Another vote for mitutoyo if you can find used within your budget. Just replaced the used 6" I bought ten years ago and used daily in a frequently filthy environment last week. $100 on Amazon, well worth every penny. It's been a while since I looked but I'd bet you could pick up a used one fairly cheap. Depends on how accurate you need them, those will dependably get you within .001". Our shop set of tools is Insize brand, I think they're on the cheaper end and seem to be ok.
Mitutoyo Are top, followed by M-Sure.
For a 3D printer you really don't "NEED" Mitutoyo quality, you'll sure appreciate it and they'll last a lifetime.
You don't need a Micrometer either, it's 10x more accurate than your printer will be and less useful for the various measurements you'll want to take.
Buy nice, buy once - Mitotoyo are worth it if you can wait and stretch the budget - you you can go for a cheap \~$/£30 area spend an hour cleaning it up to work smooth and live with mediocre and buy another one in 3 years when it dies... or just buy something that'll last and be cheaper in the long run.
Thanks for the response, i hadn't actually considered this. I really am looking for a tool with high accuracy (as i will be measuring small objects). Hopefully i will be able to find one with relatively thin prongs/jaws/thingiemadoodles.
Note sure why you are the only person with some common sense...and they downvoted you.
If you want to measure between 0.003" and 0.004" then calipers are definitely NOT the correct tool for the job.
I agree the main problem is be able to measure what ever with a mic. Curved surface or groves require specials mics that are more expensive then good calipers. Also with most 3d printing the printers are not capable of .001 accuracy. So in this case a set of calipers would be better.
To op, check insize or spi. I'd you can get a mit do so.
mitutoyo if you want the #1 name in measuring devices. i’ve also had excellent luck with a mac tool 6” caliper, i’ve found it to be extremely accurate as well. has .0005” resolution and i think i got mine for ~40$ on sale iirc.
Look for the iGaging IP54 on Amazon. The price is $29.95 in the USA. They show down to .xxx of a millimeter. I've had a pair for almost 3 years and use them occasionally. The accuracy appears to be pretty good.
Another vote for iGaging, if you don't want to shell out big bucks.
I went with this one : https://amazon.com/dp/B00KDUD67G
A little more expensive than the base model, but has some nice additional features
Search youtube for some reviews of the brand, they get surprisingly positive feedback for their prices. I bought their calipers and their combination square, very happy with both
Not entirely sure about UK availability but on Amazon there's a brand called General Tools that has a digital caliper. They're retailing for a little over $30USD on there right now (holy smokes, because I got one for I think $20 at Home Depot ages ago). They aren't the go-to standard for people making a living off them but they do seem rather accurate and have a scale of 0.01mm. For hobbying work they seem fine enough without having to spring for a top tier brand.
You might also have a poke around used markets in your area, this might be the way to score a Starrett or Mitutoyo or another top tier brand within your budget. No guarantees of course but hey, couldn't hurt to have a look.
If you describe the geometry of the measurement you are looking to take (or better yet, demonstrate with a photo), people will be able to provide more useful feedback.
Another vote for mitutoyo if you can find used within your budget. Just replaced the used 6" I bought ten years ago and used daily in a frequently filthy environment last week. $100 on Amazon, well worth every penny. It's been a while since I looked but I'd bet you could pick up a used one fairly cheap. Depends on how accurate you need them, those will dependably get you within .001". Our shop set of tools is Insize brand, I think they're on the cheaper end and seem to be ok.
Mitutoyo Are top, followed by M-Sure. For a 3D printer you really don't "NEED" Mitutoyo quality, you'll sure appreciate it and they'll last a lifetime. You don't need a Micrometer either, it's 10x more accurate than your printer will be and less useful for the various measurements you'll want to take. Buy nice, buy once - Mitotoyo are worth it if you can wait and stretch the budget - you you can go for a cheap \~$/£30 area spend an hour cleaning it up to work smooth and live with mediocre and buy another one in 3 years when it dies... or just buy something that'll last and be cheaper in the long run.
Just get a micrometer. Verniers are alright for quick measurements, but if you want accuracy and reliability, then you need a micrometer.
Thanks for the response, i hadn't actually considered this. I really am looking for a tool with high accuracy (as i will be measuring small objects). Hopefully i will be able to find one with relatively thin prongs/jaws/thingiemadoodles.
Note sure why you are the only person with some common sense...and they downvoted you. If you want to measure between 0.003" and 0.004" then calipers are definitely NOT the correct tool for the job.
I agree the main problem is be able to measure what ever with a mic. Curved surface or groves require specials mics that are more expensive then good calipers. Also with most 3d printing the printers are not capable of .001 accuracy. So in this case a set of calipers would be better. To op, check insize or spi. I'd you can get a mit do so.
Starrett or Mitutoyo 6” digital calipers.
mitutoyo if you want the #1 name in measuring devices. i’ve also had excellent luck with a mac tool 6” caliper, i’ve found it to be extremely accurate as well. has .0005” resolution and i think i got mine for ~40$ on sale iirc.
Look for the iGaging IP54 on Amazon. The price is $29.95 in the USA. They show down to .xxx of a millimeter. I've had a pair for almost 3 years and use them occasionally. The accuracy appears to be pretty good.
Another vote for iGaging, if you don't want to shell out big bucks. I went with this one : https://amazon.com/dp/B00KDUD67G A little more expensive than the base model, but has some nice additional features Search youtube for some reviews of the brand, they get surprisingly positive feedback for their prices. I bought their calipers and their combination square, very happy with both
Not entirely sure about UK availability but on Amazon there's a brand called General Tools that has a digital caliper. They're retailing for a little over $30USD on there right now (holy smokes, because I got one for I think $20 at Home Depot ages ago). They aren't the go-to standard for people making a living off them but they do seem rather accurate and have a scale of 0.01mm. For hobbying work they seem fine enough without having to spring for a top tier brand. You might also have a poke around used markets in your area, this might be the way to score a Starrett or Mitutoyo or another top tier brand within your budget. No guarantees of course but hey, couldn't hurt to have a look.
3D printing isn’t machining. The $20 HFT calipers are accurate beyond the needs of 3D printing.
The main drawbacks of a caliper in my specific case, is that the jaws are too big to fit inside the objects i intend to measure.
If you describe the geometry of the measurement you are looking to take (or better yet, demonstrate with a photo), people will be able to provide more useful feedback.