Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get tool plans

User Tag List

Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Lathe Carriage Dial Indicator

  1. #1
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    927
    Thanks
    1,185
    Thanked 2,092 Times in 562 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools

    Lathe Carriage Dial Indicator

    Some times I just need to know where my carriage is. Took an import 2" travel dial indicator and hack sawed (yep hack sawed) off the mounting flange that was clearly in my way in order to use this indicator as I wanted to. The back was removed for the sawing. Good thing too, the mounting flange was hollow. Filed it smooth and filled the hollow part with epoxy. Made up the clamp from aluminum and a few screws. Clamps to the rear bed of the lathe and is easy to position when the carriage is relocated. Two inches is usually enough travel but it might be nice to obtain a 4 incher!

    Cheers, JR
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Lathe Carriage Dial Indicator-dscf0007.jpg   Lathe Carriage Dial Indicator-dscf0008.jpg   Lathe Carriage Dial Indicator-dscf0009.jpg  

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. #2
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,525
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,559 Times in 2,161 Posts

    mklotz's Tools
    It's not inconceivable that someday you'll forget it's there and run the carriage into it driving the DI rod into the delicate works inside.

    There are (at least) two ways to avoid such a tragedy.

    1. Tap a hole into your aluminum holder for a screw and lock nut that can be extended such that the carriage will hit the screw before it destroys the DI.

    2. If you have sufficient space, withdraw the body of the DI into the aluminum holder far enough so that when the carriage hits the holder the DI rod hasn't fully bottomed out. This is clearly the easiest but you may not have enough 'grab' on the DI if you do it. Give it a try.

    2,000+ Tool Plans
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Failure is just success in progress
    That looks about right - Mediocrates

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to mklotz For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (Dec 20, 2017)

  4. #3
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    927
    Thanks
    1,185
    Thanked 2,092 Times in 562 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools
    Thanks Marv, That is a good idea. I think I will just drill and tap for a stop rod or screw. That should keep things safe.

    Cheers, JR

  5. #4
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,525
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,559 Times in 2,161 Posts

    mklotz's Tools
    In the past, I've used my very similar arrangement to move the carriage left and right about some feature of the workpiece that serves as an origin.

    When I do this I first set the DI to the middle of its (2") range. To facilitate setting it, I made a setting gage that consists of a 1" long aluminum rod with a deep groove down its entire length. The groove is wide enough to allow the gage to slip over the DI rod.

    The procedure goes like this...

    Pull DI rod far enough to slip gage over the "back end" of the rod between the rod cap and the top of the DI dial. This holds the DI rod at 1" compression, the middle of its range.

    With the carriage positioned at the reference feature, move the DI up until it just touches the carriage.

    Remove the setting gage and you're ready to go.


    I set the rotating dial so zero is at the 12 o'clock position as seen by the operator. This way the needle tells me which way to move the carriage to return to the reference. If the needle is to the left of zero, I need to move the carriage to the right to get the needle to move right to the zero.
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Failure is just success in progress
    That looks about right - Mediocrates

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to mklotz For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (Dec 20, 2017)

  7. #5
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    927
    Thanks
    1,185
    Thanked 2,092 Times in 562 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools
    Thanks Marv, I never thought to use the DI for measuring both directions at the same time! Excellent tip,
    Thanks, JR

  8. #6
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    LA, CA, USA
    Posts
    3,525
    Thanks
    362
    Thanked 6,559 Times in 2,161 Posts

    mklotz's Tools
    I use one as a precision Z-axis depth gauge on my mill. As such I have to have the freedom to move both up and down and the DI needs to start in about the middle of its range. Hence the idea of a quick way to preset it to mid-range. The arrangement I use is a bit different from what I described but the idea is the same.

    One advantage of using a DI in this role is the fact that they have virtually zero backlash due to the spring-loading of the internal gear mechanism.
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Failure is just success in progress
    That looks about right - Mediocrates

  9. #7
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    927
    Thanks
    1,185
    Thanked 2,092 Times in 562 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools
    The preset to half range is so handy. I just had a small job to bore out but only .325 deep. Set up the DI with the preset and it was fast and quite easy to do.

    Cheers, JR

  10. #8
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,055
    Thanks
    793
    Thanked 1,888 Times in 1,683 Posts


    Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Lathe Carriage Indicator to our Lathe Accessories category,
    as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:






    2,000+ Tool Plans

  11. The Following User Says Thank You to DIYer For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Oct 1, 2016)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •