The Other Measuring Tools

[TomG]

(03-18-2018, 06:51 PM)randyc Wrote:

(03-18-2018, 09:27 AM)TomG Wrote: ........ It would even be more useful if a way could be found to mount it on an already chucked part.

Tom

Absolutely and Tom's idea should be fairly simple to implement, dunno why it wasn't included in the original design.  The side opposite the "indicating" tip could look like a lathe dog or even a vee block with a spring-loaded clamp.  This is a crude example but maybe something along the lines of an electronic guitar tuner but with the leveling bubble:



Not to be nit picky and it IS an ingenious little device but isn't it a solution looking for a problem ?

Seems like it would take longer to set it up than using the traditional vertical machinist's scale method, taking a trial facing cut then adjusting the height of the parting blade to shave off the "tit" - maybe thirty seconds work ?  I suppose if one has forgotten to set the parting blade previously and cannot take a few mils off the face to check blade height this would be pretty handy ...

Maybe I'm missing something - it sure wouldn't be the first time 

P.S.  Tom beat me to it !!!

There are a lot of gimmicky products like this on the market that really do take longer to implement than they are worth, but this one comes closer than most to actually being useful. I don't use the scale method because I don't care for the damage it does to the scale. The other tried and true method is to use a center in the tailstock, but that requires that a center actually be in the tailstock. I think if this tool was kept within arms reach of the lathe, it would get used, at least in my shop.

Looking at Ron's sketch, the clamping mechanism isn't even necessary. The tool can be held against the part with one hand and the tool height dialed in with the other. I'm building one.

Tom