Adding a dial indicator to the carriage

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Rando
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2015 3:24 pm
Location: Boise, ID
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Adding a dial indicator to the carriage

Post by Rando »

(Okay, last one....I promise...today)

You might have noticed that I use a Kurt D688 workholding vise on my Shark HD2+ (Rockler 60th). Getting that lined up in many cases means having a dial indicator that I run across the very VERY flats on either side of the vise. They spec that to within 0.0002" across the vise length, so it should be possible to get that very close to perfect.

Not wanting to have to put it on, and take it off every time I used it, I devised a way to have the indicator swing up and out of the way when not in use (and not get damaged!), and then easily swing down into position. Check the attached pix. I drilled a 3/8" hole in the carriage side-plate to hold a large bolt, and then parts from a Harbor Freight magnetic base.

Now, I'm not going to claim that somehow it's repeatable between cycles folding it up and down, but once positioned it stays in place sufficiently well that I haven't noticed any repeatability issues, even when measuring in the sub-half-mil range.
Folded down for use.
Folded down for use.
And folded up out of the way. Adjust it so it doesn't hit
And folded up out of the way. Adjust it so it doesn't hit
It's proven a great time-saver having that right there, always at the ready.

Regards,
Thom
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ThomR.com Creative tools and photographic art
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