Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?  

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

You don't need to spend $100 to get calipers that measure to two decimal places. Spending more may give you more precision/accuracy, but likely only marginally so. I use a Neiko digital set ( https://www.amazon.com/Neiko-01407A-Electronic-Millimeter-Conversion/dp/B000GSLKIW ) which cost ~$25USD and so far they have worked just fine. You can also look online for sites which compile reviews for various calipers in order to get a better estimate on what to look for.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I think he was referring to accuracy, not just resolution. Anyway, maybe something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IG46NL2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IG46NL2&linkCode=as2&tag=tcbse-20

Does the difference matter? He's seems to think so, and it looks like he got pretty amazing results. He specifically said that $14 calipers, which he also has, just won't cut the mustard.

Anyhow, linear advance appears to becomes very important when printing at much higher speeds than the standard settings allow for. My test prints without linear advance seem to confirm that.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

It's a Macho thing!
more expensive has to be better...

he probably also uses a sharpie marker, because other markers aren't as good...

and the marker makes a nice bold, easily visible line that is several orders of magnitude bigger than the difference in accuracy between $25.00 and something more than eight times as expensive!

or maybe I am a cheapskate or easily satisfied...
$200.00 calipers won't do any significant harm, but you could buy a lot of filament with the difference in cost! Lol...

regards Joan

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I use digital calipers every day and for the level of accuracy I need, am happy with cheap ebay ones.

I have about 8 sets all over the house/work.. Some that measure down to 0.01mm, others just 0.1mm, and for our (3D printing) application they are all as accurate as each other.

What I would say thought is that in general, I prefer the ones which go down to 0.01.. the problem with the 0.1mm is that you are never 100% sure of the exact measurement.. Say you have something which is 1.42mm.. The calipers will show this as 1.4? or perhaps even 1.3mm or may be even 1.5mm.. And that 1/3mm can be quite a lot.. So 0.1mm granularity (resolution) just isn't enough.. Its good for measuring larger objects, but for fine details I always go for the 0.01mm ones.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I have these and would highly recommend them.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I suppose on the flip side there may be enough measurement error involved (because you're squeezing soft plastic with the calipers, not a hard rock) that perhaps the added accuracy of the ~$100 calipers is swamped out. Not really sure, but I could imagine it.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I recommend this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/electronic-digital-caliper-stainless-steel-caliper-Waterproof-IP54-Digitale-Messschieber-paquimetro-digital-Vernier-caliper/1284242843.html

Better battery, better precision, stable and as bonus have USB for data.

From my experience cheap ones from china after sometime start to shutdown alone and thats not battery related, maybe the socket i don't know and precision is not the best.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I like the battery on that Tiago...

regards Joan

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I like the battery on that Tiago...

regards Joan

I can tell you that is much better than the others with the tiny battery. Also the socket is much better. The calibration is perfect, 0.01mm precision. Plus the battery can be recharged outside.
I have two from the cheap all metal calipers, one of 150mm and other 300mm, both from different sellers but still with same problems. (Get off random, when go far like 60mm on measurement it jump like crazy for negative values or positive values, like -165mm).
Thats why i have invested on something more "expensive", and i'm glad i did, problem free.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

Well, after looking into it, it appears that a ratcheting micrometer, instead of calipers, will be the most accurate, because it will control the amount of force applied to the filament. In this case, minimal force is what's desired, so that the filament being measured doesn't deform and thereby throw off the measurement.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

At first I got a digital caliper. But after 2 years this thing just died. My next one this dial caliper which will definitely last much longer.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

At first I got a digital caliper. But after 2 years this thing just died. My next one this dial caliper which will definitely last much longer.

Thanks for the link. The same manufacturer makes a ratchet $22 micrometer which they claim is accurate to 0.00001"! 😯

Hmmm.... Well, the price is right. 😀

https://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Tools-MICROMETER-Precision-Machinist/dp/B0045VKF5K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

Let's be real. Measuring plastic is in most cases like measuring a clay. If somebody claims to be precise with 0.001 mm tolerance, need to check the nature of fault tolerances and do the statistics. From my experience it's +/- 0.03mm in best case because plastic itself deforms under small pressure.
So even if you buy a high precision, expensive caliper you will still end up with the same error tolerance.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

I've had one of these since 2008. Still works great. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JFMIO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

Well, after looking into it, it appears that a ratcheting micrometer, instead of calipers, will be the most accurate, because it will control the amount of force applied to the filament. In this case, minimal force is what's desired, so that the filament being measured doesn't deform and thereby throw off the measurement.

^^^ This, if you want to be a stickler for accuracy. A micrometer is a far better tool to measure filament at this diameter. Calipers just aren't that accurate, especially these cheap chinese clones. Good to 0.1 absolutely. Good to 0.01? I highly doubt it.

A good micrometer has a much finer mechanism and a precise control of the torque, and no electronics (don't need 'em). I have micrometers that have been in my toolbox for over 35 years, and they are still just as good as the day I bought them.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

Well, after looking into it, it appears that a ratcheting micrometer, instead of calipers, will be the most accurate, because it will control the amount of force applied to the filament. In this case, minimal force is what's desired, so that the filament being measured doesn't deform and thereby throw off the measurement.

^^^ This, if you want to be a stickler for accuracy. A micrometer is a far better tool to measure filament at this diameter. Calipers just aren't that accurate, especially these cheap chinese clones. Good to 0.1 absolutely. Good to 0.01? I highly doubt it.

A good micrometer has a much finer mechanism and a precise control of the torque, and no electronics (don't need 'em). I have micrometers that have been in my toolbox for over 35 years, and they are still just as good as the day I bought them. Mine has a super-fine slip friction tube (not a ratchet), which doesn't deform PLA or PET. Most 0-1" micrometers are good to .0001", which is .0025mm.

Re: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

At first I got a digital caliper. But after 2 years this thing just died. My next one this dial caliper which will definitely last much longer.

Thanks for the link. The same manufacturer makes a ratchet $22 micrometer which they claim is accurate to 0.00001"! 😯

Hmmm.... Well, the price is right. 😀

https://www.amazon.com/Anytime-Tools-MICROMETER-Precision-Machinist/dp/B0045VKF5K/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I purchased this micrometer, and it seems to be accurate enough. HOWEVER, it's a PITA to use. I have to add 3 different numbers to get the final measurement in inches, and then I have to convert that to mm since what I really want is a metric measurement, which is the default for 3D printing. Given all that, I can see the appeal of a digital micrometer, which is undoubtedly faster to use.

RE: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

Any run-of-the-mill $20 digital caliper should be able to do the trick.  $100 is just insane.  I'd say he's drumming up business for a particular one, but like you said, he doesn't name a brand.  What is important, however, is that your calipers have an  auto-off feature.  Why they all don't come with one is insane.

Posted by: @dimprov

This guy makes an unwavering claim that you need roughly $100 digital calipers to properly calibrate your extruder to do linear advance:

He says it needs to be accurate to 2 decimal points. Well, OK, fine, but he doesn't name any names as to which one to get. 🙁

Surely you guru's have already purchased one, so which is the best one to get for the purpose? Any recommendations?

RE: Best digital calipers to use when doing an extruder calibration for linear advance?

have you used good quality calipers?

I have cheap calipers for general work, and Mitutoyo calipers  for important tasks... The Mitutoyo are significantly better than the other calipers

the cheap ones periodically add 5mm without notification! which is irritating!

regards Joan