More than you need to know about calipers, and I don't mean brakes

[ikessel@worldnet.att.net]

Dan Simoes wrote:
> 
> What's the part number on yours?  Lots of these on ebay,
> but I don't know what's what...

On ebay:
1. 38061756 STARRETT #722 ELECTRONIC, DIGITAL CALIPER $115.50

-For this price you can find a new one from a reputable vendor.
 
2. 37923197 Digital Caliper *PIC* NO RESERVE $51.00 

-This one sounds right but the pic is not loading, so I dunno.
                                                                    
Mine is a Mitutoyo 500-351 and is already obsolete, it is about 8 years
old and has been written off by the Co. Besides it has the optional SPC
output, which you don't need unless you're gonna try to reverse-engineer
your CQ in Auto CAD.

The cheapest ones in the Mitutoyo  product line could be found at the
following link (no computer Serial Port Connection):
http://catalog.mitutoyo.com/ProductCatalog/scripts/template.asp?SectionID=20&SetAnchor=true
If you insist on Mitutoyo, take your peak. I wouldn't go for less than
0-6" (0-150mm).

Here are some other sources for the 0-6" (0-150mm), ±0.001" - ±0.01mm or
better, non-SPC, digital, SAE/Metric calipers:

Imparts (800-325-9043):
1. Fall '97 cat, page 53: Stainless steel precision caliper, p/n 29752,
$69.
2. Same cat, back cover: same caliper, same p/n, $72. Get the one from
page 53. :-)
3. Fall '98 cat, page 9: Swiss precision caliper, p/n 29752, $72. The
catch is - it is made out of plastic (excuse me, "polyamid").

Griots (800-345-5789):
1. Cat # 72, page 41: same as §3 above for $70

Enco (800-873-3626):
1997/1998 cat, page 162-163:
1. Mitutoyo Solar, 500-457, $155.
2. Mitutoyo Mycal, 500-196, $118.
3. Mitutoyo Mycal Lite, 700-113, $79.
4. Interapid, 613-5806 (black), $105.
5. Interapid, 613-5807 (blue), $105.
6. Brown & Sharpe, 613-5817, $137.

Hosfelt Electronics (888-264-6464 or 800-524-5414):
Cat # 97-C:
1. Stainless steel precision caliper, p/n 54-185, $75.

Contact East (888-925-2969):
1. Electronic Digital Caliper, Chicago, p/n 409-646, $64.95.
2. Caliper, Fowler, p/n 122-175, $172.50.
3. Plastic LCD Caliper, Mitutoyo, p/n 122-254, $39.50.

Jensen Tools (800-426-1194):
1. Max-Cal, Fowler, p/n 102-220, $165.
2. Swiss Digital Caliper, General, fiberglass/polyamid, p/n 39-143, $71.

Techni-Tool (800-832-4866):
Somehow I don't seem to have their catalogue at the moment. However,
they usually carry same products as Contact East and Jensen Tools and
are not more than $1 apart in prices.

--
Igor Kessel
Two turbo quattros