Brown & Sharpe Shop-Cal
Digital Calipers made in Switzerland

B&S 6" Shop-Cal 20971 (00590090) shown above ... $89.00 order now

This is the best, most basic Swiss-made digital caliper you can get with a thumb roller. It offers simple switching between inch and metric. Nothing fancy, nothing confusing, not waterproof. Just slide and read.

You can take depth measurements with the .060" diameter rod which protrudes from the rear end of the calipers. This rod is smaller in diameter than on the calipers at the top of this page, a feature which may come in useful. You'd easily be able to measure the depth of small holes, for example. Swiss made.

The manufacturer supplies a hard plastic case and a manufacturer's certificate of calibration with data.

This item replaces the discontinued Digit-Cal 00530085.

Usage hints

Digital calipers are used the same way as dial calipers. They have the advantage that no specialized skills are needed to read the dial. It is important only that the jaws are closed just to the point of contact and no extra force is applied. This is a highly precise measuring tool which can only give accurate readings as long as the measuring jaws are not damaged. Always wipe the jaws clean before using and always keep the calipers safe and dry when not in use.

Hint: it's easy to take comparative measurements with these digital calipers: close the jaws onto the master piece and set the calipers to zero by pressing the button. The display will read zero. Now close the jaws onto the test piece and any deviation from the master piece will be displayed digitally. You can test many pieces this way.

More information on caliper use can be found on our mechanical dial calipers page.

Caliper functions

These quality Swiss-made digital calipers couldn't be easier to use or understand. They have only one button. The display screen shows metric readings to 2 decimal places (0,01mm) and inch readings to four decimal places (.0005"). Additionally, the screen will display "mm" for milimeters or "in" for inches. Finally, there's a battery icon to tell you that juice is running out.

Switching ON: press the button for less than one second. If the display flashes after one second, then a zero setting is required. (see below)

Zero setting: press the button for less than 1 second. Release the button and the display will set to zero.

Changing from mm to inches: press the only button there is for more than 2 seconds until the switch is made. The calipers will remember the switch even after a complete shut-off.

Automatic OFF: after 10 minutes of idle time, the display disappears but the instrument retains the zero setting. To restart the display, simply move the slider or press the button. If the instrument is not used for 2 hours, then it will switch off completely. You will have to turn it on using the button. The display will flash to indicate that you have lost the previous zero setting. You'll have to reset zero. (Refer to "zero setting" above.)

Battery life: about 2 years normal use. (About 10 months if left on continually.)

Battery: type CR 2032 (3v lithium) easily replaced.

How to replace the battery: lift off the cover with a small screw driver. The cover is on the right hand side of the case. The battery will drop out. Replace it with the positive side up and snap the cover back on. In case you lose it, order battery cover #037653

Caliper specifications

Measuring range: 150mm or 6"

Resolution: 0,01mm or .0005"

Precision: maximum error of 0,02mm per first 100mm and maximum error of 0,03mm from 100-150mm (.0008" for the first 4" and .0012" for the 4-6" range).

Repeatability: 0,01mm (.0004")

Display: LCD with 6mm high digits

Maximum measuring speed: 1.3 meters per second

Temperature range: working temperature 50°F to 104°F (you may safely store this gage at temperatures from 14°F to 140°F)

Maximum relative humidity: 80%

Construction: stainless steel jaws, beam and mechanical parts hardened and ground; glass scale coated with a highly resistant protective film; display housing made of industrial plastic.

Cleaning: wipe the calipers clean and only use alcohol if necessary. No other solvents should be used. Don't immerse the calipers in anything.

Error messages

Just because your display shows an error message does not mean that it's malfunctioning. The most common error message is "004" and this indicates that you've moved the beam too quickly or that water has gotten onto the beam and the electronic component is not 100% sure of the reading. In this case, dry the beam (if necessary) and reset the calipers to zero before taking another reading.

Guarantee

The manufacturer's warranty is 12 months from the date of purchase against defect in design, manufacture or material. The tool must be returned to an authorized Brown & Sharpe repair shop such as Long Island Indicator Service along with proof of purchase.

Related topics and more information

• calipers and brand comparison
• calibration procedures
• fancier digital calipers