Calipers, Dividers & Compasses

Dividers are wonderful and very ancient tools. The simplicity of their form and function belies the fascinating world of geometry that they unlock.

Span a dimension and you can lock it off to be transferred as many times as you like. Divide a circle accurately into 6 segments by walking its radius around the circumference, find centres, subdivide distances and all without having to use the mathematical side of your brain.

Because the same steel points that take the measurement also create the mark or scribe line, there is minimal opportunity for errors to creep in. You can use them to form perpendiculars, scribe arcs and circles, position fastenings or simply to explore appealingly related proportions.

No numbers, just measurement in its purest, simplest and most beautiful form.

Calipers are useful measuring tools: quick and easy to use and because the measurement is taken by contact, inherently more accurate than a rule or tape measure.

Whether you choose a traditional vernier scale (cheapest), analogue dial caliper (most accurate) or digital caliper (easiest to read), the actual measuring is performed by contact between surfaces rather than observation, which eliminates the most significant potential source of inaccuracy.

Calipers can take external, internal and depth measurements. Vernier calipers are accurate to a tenth of a mm while dial and digital calipers have a resolution of one or two hundredths of a mm.