Spindle Travel Dial Indicator Mount

[f350ca]

Been trying to find ideas on mounting a dial indicator to measure the spindle travel on my mill, the great goddess google hasn't been very helpful. Maybe it isn't done.
Had a repurposed digital calliper on there for a while but it blocked the depth stop adjustment.
Made the travelling mount to hold the dial indicator. 
The brass rod goes into a hole in the spindle stop. Two steel balls are pushed out with a pointed set screw to lock it in.




Have a 2 inch travel indicator ordered. Have to build a fixed mount for the bottom that will hold an adjustable rod that contacts the indicator plunger.

[f350ca]

Made up the mount that holds the stop rod.




Turns out this item is available. Someone on another forum put up a link to Quillmate. Didn't show up in any of the searches I did.

[TomG]

Looks good Greg.

Do the balls hold it securely? Another option would be to saw cut the brass rod and use the pointed set screw to expand it.

Tom

[f350ca]

They hold quite well Tom. With a reasonable amount of pressure I get about 1 thou movement on the indicator when its against the rod. Using the depth stop it repeats to about 1 thou as well.
The rod is threaded into the housing, could have hollowed it out and used the set screw idea, would have been quicker. Next time 8)

[Pete O]

Looks great Greg, better than the commercial one. I can foresee another project once the frankenmill is finished. Come to think of it, I've got a 6" travel dial indicator that I've never found a use for...

[Dr Stan]

I need to quit this forum.  Too many good ideas here that turn into projects.