There are a handful of tools that should be in any PC gamer’s toolkit, from the Phillips-head screwdrivers you’ll need to build or modify pretty much every PC out there to the Allen keys that can help you adjust sim racing rigs, monitor arms and other more substantial furniture. However, one useful tool I’ve not seen mentioned much is a set of callipers – whether that’s a traditional analogue set or more newfangled digital alternatives. I’ve used a set of the latter for several years now, and I’m always amazed at how useful these can be for PC building in general – and PC journalism more specifically.
First, the general stuff: callipers are extremely useful for small form factor Mini ITX builds, where you start by just cramming every component into your case, but it’s often better to measure your components before you begin to make sure you’ll have enough clearance. Callipers won’t replace a tape measure for extremely long objects – I’m thinking of graphics card length, for example – but smaller objects like CPU tower coolers or radiators can be measured quickly and accurately with digital callipers, allowing you to ensure that your intended setup is actually workable in the often limited space available. It’s worth pointing out that as well as measuring the size of objects (outer diameter), you can also measure gaps (inner diameter) – the arms on the top of a set of callipers grip in the opposite direction, allowing you to see exactly how much space you have available.
I’ve been experimenting with 3D modelling and 3D printing recently, and callipers are unsurprisingly quite useful here too. If you’re trying to recreate a particular object – or create something that seamlessly attaches to something else – then being able to check a range of measurements quickly and accurately is key to avoiding the frustration of printing out something that looks right but turns out to be a few millimetres out of whack (ask me how I know!). The particular set of callipers I’m using at the moment, Hozo’s NeoRuler (and its NeoCaliper attachment), even allow you to set a scale for your measurements, so if you’re printing a model that’s meant to be 1:40, you can measure individual parts of that model to make sure they’re a realistic size!