Backlight dial caliper

[46and2]

Does anyone make a set of dial calipers with a backlight?
Did a search, but found nothing.
I'd like to eliminate the shadow on the dial face.
Thanks.

 

[Doug Beach]

Not trying to be a smartazz, but if you’re going to add a battery, might as well go digital.

 

[tac284]

I don’t know of anyone making what you are asking for, but it could be out there I guess.

You could look at the Mitutoyo 505 series with a different color dial face. Or a Starrett 120 with a red dial face. Other than that, as mentioned go to a digital screen.

 

[46and2]

Not trying to be a smartazz, but if you’re going to add a battery, might as well go digital.

I much prefer analog.

 

[linebaugh]

I much prefer analog.

Me too on the analog. I cant see well anymore either and have considered trying a different color background but I keep getting by and the calipers are not as bad for me. I own a mitutoyo electronic but I dont use it and will assume the battery is dead. I will guess it to be 10 years old at this point but not sure of it's birthday.
For what its worth I cant see my micrometers well at all. I have to look at them from 6 angles, 3 head positions and at least 5 times to confirm the measurement to get it right. Im not even that old yet but my eyes have went to hell.

If you try the other color dials I would like to hear if they help.

 

[cmysix]

Me too on the analog. I cant see well anymore either and have considered trying a different color background but I keep getting by and the calipers are not as bad for me. I own a mitutoyo electronic but I dont use it and will assume the battery is dead. I will guess it to be 10 years old at this point but not sure of it's birthday.
For what its worth I cant see my micrometers well at all. I have to look at them from 6 angles, 3 head positions and at least 5 times to confirm the measurement to get it right. Im not even that old yet but my eyes have went to hell.

If you try the other color dials I would like to hear if they help.

That's why they make the other colors, to take the glare off, if you have that much trouble seeing a micrometer , how do you shoot? brail?

 

[Jayplace]

Me too on the analog. I cant see well anymore either and have considered trying a different color background but I keep getting by and the calipers are not as bad for me. I own a mitutoyo electronic but I dont use it and will assume the battery is dead. I will guess it to be 10 years old at this point but not sure of it's birthday.
For what its worth I cant see my micrometers well at all. I have to look at them from 6 angles, 3 head positions and at least 5 times to confirm the measurement to get it right. Im not even that old yet but my eyes have went to hell.

If you try the other color dials I would like to hear if they help.

That's why they make magnifying glasses. They're a necessity when using the .0001 scales for me.

 

[SecondsCount]

Try some diffused room lighting or reflect the light off the ceiling so that it comes in at several different angles.

 

[MislMan]

I use one of those headlight flashlights to see dark areas up close with good lighting

 

[gunnermhr]

You might prefer analog, but only until you have digital and use them for a short period of time

 

[46and2]

You might prefer analog, but only until you have digital and use them for a short period of time

I have two sets of digital calipers. Still prefer analog.

 

[foxguy]

I have seen the Mitutoyo 505 series with a Black Face, White Numbers and a Red Pointer and had always thought it would be a great one for my aging eyes.

 

[BobT]

I have a black face Brown & Sharpe that I can still see pretty well.

 

[BobT]

You might prefer analog, but only until you have digital and use them for a short period of time

I have seen digital measuring devices go completely wonky when the batteries got low. I do use digital tools occasionally but only as a comparitor not to actually measure things.

 

[gunnermhr]

I have seen digital measuring devices go completely wonky when the batteries got low. I do use digital tools occasionally but only as a comparitor not to actually measure things.

I have not experienced that issue with Mitutoyo.

 

[hdskip]

In my travels around machine shops and factories everything is transitioning to digital measuring devices. both precision and not so precision. Part of it is the ability to collect measuring data for Statistical Process Control (SPC). I'm very old school but in my discussions the verdict is digital is as accurate as analog.
That being said personal preference is the name of the game in our hobby. I personally use both as I did before I retired from a Machining career. I do however keep a supply of batteries on hand.

 

[BobT]

I have not experienced that issue with Mitutoyo.

Our Mitutoyo height gages were notorious for this issue and the daily use calipers were nearly as bad. I should note that I'm not talking about a large deviation, anywhere from .0005 - .001. I did work in a fairly dirty environment but I don't think that had much effect. The great thing about digital tools is the ability to set zero anywhere you like, this can also lead to big piles of scrap if an inexperienced operator accidently re-zeros.

 

[BobT]

In my travels around machine shops and factories everything is transitioning to digital measuring devices. both precision and not so precision. Part of it is the ability to collect measuring data for Statistical Process Control (SPC). I'm very old school but in my discussions the verdict is digital is as accurate as analog.
That being said personal preference is the name of the game in our hobby. I personally use both as I did before I retired from a Machining career. I do however keep a supply of batteries on hand.

I have seen the same thing although I think, at least in the aircraft industry, SPC has largely been abandoned. The reason my current employer went to digital tools is because most of the new hires either don't care enough or aren't bright enough to learn to read a vernier scale. I have faith in my ability to be as accurate with a digital caliper as I am with a dial, I was trained to check/verify any measuring tool prior to use and always made this my SOP.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

No one questions the dro on a lathe or mill and the technology is essentially the same nowadays. When I first got into the machining trade, they'd laugh you out of the shop for owning digital. Now, it's the norm. The biggest issue I see on here is people using calipers to do the job of a micrometer. Resolution is not accuracy. Even the very best and most expensive calipers are not designed nor intended for measuring to sub .001 tolerances.

 

[durand mortenson]

That's why they make magnifying glasses. They're a necessity when using the .0001 scales for me.

Sometimes I wear a band on my head with flip down magnifying glasses. Works for me.

Mort