What is Caliper?

Calipers are used to measure diameter and depth or to copy a measurement from one area to another. Calipers feature a major scale of measurement, a secondary scale of measurement, inner jaws to measure inner diameter, outer jaws to measure exterior diameter, a locking screw to hold the jaws in place, and, in most cases, a depth probe.

Vernier calipers are the most generally used. The vernier scale is so precise that it measures the points between the marks on a standard inch or metric scale. For example, if the primary scale has markings for every 10th of an inch, the vernier scale has markings to measure 1/a thousandth of an inch.

The granularity of vernier calipers makes them troublesome to learn, but they also include the choice of digital or dial display. Digital calipers have the added advantages of having the ability to convert from English to metric with the touch of a button. They can also plug into a pc, and because they have no shifting elements, they don’t have the toothed rack of the dial calipers.

Although useful for correct readings, adding a digital or dial display has its drawbacks. In the case of the dial show, a toothed rack is added to the perimeters of the principle scale, which may get clogged with metal chips and throw off the measurement. A display, digital or dial, could also be damaged by fluids, magnetic fields, and shock and so they are not as rugged as standard vernier calipers.

Whereas calipers are nice for measuring objects with consistent thickness, a micrometer may be vital if your item has a lip, rim, or bevel on the edge.