All around measuring tool

[mototraxtech]

Is there a really good all around measuring to to measure inside and outside dimensions on a lathed part. I have around 300 to 400 to spend on the tool. I have been looking at the mitutoyo's quntimike micrometers but that will only do outside dimensions. I also need some accurate inside measurements as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Oh and the tolerances I am looking for are .001 +- .001 although .0001 +- .0001 would be way better.


Thanks!

 

[65535]

For that money get yourself a mitutoyo mic. In 0-1" and 1-2" and if you get an amazing deal larger. Then get a good bore guage set which will do ID measurements when used with your mics.

 

[precisionworks]

get a good bore guage set which will do ID measurements when used with your mics.

+1

Starrett & Mitu make the best telescopic bore gauge sets, but I got a good buy on a set from Products Engineer Corp (PEC):

http://www.productsengineering.com/gages/index.html

Imported but very nice, although not as smooth as either Starrett or Mitu. Whichever set you buy, take the time to learn to use them & develop the proper feel. When used correctly, you can repeat an ID measurement to within a couple of tenths.

A few to look at on eBay:

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313&_nkw=S579HZ&_sacat=See-All-Categories

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=mi...907&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

 

[wquiles]

For that money get yourself a mitutoyo mic. In 0-1" and 1-2" and if you get an amazing deal larger. Then get a good bore guage set which will do ID measurements when used with your mics.

+1

Exactly what I did. I have the 0-1" and 1-2" Mitutoyo QuantuMike, and a set of bore gauges. For most everything I do, I don't even use the Mitutoyo's - just use my trusty Starrett Master Vernier 50-division calipers:

The Starrett always get the best nods, but I have been really happy with my SPI set with the anti friction coating:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=22507921&PMAKA=327-2795

 

[PhotonFanatic]

I see very little mention of pin gauge sets on CPF, perhaps because of cost, but there are some good used sets that pop up on eBay, or at auctions for reasonable prices.

I use them when I really want to know the ID. :devil:

 

[KC2IXE]

for .001, +- .001 with a .0005 repeatability, a good pair calipers is fine (see the mitutoyo 500 series absolute calipers here )

IF you NEED better than that (aka Tenths), get a good mic - NOTE, you DON'T need anything near as fancy as the QuantuMike - nice as they are

You don't mention what range of sizes you're after, but on a budget, and assuming a somewhat reasonable range

1)A pair of good calipers
2)Mics of the appropriate size range - .0001 reading - watch carefully, they can run you less than $25-30 EACH, and remember you'll need one for each 'inch' you want to measure
3)A set of good telescoping gages
4)The expansion gages that are used on the sizes smaller than what the telescoping gages go (if you need to go down there)

That said, I'll give you my usual comeback to someone who says "Oh, I work to .0001" - My comeback - "Wow, who you using for your climate control system?" - if they can't answer THAT question, they are NOT really working to "a tenth" - Just remember that the coefficient of thermal expansion of Aluminum is 23x10e-6/degC - basically saying that a 3/4 aluminum tube/bar will change almost .0001 for a 10 deg C change