Review of an electronic digital caliper with a division value of 0.01 mm: accuracy is the politeness of kings!

Application of pointer and electronic calipers

How to use a dial caliper? The main indicator is recognized by the main scale, and the mantissa indicator is visible from the information of the arrow. How to use an electronic device?

There are a pair of buttons on the body of the measuring head - for resetting past readings, and for starting or ending the measuring process. By pressing these buttons in turn, the necessary measurements are taken.

Before you start using it, you should check the voltage level, because if the battery is low, the device will not show anything or will give an incorrect result.

Which company is better to choose?

One of the most important characteristics of a device that you should pay attention to when purchasing is its accuracy. If the measurements are taken incorrectly, the manufactured parts will not fit the item for which they were intended. It is for this reason that it is important to choose a tool made by a trusted manufacturer. Experts say that these are the following companies:

1. Norgau. This Russian company is considered one of the best manufacturers of instruments that are used to carry out high-precision measurements. Norgau has been producing its products for over 20 years. Moreover, the presented company is known not only in the Russian Federation. It has several subsidiaries in European countries, which allows it to be perceived as a reliable manufacturer.
2. Matrix. This manufacturer has become famous thanks to its ten-year history and large range of tools (more than 3000 items). Matrix is ​​ready to offer the consumer not only measuring, but also plumbing, cutting, carpentry tools, as well as instruments that may be needed when performing construction, finishing work and car repair.
3. Shan. This company has repeatedly received international quality marks. Despite the fact that its history began only in 2013, it has managed to establish itself as a reliable manufacturer of a variety of measuring instruments.
4. Griff. Griff has established itself as a responsible and reliable manufacturer of construction, abrasive, measuring and other equipment. It will delight consumers with a wide assortment of about 1000 items and high quality products.
5. Staver. This company is widely known for the production of high-quality power tools that may be needed when performing repairs, construction, interior decoration and measuring certain parts. At the same time, Staver is ready to offer consumers products whose quality is confirmed not only by Russian, but also by international certificates.
6. Bison This company produces not only measuring instruments, but also fittings, household goods, construction tools and plumbing components.
7. Topex. Measuring and construction tools manufactured by the Polish company Topex are extremely popular in European countries. It was founded in 1990 and managed to conquer not only European markets, but also become famous in the CIS countries.

Review of an electronic digital caliper with a division value of 0.01 mm: accuracy is the politeness of kings!

Content

• Technical Specifications of Digital Caliper
• Packaging, appearance and design of digital caliper
• Measurements using a digital caliper
• Results and conclusions

It’s already the 21st century, and the idea came to my mind to replace my old caliper, which I got from my grandfather, and my grandfather from my great-grandfather ☺ , with something more modern; sort of electronic and digital.

And so a brand new shiny electronic caliper from the Middle Kingdom ended up in my hands.

Technical Specifications of Digital Caliper

The characteristics are taken from the brief instructions supplied with the caliper:

Unlike conventional vernier calipers, it is possible to measure size differences (this is done using the zero button after the first measurement). The result can be either positive or negative (the device shows a minus sign).

The price on Aliexpress at the date of review is about 970 Russian rubles ($12.8) complete with a case, check the current price or buy.

Almost complete analogues of this electronic caliper can also be found in Russian stores using the Yandex.Market price comparison service. Prices vary widely, from approximately 1000 to 2000 Russian rubles, check current prices or buy.

Due to higher prices, stores with Yandex.Market may be of greater interest to legal entities than to individuals.

Packaging, appearance and design of digital caliper

The caliper came in a durable plastic case with two latches that securely hold its doors:

If you look closely at the photo, in the lower right corner of the case you can see a recess for a nameplate, which some virtual “manufacturers” can stick on and declare that they seem to have made the device.

In this case, there is no nameplate, and the device is sold without identification marks, as it came from a real contract manufacturer; which allows you to reduce the price by a few cents.

In the case, in addition to the caliper, packed in a trapezoidal plastic bag, there is a brief instruction manual:

Important note : the LR44 battery required for the device to operate is not included in the package, you will have to buy it separately, you can also buy it on Aliexpress, link. Price - $1.10 per dozen (!).

The appearance of an electronic caliper is similar to its mechanical counterparts:

The difference between the hero of the review and ordinary vernier calipers is only in the frame, because it contains all the electronic filling.

Let's look at the frame with the battery compartment cover removed:

On top of the frame there is a traditional screw for fixing it.

On the frame itself there are three control buttons: blue (switch mm / inches), red (on / off) and yellow (set to zero).

Additional comment is required regarding turning the device on and off, since this issue is not described in sufficient detail in the instructions.

Firstly, you don’t have to press the power button to turn on the device. The device has an automatic switching function when the frame is shifted. In this case, the device not only turns on, but also “remembers” the zero position that was set the previous time it was turned on. But resetting the zero definitely won’t hurt.

And secondly, the caliper has an automatic shutdown function during prolonged inactivity, it works after 6 minutes (tested), the function cannot be configured or disabled.

However, despite the presence of an off button, current consumption does not stop .

It appears that turning off the device actually only turns off the display.

Current consumption in the on state is 16.8 µA (microamps), consumption in the off state is 15.5 µA. That's all the savings are.

The battery compartment cover is held in place by latches. In some clones of the device it is screwed on with as many as two screws; but this, really, is an “architectural excess” (although it doesn’t interfere with anything).

Near the lower right corner of the frame there is a wheel with notches, with which the user can smoothly move the jaws of the device as they approach the boundaries of the object being measured.

The notches are made deep enough so that your finger does not slip when rotating the wheel.

Another important detail: when the jaws are brought together, no gap is found between them along their entire length. This is a basic but important check.

Due to the electronic “filling”, the frame of the electronic caliper is thicker than that of a “regular” one; but it cannot be said that the thickness has become too large:

Finally, let's look at the back of the caliper:

On the reverse side, the device is no different from ordinary calipers.

The chart on the back covers drilling and tapping in both metric and imperial systems. I am not sure of the usefulness of its application to this device; but okay, so be it.

In conclusion, it must be said that the caliper is made of real steel, and even with a characteristic “polished” relief.

There is a pleasant heaviness of metal in the hand; there is no comparison with cheap plastic consumer goods.

Thing!

Measurements using a digital caliper

This chapter will be very short.

Working with this device is almost no different from working with a conventional caliper; there is no need to relearn .

First, the measurement limit was checked. It amounted to 151.9 millimeters, which is slightly more than the declared 150 mm.

In inches, on the contrary, it was slightly less than the declared 6 inches (it turned out to be 5.98).

Measuring thin objects is quite possible, although at the limit of accuracy. For example, measuring the thickness of a chocolate wrapper:

A test measurement of the diameter of the M3 screw showed a value slightly less than 3 mm:

To check the accuracy at long distances, a comparison was made with the readings of the “old-fashioned” caliper, which has an accuracy of 0.05 mm. Unfortunately, a more suitable standard was not found in the household.

No deviations exceeding this error value were found.

Results and conclusions

This electronic caliper was a pleasant surprise: after all, they can do it whenever they want!

It combines ease of use with high precision and good workmanship.

Reading the readings is especially pleasant: instead of searching for a coincidence of vernier divisions (like ancient calipers), just look at the large numbers on the display.

In addition to measurement, useful functions include auto-shutdown during prolonged inactivity; even if the effect on the rate of battery consumption is not great.

It should be noted that the case is not too glamorous, but durable, protecting the device from adversity during storage or when moving.

When purchasing calipers, there are a few details you need to pay attention to when you receive them:

• the “body” of the device should not have abnormal bends (this happens extremely rarely; but what happens in life!);
• the jaws should be straight and meet without gaps (you need to look at the light against the background of the light source);
• the tips of the jaws should converge without distortion relative to each other;
• other little things that should not be there: bumpy frames, dents, scratches, chips, cracks, etc.

A roller with notches, on the contrary, should “dangle” freely; but when pressing with your finger, you must confidently pull the frame behind you.

Let’s not forget that manufacturing defects have not yet been completely and irrevocably eliminated.

When ordering from China, it is better to order in a case: this significantly increases the chances of the device arriving without damage. And in the future it will also help the caliper have a long and happy life.

You can buy this digital caliper on Aliexpress, check the current price or buy, or select its analogue on Yandex.Market, check prices or buy.