Thread: Mitutoyo Vernier Repair?

I have a H&F digital caliber that is wildly inaccurate but “working”.
I also have these which a “helper” in my shed dropped to the floor. There is no visible damage but something has happened to the gear and track inside and they now don’t move.

Can you get them repaired/serviced and is it viable cost wise compared to replacement?

I would take it apart and have a good look at everything, I have fixed a number of dti's just look carefully and take some photos so you can reassemble it.

You can get dial calipers of gumtree pretty regularly for under $60, no way a professional will repair it for less.

I had a look into how to disassemble them online.
My concerns there are. New parts needed, further damage ie the tension spring.

I prefer this older style to the new plates bidy ones.

I've fixed them before. Similar sort of issue. The parts several years ago were around $80. Mitutoyo is a quality brand and worth doing if they are what you want, but there certainly are cheaper alternatives out there.

Michael

$80 for a part for some calipers worth $120-130 new replacement seems a silly way to go.

Any recommendations brands for CHEAPER ALTENATIVE brands of either dial or digital callipers?

Is the Hare & Forbes Measuremax lines worthwhile?

Originally Posted by DSEL74

$80 for a part for some calipers worth $120-130 new replacement seems a silly way to go.

Any recommendations brands for CHEAPER ALTENATIVE brands of either dial or digital callipers?

Is the Hare & Forbes Measuremax lines worthwhile?

One thing I have come to realize over the last couple of decades of using digital callipers is to avoid those that attach the thumbwheel adjuster using a plastic parts as they eventually break.

Last year I bought this cheap set (the 150 and 300mm) of digital callipers and I am pretty happy with them for the level of work I do.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/150-200-...from=R40&rt=nc

When I was working we bought a selection of callipers for trial use by students and we were very impressed with the accuracy of even the cheapest callipers even after a years worth of student use. We eventually kitted out several labs and the the "take home experiments in a suitcase" with dozens of these callipers and they stood up to the student punishment reasonably well. They are of course not appropriate if you want certified accuracy

Just to add another perspective, I got a free set of digital calipers with a reasonable sized order from an Australian supplier, when they arrived the movement felt like it had just come out of the cement mixer, so a look see was undertaken, the photos would seem to tell most of the story, the resistance welded depth rod just fell off and the angle grinder completed the fit and finish. The box was ok though.

Would be best if buying other than known quality brands, try before you buy, or have a good return policy.

cal2.jpg
cal1.jpg

This is my favorite dig caliper https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/iGaging-...from=R40&rt=nc
I like the big screen and you could have 4 or 5 of these igauging calipers for the price of 1 mitty.

cheers, shed

I guess it's horses for courses a bit here. I would happily pay $80 to repair those calipers because a new set would cost lots more than that and the end result would be a reliable measuring tool.

Over the years I've bought some 'cheap' gear and sooner or later find that it really does not cut it - I had some digital calipers that drank batteries; a sliding protractor that felt like it was full of sand; another digital caliper that would dramatically change its reading just with a little extra pressure on the jaw and a micrometer that was stiff enough that you were never sure whether it was against the part or had just jammed.

Mitutoyo is a recognised brand in metrology because it is accurate, repeatable and precise, and consistently so. Take any of those 4 elements out and the gear will be cheaper but can you rely on what it tells you?

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Mitutoyo is a recognised brand in metrology because it is accurate, repeatable and precise, and consistently so. Take any of those 4 elements out and the gear will be cheaper but can you rely on what it tells you?
Michael

I use a digital caliper for rough measurements and almost never use them when machining to a finish, so no I don't rely on them, not even a mity.
Here is a comparison that a bloke has done with seven different digi calipers including a mitutoyo and the iGaging.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2lza0RZII8

cheers, shed

oops, this link here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yqZx_FNbSs