iGaging Archives - Machinist Guides

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iGaging is a popular brand for budget friendly inspection tools. This set of digital micrometers is no different. They have a measuring resolution of .00005” or .001mm and an accuracy of +/- .00015” which equates to +/- .003mm. While not as good as some digital micrometers which cost 2-3 times as much, the iGaging digital mics come close at a fraction of the price.

These iGaging digital micrometers have a very impressive feature set. Some of the extras that aren’t normally seen in its price range are a SPC output and a ball attachment for the anvil. The SPC output allows you to record measurements directly to your computer while the ball attachment allows you to measure round surfaces such as the wall thickness of tubing. Some of the more standard type features include an extra battery and a protective case to keep your tool safe. Carbide tips are a nice bonus that isn’t always seen on budget level digital micrometers. They provide superior wear resistance when compared to normal hardened steel.

A decent size display and simple button layout adorn the face of the tool. With the press of a button the micrometer switches units from inches to millimeters. The ability to switch between absolute and incremental measuring modes is available too. Nothing too out of the ordinary present in the normal use of the mic.

Like most other digital micrometers, this one from iGaging has a little more weight to it than a standard micrometer. Some don’t like the added weight because they feel it makes it harder to maneuver around their workpiece. With a little time and use, I don’t believe the weight will bother anyone.

Now onto some of the negatives. The biggest problem is that some buyers report instances of the display flickering. All of the budget digital micrometers have quality issues such as this one, the bigger problem is that the manufacturer isn’t the most responsive to problems. Another common issue for lower priced tools is limited battery life. For most this shouldn’t be too much of a bother but it’s best to keep an extra battery or two on hand. Lastly, the thimble feels cheap because of the plastic material used.

Verdict

The simplicity of the display and button layout are a nice touch and will be appreciated by those not as familiar with digital micrometers. The addition of the SPC output and ball attachment put these mics a step above most other entry level digital micrometers. To get a better micrometer you will need to pay 3 times the cost of these mics or more. The iGaging 0-1” digital micrometer is a solid budget priced inspection tool.

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Features

The iGaging Absolute Origin 0-6” digital calipers are made of hardened stainless steel. Capable of taking inside, outside and depth measurements like most calipers, they have an accuracy of +/- .001” or .02mm. They have a resolution of .0005” or .01mm. These calipers from iGaging are capable of measuring in inches and millimeters. Fractional measurements are available on a more expensive version of the same caliper. They also have a lock screw which makes taking repetitive measurements easier.

The display is not as large as some other caliper models but it is easy to read. Unfortunately there is no auto off or auto on feature for the display. Remember to turn the tool off after use. The iGaging caliper has been noted to have measurement errors when the battery is low. This wouldn’t be as much of an issue if there was some kind of indicator that the battery was low. The caliper comes with a spare battery which will help alleviate the problem but some of the reported errors could be quite hard to detect.

This digital caliper does come with some nice extras and features not always seen in its price range. Most importantly is IP54 protection. The IP stands for ingress protection. The 5 is the level of protection from solids such as dirt. The 4 is protection from liquids such as water or coolant. This equates to being protected from dust and from splashing water. Protection from contamination is not often seen with digital calipers in a budget price range. Even with more expensive name brand calipers, IP54 is not a common feature unless paying more for a specialty tool with this feature.

Additionally the iGaging caliper comes with a nice protective case and a SPC output. The SPC output allows the caliper to be connected to a computer for recording measurements. The version of the caliper that comes with the cable to connect to your computer is relatively expensive though. The cable more than doubles the cost of the caliper.

One of the best features of the iGaging Absolute Origin digital caliper is that it comes with a full 2 year warranty. Unfortunately, there is a possibility that you will need to use it. Plenty of other reviewers on Amazon have noted that the tool either stopped working altogether or gave erroneous measurements.

Verdict

The iGaging caliper has some very nice features such as IP54 protection and a SPC output. The errors in measurement that occur with a low battery and the general reliability regrettably outweigh them. The generous warranty helps make up for some of the tool’s shortcomings but ultimately a measuring tool such as a caliper needs to be dependable. The iGaging caliper lacks that dependability.

For more information check out these related articles:

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iGaging Absolute Origin Digital Caliper Review

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