One for the accomplished machinists, can I do this on my 8 direction mill with this?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:38 am
by LeMaudit
I also would be curious about how to attach this indicator using its dovetails.
Mine is a different model, but I do have various bars to attach it at angles.
I'm not sure how this one could attach for various purposes without those extension bars.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:42 am
by jor2daje
Im by no means an accomplished machinist but that should work quite well for you, the only thing is the travel is quite short just .03 of an inch, however you dont need to use all the travel just to get an idea of which way you need to go.
One thing to look out for is mounting systems, many I see are magnetic which are great for the large cast iron lathes and mill tables, but with sherline lots of it are aluminium so youll probably need something that clamps or screws into the t-slots. And when buying used or cheap dial indicators sometimes the mount will cost as much or more if you dont make it yourself.
Edit: I forgot to mention to rotate your machine by hand when checking even a small pull is noticed in the gauge needle...
Once you get a set up and get the feel for using it, it gets easy to do.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:07 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Cheers for the quick replies guys, almost everyone I hoped would reply did
One thing to look out for is mounting systems, many I see are magnetic which are great for the large cast iron lathes and mill tables, but with sherline lots of it are aluminium so youll probably need something that clamps or screws into the t-slots. And when buying used or cheap dial indicators sometimes the mount will cost as much or more if you dont make it yourself.
They seem a little on the cheap side, no problems with them?
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:09 pm
by jrrdw
Not at all, they work great.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:16 pm
by velocity3x
Yep, it's just under 1"...
In that case, you could delete the spindle clamp and insert the round rod directly into a collet. IIRC, the rod is about .375" dia. If the rod dia is to large to fit in a collet, you can turn it on your lathe.
I thought the dial indicator as you use jrrdw are more for comparing height or repetitive sizes, and the dial test are for alignment purposes. I guess you can do both, but I would think the dial test indicator is more useful for the purpose of aligning / squaring a mill column, of checking a concentricity in the lathe.
But maybe I'm wrong
I'm far from being a specialist using measuring instruments.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:34 pm
by jrrdw
For height I like to use the depth gauge on one of my vernier calipers, if the part has enough of a base to measure off of. Otherwise...yup.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:04 pm
by velocity3x
Mill Head Tramming
[youtube][/youtube]
Rather than parallels, I use the outer race from a large bearing assembly for a continuous sweep.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:14 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Cheers for that!
Machinists seem to sound the same, but I find the dull monotone oddly comforting sounds like the reliable sort of chap who has cultivated a pipe and you can completely trust with your children.
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:12 pm
by velocity3x
jackssmirkingrevenge wrote: sounds like the reliable sort of chap....
Of course you'd like the guy. He shows epoxy tubes on his bench @3:35!
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:21 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
velocity3x wrote:He shows epoxy tubes on his bench @3:35!
sounds like the reliable sort of chap who has cultivated a pipe and you can completely trust with your children.