7 ms·

Any recommendations on gage blocks for micrometers and calipers? Veritas Set-Up Block (made in Canada) accuracy is rated at 0.002" (aluminum) and 0.0002" (stee

Any recommendations on gage blocks for micrometers and calipers? Veritas Set-Up Block (made in Canada) accuracy is rated at 0.002" (aluminum) and 0.0002" (steel), https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/45089-veritas-set-up-blocks https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/markin... & https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/110150-veritas-imperial-layout-block https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/markin...

NoImmatureAdHom 4y ago
Depends on what you're up to. The set you're pointing to will be fine for most everything you'd do with calipers. With micrometers, it's harder to say. You'd buy from an established machinery / metrology supply if the work demands it, like Starrett. Or MSC, Enco, etc. if you don't need the best. If you're just screwing around measuring the odd household object and / or using the calipers to get splinters out, Lee Valley will be more than adequate. Also, estate sales are a good place to look for a set of gage blocks. Machinists often die with their stuff, and family has no idea what it is. The machinists would almost universally prefer it remain in use, in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.
exmadscientist 4y ago
0.0002" is fine to calibrate a pair of calipers but not really for a micrometer. I just bought a real gage block, which will be far more than sufficient for anything I ever do: https://www.zoro.com/mitutoyo-gage-block-rectangular-100-in-asme-0-611201-531/i/G2547334/ https://www.zoro.com/mitutoyo-gage-block-rectangular-100-in-... Admittedly, this choice was a little more obvious before the recent inflation. Select your size and preferred units as required, of course. It was nice to see that even though mine is only Grade 0, it actually meets the Grade 00 standards. Not that that matters for me. Now all this is reminding me that I should actually go and check out that sketchy micrometer that was borrowed and abused....

NoImmatureAdHom 4y ago

Depends on what you're up to. The set you're pointing to will be fine for most everything you'd do with calipers. With micrometers, it's harder to say. You'd buy from an established machinery / metrology supply if the work demands it, like Starrett. Or MSC, Enco, etc. if you don't need the best. If you're just screwing around measuring the odd household object and / or using the calipers to get splinters out, Lee Valley will be more than adequate. Also, estate sales are a good place to look for a set of gage blocks. Machinists often die with their stuff, and family has no idea what it is. The machinists would almost universally prefer it remain in use, in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.

exmadscientist 4y ago

0.0002" is fine to calibrate a pair of calipers but not really for a micrometer. I just bought a real gage block, which will be far more than sufficient for anything I ever do: https://www.zoro.com/mitutoyo-gage-block-rectangular-100-in-asme-0-611201-531/i/G2547334/ https://www.zoro.com/mitutoyo-gage-block-rectangular-100-in-... Admittedly, this choice was a little more obvious before the recent inflation. Select your size and preferred units as required, of course. It was nice to see that even though mine is only Grade 0, it actually meets the Grade 00 standards. Not that that matters for me. Now all this is reminding me that I should actually go and check out that sketchy micrometer that was borrowed and abused....