Non Digital Micrometers

How about the truth. The internal gearing would have to be so fine in order to get the gears to move the digits. Would have to be jeweled would push the cost astronomically.

Then you could hand them the old style that has no digital read out. Would be better to learn on anyway.

Right answer. Nothing better than the old way. HATE Digital!

You will never be able to explain it to someone who does not know how to read the vernier scale on the barrel and thimble of a real micrometer.

<<< They are a 0-1" set, with .0001" resolution and .0001" accuracy. >>>

As far as I remember Accuracy is always specified to 1/10th of Resolution.

Accuracy could not be better than 0.001

Here's a 1 page . pdf tutorial on reading vernier micrometers from Mitutoyo. Hope this helps a little.

Learning to use and read non-digital micrometers and calipers should be standard fair for a machinist or engineering student. I prefer them over digital. No batteries. ^_^

I have a .001" vernier caliper (no dial) that I still use. Eyes are getting weaker so discerning aligment of the vernier lines has become more of a chore but it is very accurate.

As LynLynch indicated, the last digit of resolution is read from the barrel and thimble vernier. However I would prefer to consider it possible to teach 'someone' how that works. If you yourself do not know how to read the fourth digit, find someone who can teach you!

Do remember that although the resolution is provided by the instrument, both the instrument and the operator affect the accuracy. Only considerable experience with that particular unit measuring several precision standards will allow accurate measurement to an accuracy of 0.0001", and then only on objects with clean, smooth, hard surfaces at cool temperatures. Another micrometer of the same brand and model may have a different 'feel', requiring 'recalibration of the fingers'.

We use an indicator micrometer, example: Mitutoyo 510-131 Indicating Micrometer 0-1 in 0.00005 in to teach feel. Excellent tool for comparison. This is much better than the digital micrometer; you can show, using gage blocks, that you can get the same reading on different sizes using the digital micrometer.

This might help:

http://www.upscale.utoronto.ca/PVB/Harrison/Vernier/Vernier.html

Good luck!