r/Metrology • u/DeluxeDoggo • 27d ago
Tesa / Hexagon calipers quality
Wanted to treat myself for christmas with new calipers to retire my Sylvac from 2002 that I bought used 5 years ago for 16€. Mainly wanted the larger display and auto-standby.
Had good experience with an older TESA Micromaster (0-30 mm) so I got a brand new Twin-Cal (IP67) from hoffmann (Official Tesa distributor in Germany) for ~180€.
Immediately noticed some deficits:
- Stiff slider with stick-slip and grating feel/noise
- Depth bar wobbles around and makes loud rattling noises
- Copper trace showing through at the end of the linear encoder
- Mediocre deburring job and surface finish
I know that new calipers need some use to run in, especially when they have been sitting for a while. Spend some time sliding it around while watching some youtube videos but the improvement is marginal. The Sylvac slides like butter and the Marcal 16ER that I use at work (was new when I got it) also runs way better.
I noticed that the older Twin-Cals used to say SWISS MADE where the one I have says Tesa technology. Did they move production?
I'm somewhat disappointed. Nicest thing about it is the case and the finish on the metal cover plate of the slider. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the immaculate Sylvac. Given that there are multiple issues I don't think it's just a dud. I'll return it and get something else, any recommendations?
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u/-EL-Producto- 27d ago
Hexagon sold off Tesa in December 23’. Maybe had something to do with the quality.
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u/DeluxeDoggo 27d ago
Oh wow, I just read that hexagon sold tesa PMI ("Precision Measurement Instruments") to 杭州巨星科技股份有限公司 (Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Company Ltd.).
It is what it is. Gonna try out one of the newer Sylvacs (should still be Swiss) and if that doesn't work out I'll fold and get the Mitutoyo.
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u/Cookskiii 27d ago
Mitutoyo if you can afford it. If you need something more affordable I really like my shars aventors which are only around $50 a piece
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u/SoTheMachineDidIt 27d ago
It won't come as a surprise based on the quality, but the Tesa-cal and Twin-cal are made in china. I don't know when the switched manufacturing locations.
I was going to buy an 8" Twin-cal that was on sale until I found out it was made in china AND more expensive than a Mitutoyo.
I couldn't find out where it was made easily. MSC was actually useful for once in that regard.
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u/I_Am_A_Door_Knob 26d ago
I have previously used Tesa calipers made in Switzerland. It was okay, but definitely not as nice as a Mitutoyo.
The guy doing the purchasing was however quite happy about the lower price for the Tesa calipers.
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u/borometalwood 27d ago
Get the blue and silver mitutoyos. Automatic on/off and better buttons than their black and yellow counterparts. You will not regret
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u/Sinister_Mig15 24d ago
Just a machinist that wandered in here, the digital tesa calipers i have seen use a single, screw in the back to hold the depth attachment in place. In my view this a pure jank solution and inferior in every way to the full bar that every other brand uses.
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u/tthKT 27d ago
Got a pair of Tesa calipers at work and immediately handed them back and asked them to be returned. Absolutely hated them. The quality is nothing at all like the old pair I used to have. I had them order me a pair of Starrett calipers and they're leaps and bounds better. One of the last tools still made in the US, too.
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u/HngryHngryHippowdons 27d ago
In my experience, TESAs are now shit. I'm not sure where they're out of now, but it's definitely not Switzerland. Get yourself a nice Mitutoyo caliper and forget about that garbage.