Measuring Tools

Our measuring tools range covers the full spectrum of precision inspection instruments used in engineering workshops, quality control, and manufacturing:

• Calipers: digital, vernier and dial calipers used for quick, versatile measurement of outside diameters, inside diameters, depths & steps

• Micrometers: external, internal and depth micrometers for high-accuracy measurement with resolution down to 0.001mm or 0.0001"

• Bore gauges: for precise internal diameter measurement of bores, cylinders & holes

• Thread gauges: go/no-go plug gauges & ring gauges for thread acceptance inspection to ISO, DIN and ANSI/ASME standards

• Height gauges: for scribing, setting and precision height measurement on surface plates

• Stands: magnetic stands and dial indicator holders for setting, checking and in-process inspection

• Levelling instruments: precision levels for machine alignment and surface plate setup

• Testing equipment: portable hardness testers, surface roughness testers and ultrasonic thickness gauges for material & quality verification/

We supply precision measuring instruments from some of the most respected names in metrology:

• Moore & Wright: a British precision instrument manufacturer with over 100 years of heritage! Moore & Wright products are still manufactured in England by Bowers of Sheffield. Their products offer excellent quality and value across calipers, micrometers & gauging instruments

• Sylvac: Swiss-made precision instruments renowned for their exceptional accuracy and advanced features including Bluetooth connectivity. Sylvac are considered by many to be a benchmark brand for quality-conscious workshops

• Mitutoyo: hailing from Japan and one of the world's leading metrology brands. Their product range includes the 293 Digimatic & 102 Series micrometers as well as the 500 Series ABS digital calipers. Mitutoyo are considered industry-standard tools trusted the world over

• Bowers: specialist bore gauging, hardness testing, and precision inspection equipment; UK-based manufacturer with a strong reputation in dimensional metrology

• Trimos: Another quality Swiss manufacturer producing premium height gauges and horizontal measurement systems for high-precision quality control and CMM-adjacent applications.

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings describe the degree of protection against water & dust:

• IP54: dust protected (not fully sealed) & splash resistant from all directions making then suitable for use in light coolant environments

• IP65: fully dust-tight & protected against low-pressure water jets making them appropriate for general workshop use with cutting fluid splash

• IP67: fully dust-tight & protected against temporary full immersion in water making them suitable for active coolant environments on CNC machines and machining centres.

For workshop use near coolant systems of lathes, mills or machining centres we strongly recommend IP65 or IP67 rated instruments. The Sylvac S_CAL EVO and Mitutoyo 500-series IP67 calipers and the Mitutoyo 293 Series IP65 micrometers are designed specifically for these environments.

ABS (Absolute System) is a feature found on Mitutoyo & Sylvac instruments.

Standard digital instruments lose their zero reference when powered off so you must re-zero them each time you turn them on or if the battery dies mid-measurement!

With the Absolute system the instrument always knows its true position from the physical reference point of the scale regardless of whether it was switched off.

This means:

• No need to set an origin after every power cycle

• No limit on measurement response speed

• No lost readings if the battery runs low

• Greater reliability in production environments

If your caliper or micrometer will be used frequently throughout the day with repeated power cycles ABS technology is a worthwhile investment.

SPC (Statistical Process Control) data output, also labelled as a data port or Digimatic output on Mitutoyo instruments allows the measured values to be transmitted to a PC, printer or SPC data collection system via a cable or Bluetooth connection.

It is used for:

• Automated data logging: eliminating manual recording errors in quality control

• Statistical analysis: tracking measurement trends, process capability (Cp/Cpk), and out-of-tolerance events

• Audit trails: maintaining traceable records of measurements for ISO 9001 compliance.

If you work to a quality management system or need traceable inspection records SPC output is extremely valuable, however for general workshop use without formal quality recording requirements it isn't essential.

The Sylvac S_CAL EVO features Bluetooth 4.0 data output for wireless transmission up to 15m.

We stock both.

Digital instruments offer; faster reading, mm/inch switching, data output & zero-setting convenience which makes them the preferred choice for most production and workshop applications. Analogue instruments (traditional vernier scales, dial gauges, analogue micrometers) remain valued for their independence from batteries and their suitability in certain specialist environments. Many of our instruments are available in both formats, please check individual product listings for available variants.