Machinist'sDial indicator.

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rlharding

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
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Location
Nr Vancouver, BC
Can somebody tell me how to use one? I recently bought one with the base but the only instructions are on how to set it up.

How do I actually use it? I want to measure the roll-out on my mandrel and also my spindle.

Thanks.
 
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home shop machinist

Try asking at this web site you should get some good answers.
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/
My question is does it have magnetic base, and what type of arm, if you post a picture of it then I can better help you, thy are not that hard to use but not knowing what type you have it is hard to give you a good answer.

Mike
 
Mike,
thats a cool site. thanks for the tip.


Try asking at this web site you should get some good answers.
http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/
My question is does it have magnetic base, and what type of arm, if you post a picture of it then I can better help you, thy are not that hard to use but not knowing what type you have it is hard to give you a good answer.

Mike
 
It's real easy Ruth.
attachment.jpg

I mounted mine to a steel post that fits in my banjo. Wood will work too. Turn a piece the same size as your toolpost plus an inch or so. Cut a notch in the top that resembles a tenon and bolt the indicator to it. Trim it to length and put it in your banjo. Position it on the end of your mandrel and push it in a little until the dial moves and lock it down. What position the dial is in doesn't matter, only how much it moves. Turn your lathe BY HAND and stop on either the highest or lowest number.
I stop on the LOWEST number because that means the spindle is bent AWAY from me. The difference between the HIGH and LOW numbers is HALF the distance you need to correct for. I use a small hard rubber mallet and tap the mandrel TOWARDS me. Before tapping the mandrel, grab the pointer and push it in and hold it so as not to SHOCK it. Move the lathe BY HAND again and check your progress. REPEAT this process as many times as it takes. It usually takes me about one minute to get a mandrel within .001" of runout.
The same set-up can be used to check the runout on your spindle but DON'T USE A HAMMER ON IT!:biggrin:
If your spindle more than .001" of runout you have other problems and that's a whole new ballgame.:wink:
Stupid me, I just re-read your post and you say you have a base. You can forget the toolpost idea if you want but everything else remains the same. Stick the base to the ways, I ASSUME it's magnetic, and proceed the same as I mentioned.
 

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Rick, thank you, just what I was needing. Mike, thanks so much for the link. I actually couldn't find what I was looking for yet thanks for going to the trouble.
 
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