Lathe Dial Indicator Mount

[Crusty]

Here's a simple and sturdy dial indicator mount that I made for my lathe.

Here it is configured to measure along the traverse axis on my Quick Change toolpost. The indicator stem is pointing across the lathe turning axis.



And here it is with the indicator spun 180º for measuring along the longitudinal axis and installed onto the other tool mount point. The indicator stem is pointing towards the chuck.



Easily made from some 3/4" 6061 stock. Quick to deploy and quick to take measurements without using up a QC tool holder. The screw is adjusted to clamp onto the barrel of the indicator but still allow it to be rotated without sliding in the bore. Bob's yer uncle.

Next is to make one that goes onto my ways for measuring carriage travel but I'm waiting for a toggle clamp to come in for that. I'll probably buy a 2" travel dial indicator for that.

[DIYer]

Thanks Crusty! We've added your Dial Indicator Mount to our Measuring and Marking category,
as well as to your builder page: Crusty's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Dial Indicator Mount by Crusty

tags: lathe, dial indicator, mount

[mklotz]

At the risk of teaching egg sucking, three remarks...

The traditional axes designations for a lathe are...

standing in front of lathe

+x horizontally away from you (cross-slide moving away from you)
+y vertically
+z out of chuck

One really good use for such a holder is in centering work in the four jaw. To do that accurately the DI point must be on the lathe centerline. Rather than futz around trying to get a small point on the CL, replace the small point with an elephant foot style that will always contact at the CL.

Centering work in the four jaw chuck

Making an elephant foot

When you make your z-axis depth stop, be sure to include a stop screw such that the carriage is stopped before attempting to compress the DI beyond its limit. DAMHIKT.

[Crusty]

I can never remember the axis designators so I take my best stab at it. Maybe I should just call them longitudinal and traverse axes and leave the minutia for others while I go back to machining.

When I'm centering work in the four jaw I put 4 pieces of shim stock on the outside surfaces extending past the end of the part held on with a strong rubber band and then I can use a test indicator like a Starrett Last Word indicator on the inside surfaces of the shim stock. Come to think of it I need to devise a similar mount for my Last Word.

[mklotz]

This may help with the axes...




I made a "flapper" to deal with centering polygonal shapes...

Centering aid for polygonal stock

[Crusty]

I'd have to get it tattooed onto the back of my hand because remembering it is the most significant issue, but thanks.

[mklotz]

I'd have to get it tattooed onto the back of my hand because remembering it is the most significant issue, but thanks.

Well, if you can remember two of the axes, you can always determine the third using the right hand rule; all these coordinate systems are right handed.

Also, for the typical lathe and vertical mill, the z axis aligns with the spinning work (lathe) or tool (mill).

OTOH, just store my image in your computer shop file and refer to it when necessary.

[Crusty]

I'll continue my work as I see appropriate.