These Mitutoyo digital vernier calipers are precision made in Japan and are the most reliable and accurate caliper we have found, without having to pay paying silly money for the sort of thing that might be used by NASA.

Whereas is it easy to find cheap calipers that say they are accurate, mostly they are not, unless you are lucky to get a good one by chance. We have tested literally dozens of calipers, and until now we have sent them all back because they are simply not consistently accurate or reliable across an entire batch. These Mitutoyo calipers are accurate by design - every time.

Measuring in both metric and imperial in increments of 0.01mm (0.0005"), the manufacturer's claim of accuracy to +/-0.02mm (0.001") is on the cautious side, as we have found them to be consistently accurate to +/-0 when measuring up to about 50mm (2"). A manufacturers' inspection certificate is supplied with every caliper.

The graduation slide is ground and lapped to a tolerance of less than 1 micron, and the AOS induction type encoder, usually only found on far more expensive coolant-proof calipers, ensures that the reading is not affected by contamination such as water or oil or coolant on the scale.

Smooth, stable and comfortable to operate, with a stainless steel thumb-wheel built in for fine adjustment, the ABS scale does not require origin setting when powered on. In other words, no matter where the jaws are, closed or otherwise, the reading will show that measurement immediately the calipers are switched on. There is no need to close the calipers and zero them. The reading can be zeroed in any position by using the "Origin" button, , or temporarily zeroed in any postion using the "ABS" button, which will then show any plus or minus size differential when comparing different work pieces. Pressing the "ABS" button a second time will return the reading to show the proper jaw position.

Buy cheap calipers from the centre isle or online by all means. They all say they are accurate to +/-0.2mm. By pure chance, some of them are but most of them aren't, and the only way you will know is if you also buy an expensive "123 Block" or precision milled test block to check. In our testing though, upwards of half of them don't even return to zero when the jaws are closed, or there is daylight showing through the closed jaws. They are cheap for a reason.

On the other hand, Mitutoyo calipers are consistently accurate. We know because we've tested them. And in the pen industry, which routinely requires measurements down to 0.05mm (0.002") or less, accuracy and relaibility is everything.

Supplied with a hinged storage case
Requires 1 x 1.5v LR44 battery (supplied)