Caliper
Glossary · Inspection & Quality
At a glance
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- Inspection & Quality
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- 2 terms
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- Written in the shop
A caliper is a sliding measuring instrument that reads external, internal and depth dimensions, usually reliable to about 0.001".
In practice
Faster and far more versatile than a micrometer, and less accurate. The long jaws flex, and small errors in how square it is held show up directly in the reading.
Why it matters
A caliper is the right tool for checking stock and rough dimensions and the wrong tool for signing off a tolerance in tenths. Using it beyond its accuracy is one of the most common inspection mistakes there is.
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