Caliper Tips and Tricks

  We are all familiar with the versatility of calipers—Vernier, dial, or digital. On the shop floor, in the inspection room, or even now for the home hobbyist, the caliper is a fast and easy-to-use tool to make basic length measurements.

Calipers: Ideal For Measurments On The Go

  Although it has been around for a long time, the caliper is still an extremely versatile and useful tool for making a wide range of distance measurements (both ODs and IDs).

Details Differentiate Snap Gages

  Snap gages are most frequently used in production environments where precise diameter or thickness measurements need to be made quickly and repeatably. They can be hand held or mounted on frames, and typically consist of a "C" frame, two anvils (one fixed and the other under spring tension), and a backstop on the frame to locate the part.

Evaluating Gaging for the Shop Floor

  Measuring instruments have been used for the inspection of manufactured parts ever since the first vernier caliper was introduced.

Give Your Mechanical Snap Gage a 50,000 Mile Checkup

  Your snap gages have been out on the shop floor for years and have served you well. Normally, they are zeroed with a zero master, measurements are made, and all is well.

Micrometer Accuracy

  With the number of micrometers on the shop floor and in inspection areas these days, it’s important to understand the degree of confidence that one can expect from this instrument.

Micrometers: Measuring Under The Influence

  The basic micrometer is one of the most popular and versatile precision hand-held measuring tools on the shop floor.  While the most common type is the outside diameter style, the principle can be used for inside diameters, depths and grooves.

O.D. Gaging Can Be a Snap

  Insert a work-piece into a snap gage and you'll understand how these extremely effective, fairly simple tools for checking precision OD’s got their name.

"Stylin" With Your Micrometer

  Convenience is one of the reasons the micrometer is often the tool of choice for length/diameter measurements.  The basic micrometer provides direct size information quickly, has high resolution, and is easily adaptable to many different measurement applications.

The Digital Caliper as Swiss Army Knife

  The Swiss Army knife has been around for over 100 years. It's an invaluable collection of tools and accessories that can get you by in an emergency. The same can be said of the Universal Digital Caliper.

Using Adjustable Snap Gages

  Make sure the gage is suited to the application.  The anvils should be narrower than the part being measured to avoid uneven wear on the measuring surfaces.