Maybe so. Make sure you aren’t pushing hard on the calipers when you take your measurements as well.
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I’ll probably print a new lantern and measure with a better caliper tomorrow. Getting closer to getting started…
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Hopefully you will get better results!
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Anyone have an opinion on the cheapest good enough calipers for this task?
There lots of options, some are $$$… Amzn’s Best Sellers in Digital Calipers.
Personally, am frequently using cheap < $10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DFFYCXS (bought ~2021) for all sorts of things where ~0.2mm is good enough.
But, for measuring Calilantern prints, am using my less frequently utilized ~ $30 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HP78SU4 when ±0.001"/0.03mm accuracy is wanted. Mainly bought for the RS232 port I’ve never actually used… 
Hard on-off switch to avoid accidental battery drain would be good if I were to buy again.
My first thought was to research reviews on what’s offered in the big-box home improvement stores nearby, including Harbor Freight.. though I’m also looking at another online order to get a decent start filament dryer.. I’ll take a look at your links 
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yeah. My hope is that someone authoritative here will chime in and say $10 0.2mm is good enough, or, that $30 0.03mm is needed, or, something else…
And then, maybe add clarifying note in doc’s #DIY section.
Only shared what I’ve been using since covid times. There’s newer better options now.
With a very quick initial browse, I have yet to find an option, to include this Cadillac of calipers…
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I’m using a plastic digital set like this from the W store. I’m pretty sure no one here is going to say it’s not worth upgrading…
ETA: I’ve already noticed the limitations of it’s accuracy even within it’s stated range - the rigidity and added accuracy of a decent tool is likely worth it, depending on budgets.
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that is what I use. I picked them up at a garage sale for $20 and they only have 2 decimal place, but I’m the problem, not them.
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That’s a steal.
They have a serial port, and an option for a 300mm version under $50.
You just cost me fifty bux
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Special USB cable is separate, looks like may cost as much as the calipers.
I’ll reverse engineer it if someone else hasn’t beat me to it.
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Apparently, it’s not USB or RS232, but someone’s kindly documented their understanding of the protocol… https://github.com/liba2k/VINCA_reader
I absolutely love where this thread has lead.
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We tend to wander. But we’re still excited to see your print results and help you get on with your build
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I mean, who doesn’t enjoy tangents talking about cool new toys..
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That’s a lot better there! At least its doing something now. I would make those corrections it calls for and run one more. But really what you have there is plenty acceptable
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That was my plan - I’ve got some supplies coming tomorrow, to include a dry box, so have been printing a spool roller today with that PLA+ I’ve got.
Last thing I’m going to need before I start looking at buying the LR4 parts kit will be a filament dryer. I’m really leaning towards this guy on Amazon.
@Jonathjon - do you (or anyone else) recommend any particular brand of filament? Elegoo is pretty inexpensive from what I’ve seen, and the quality seems to be OK, save for one spool I managed to fubar.
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I just got in 20 spools of Elegoo today if that helps you at all. Honestly I use a few different ones. Elegoo, Bambu, Sunlu. Hatchbox is another good one but they like it too much for me lol. Just for V1 stuff make sure you get Basic PLA. Not PLA +, PLA Pro, PLA “whatever new fancy name they have today” 
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