Digital indicators have a clear advantage for data collection in process control applications. They can output measurements directly, usually as an actual value, such as 20.00 mm, to printers or SPC programs with no operator errors in reading or recording. The operator simply positions the workpiece and presses a button. The digital process has even gone wireless within the past five years.

 

With dial indicators, the operator must interpret the pointer’s position to read the measurement, record it and key the data into a computer. That is three steps during which errors can occur. If data must be entered into a computer system, digital indicators are the best resource