great for turning wood.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:26 pm

dusty wrote:Good Grief! It costs $30.00 and it is to be used on wood working projects. We're not engineering a replacement for the shuttle (are we?).

Point taken!:) However if yer wanting to make 'mating' parts. . . I guess sanding to 'fit' could work(if you stopped b4 a part is too small.

I just am frustrated by the online stuff that has a 'specifications' tab that contains trivial stuff like color, finish, size of box it comes in, but no 'specs' on its capability. IMHO a 'digital' measuring gizmo should at least have an accuracy 'spec' listed.

FWIW it is a $50+ gizmo(on sale while limited quantities last.....). All that makes me suspicious and the missing 'specs' more so!

So Moi did not 'bite'!

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 6:55 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:I just got a email special from preachtree I thought you turners would like, digital calipers inside and outside.
See http://www.ptreeusa.com/edirect_021811.htm

Now if someone would order them quick and tell me, are they worth it or not I would really appreciate it.

Most interesting to me is: To do the work shown in the ad, you don't need to have any really accurate measurements at all. The screw type, inside or outside calipers will remain at their setting until purposely moved. If a person wants to duplicate an item, just set the calipers at the desired diameter and match it to the new part.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/sa_springcalipers.htm

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 7:24 pm

charlese wrote:Most interesting to me is: To do the work shown in the ad, you don't need to have any really accurate measurements at all. The screw type, inside or outside calipers will remain at their setting until purposely moved. If a person wants to duplicate an item, just set the calipers at the desired diameter and match it to the new part.
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/sa_springcalipers.htm

Says the semaphore stick man!:)

i.e. Do not measure, just check to preset gizmo!

Makes a lotta sense. Unless there are several 'things' to check!;)

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 6:20 am

Since a lot of my work is metal machining, drilling and milling, I ordered the caliper for inside measurements. Thanks ED.

michaeltoc · Post by **michaeltoc** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:43 am

I can see where these tools will be very useful. Standard dial/digital calipers are great, but you can't measure diameters greater than the throat depth, and these have a very large throat. I agree, in part, that the pictures in the ad are useless - you can do the same thing with a basic spring caliper, (provided you use gauge blocks to set the caliper).

However, I am a "precision junkie". I have and use very accurate scales & rulers from Incra and Woodpeckers as well as digital calipers. While most woodworkers laugh at the thought of measuring to 1/64" (or to 0.001" with the calipers), my philosophy is that if you measure to the 64th, and your cut is off by a 64th, then the worst you have is 1/32" which is usually quite acceptable in woodworking. If your measurement is off by a 32nd, and your cut is off by a 32nd, then the error is 1/16" which is not good.