Cheap calipers from Aldi

[erick]

I just picked up a digital caliper from Aldi. Comes in a hard case, has a spare battery, works in mm and inches. Display auto-on and auto-off.

And I paid $19.99! :eyepop: Better quality items are well over $100 at Bunnings.

Let's see how long it lasts. :D

[Peter Ward]

Bought a set myself. Repetability was spot on. For just $20!?? most excellent!

[erick]

Yes, I did a few quick repeatability tests and they seemed fine to 0.1mm

And there was a pallet load at the Aldi went to. I often wonder whether I should buy half a dozen so as each fails, I throw it away and move to the next one. As long as it works as I need, it would be cheaper in the long run?

(How many people are doing that with $30 DVD players?)

[snowyskiesau]

Those style of calipers are pretty reliable and will stand up to surprisingly rough treatment..
I have several from different sources (none from Aldi) for prices from $60 to a freebie given with another purchase. The one thing they have in common is that batteries don't last as long as I'd like.

Don;t bother spending the extra money on silver oxide (SR44) batteries, just get the alkaline ones (LR44). I buy them on eBay, pack of 50 for about $12 delivered.

[Kevnool]

Buy 6 Eric just like them cheap power tools.
For the backyarder you,ll always be in front.
Cheers Kev.

[mozzie]

thanks erick i think ill head there on the weekend and get a pair
mozzie

[dpastern]

Must keep an eye out for these...

Dave

[GrahamL]

bugger Eric now my pockets $20 lighter:P:thumbsup:

[stephenb]

I've got both the Aldi brand and a $200 set which I've had for years and the Aldi ones are just as accurate and reliable. And if you drop them or bugger them up, their cheap enough to buy another set.

[erick]

But how long to wait until they come round again at Aldi. Sometimes it seems to be more than a year with things I've been watching. If they don't sell out, they are normally reduced significantly for a few more weeks. But some things sell out on the first day!

[stephenb]

Agree, Eric. I might go back and get another one.

[turbo_pascale]

Anyone care to put up a pic?


I have a cheapie here (can't remember where from), but the battery is ALWAYS flat when I go to use it. Surely these things should have a decent shelf life (I hardly ever use it, but so far, within 3 months on the shelf, dead battery)

Turbo

[dpastern]

My trip to town resulted in buying one of these. They sure do look good (haven't opened it yet). For $20, well worth it. They get a 5 year warranty as well.

Dave

[erick]

Pics of mine

[turbo_pascale]

Thanks for posting the pic Eric... might drop by Aldi tomorrow :-)

Turbo

[kinetic]

Does it have a serial output cover Eric?
Most of the cheap clones have this.
A few people have reverse engineered the weird non-standard
serial stream that it feeds out and tried to have a CNC style PC
link.
If you can do that then you've got yourself the working parts
to a digital focuser readout :)

my model hacked by someone here:
http://hackedgadgets.com/2008/10/10/digital-caliper-serial-interface/

Here's a pic of the cheapie I use on my lathe.
This has a dust cover at the top right of the casing for
serial out.

Steve

[erick]

Interesting Steve, but I don't think it does. No obvious additional removable cover apart from battery.

[mithrandir]

That looks the same as the one I got from DSE.

[Moon]

What a great little device!

[Inmykombi]

I must visit ALDI for some of these.
I cant think of a use as yet, but I just gotta have them gadgets.:D

Cheap as chips as they say.

[snowyskiesau]

Most if not all of these calipers provide the pins for a serial readout.
On the cheaper ones however, there is no access to the pins - makes for a cheaper one piece plastic moundling I guess.
If you're willing to get stuck into the caliper housing with a Dremel, you can get at the PCB to connect them to an external decoder.

I have a couple of these (http://www.shumatech.com) that allow connection of up to 3 scales/calipers for use as a digital readout on a mill or lathe.

[Ian Robinson]

Been using a cheap set of BBC vernier calipers for donkey's years , getting a bit worn now .... I might check out the ones at Audi in the next few days.