The digital caliper, also known as a digital micrometer, electronic caliper or digital Vernier caliper, is used to provide precise measurements i industrial and manufacturing settings. Many machine shops, wood shops and even auto repair shops employ dial or digital calipers for accurate measurements of bore holes, pistons and bolts. You can measure brake rotors or brake drums for precise thickness to discover if the component is still worthy to remain on the car, can be machined on a lathe or has to be discarded.
Instructions
1. Hold the digital camera by the stationary jaw, and spread the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw far enough to wipe the ends of the jaws. Many digital calipers feature two sets of jaws: one upper and one lower. Wipe the tips of the jaws with a clean rag before and after each use. Do not touch the metal strips on the edges of the slide scale, because the oil on your ski can can alter measurements. Always use the thumb rest on the bottom of the movable jaw to manipulate it.
2. Slide the movable jaw back so that it rests against the stationary jaw. This is the closed position for the caliper.
3. Press the "on" button. Most calipers feature two or three buttons. Look at the digital readout on the movable jaw. It should read 0.000. If it does not, then press the "reset" or "clear" button until it does. On some models, hitting the "on" button again is the reset feature.
4. Spread the caliper far enough apart to fit over a component, such as a bolt or piston. Close the lower jaws of the caliper until they are touching the component, and then look at the digital readout. This is the outside measurement of the component. To convert from inches to millimeters, simply press the "mm/in" button, and it will automatically convert.
5. Obtain the inside measurement of a component, such as a bore or bolt hole, by employing the upper jaws. With the caliper in the closed position with 0.000 displayed on the screen, insert the upper jaws into the component, and then spread the caliper apart until the ends of each upper jaw are touching the opposite ends of the component. The difference between the outside and inside measurement will determine whether the bolt or piston has to be machined down or the bore or hole has to be enlarged.
6. Decipher a depth measurement employing the blade that extends from the sliding scale when you move the movable jaw away from the stationary jaw. Place the caliper on its side, and place the bottom of the slide scale on the edge of the hole from which you wish to read the depth measurement. Turn the caliper on or reset it to 0.000 and slide the movable jaw downward until the blade touches the bottom of the hole. This is your depth measurement.
7. Place the base of the movable jaw onto the upper step of the component to take a step measurement. Slide the lower stationary jaw until it contacts the lower step to obtain your step measurement.
