How To Use a Digital Caliper

The main use of a digital caliper is to measure the distance between 2 opposing sides. Please remember to always check for zero point before starting to use your digital caliper.

To check the zero point :
- Make sure the opposing surfaces of the lower jaws which will contact each other are free from any particles or dirt by wiping using clean cloth.


You can also use a clean piece of A4 paper. Put the paper in between the 2 lower jaws. Move the movable head towards the stationery jaw until it touches the A4 paper in between. Apply small force using your thumb so that the paper is pressed between the 2 jaws. Then slowly pull the paper out of the jaws. Do this a few times to make sure the jaws surfaces are clean.



- After the jaws are cleaned, move the movable head towards the stationery jaw so that the two jaws surface completely contact each other.
-Apply small force using your thumb so that the the two jaws do not separate from each other.
- Check the Digital Display for zero reading, push the zero point button to set to zero. Your digital caliper is ready to use.

There are 4 basic type of measurement which a Digital Caliper can perform:

1. External measurement

Using the lower jaws, the external dimension can be measured. Place your workpiece in between the two jaws. Push the movable head towards the workpiece. When both jaws touch the workpiece, hold lightly, make sure the jaws of the digital caliper are perpendicular with the workpiece, then check the digital display for dimension.















2. Internal measurement
Internal measurement can be obtained using the smaller upper jaws. Place the two small upper jaws inside the workpiece to be measured. Pull the movable head so that the two small jaws separate from each other and touch the opposite sides of the measured portion. Make sure the 2 jaws are perpendicular with the hole to be measured. Hold lightly and read the dimension appeared on the digital display.














3. Depth measurement
You can measure the depth of the hole on your workpiece using the probe which is attached to the movable head and slice along the center of the digital caliper body. Depending on the manufacturer, a few digital calipers do not come with this probe. The measurement can be obtained by moving the probe to the lower end of the measured area while the bottom of the digital caliper sitting on the upper end of the measured area. Hold lightly and steadily, make sure that the digital caliper is perpendicular with the workpiece, then take the dimension on the digital display.















4. Step Measurement
As you move the movable head of the digital caliper, notice that at the back of the head, there is a step which also moves. This step can be use to measure step on your workpiece. Put the movable step measuring face of your digital caliper on the upper step of your workpiece and the stationary face of the digital caliper on the lower step of your workpiece to be measured. Make sure the faces of the digital caliper and the step faces are perpendicular with each other. Hold steadily and take the dimension on the digital display.