Tools of Precision
Before you can manufacture anything with precision, you must have ways to precisely measure what you make. Figure 1 below is a selection of tools we recommend for printing parts that need to fit together and function in a specific way.
Digital Calipers
A digital caliper is a must have for precision 3d printing. There are many brands available that run from complete junk at the cheap end to a fine precision tool at the more expensive end. This is one area we recommend not going cheap. A cheap caliper will be inaccurate and inconsistent. Our favorite brands that we have first hand experience with are Mitutoyo and Starrett. There are many cheap brands that are really bad quality, but one that we’ve seen used with some success is Fowler. We strongly advise you not buy one any cheaper than Fowler. Digital calipers should be kept clean. You must select the units you want to measure in, and then set them to zero before use. Clean the faces of the jaws by wiping with your clean finger or a tissue, then close the jaws completely, and press the zero. See figure 2 below.
