• Depth mike

    From Snag@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jun 26 13:47:11 2024
    I scored a Mitutoyo unit a while back at a yard sale . It only had
    one rod , 0-1" and I wanted more ... so I bought some on eBay . Thing is
    they must be for a different model micrometer , they're all 5/8" too
    long . And not 1-2 , 2-3 , etc . So I was thinking that I can cut them
    off to measure correctly in my unit . This will give me 0- 5" if I cut
    them to the appropriate lengths . It looks like I won't have to be
    absolutely on the mark since there is a calibration adjustment on each
    rod . I'm thinking that my Dremel in the toolpost clamp and a cutoff
    wheel , then a light polish with a fine grinding wheel also using the
    dremel . I have 123 blocks that I can set up to calibrate - maybe not as precise as a metrology lab , but I think close enough for what I do .
    Does this sound doable , and any suggestions ?
    --
    Snag
    It's great to be straight !

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Snag on Wed Jun 26 13:21:57 2024
    On 6/26/2024 11:47 AM, Snag wrote:
      I scored a Mitutoyo unit a while back at a yard sale . It only had
    one rod , 0-1" and I wanted more ... so I bought some on eBay . Thing is
    they must be for a different model micrometer , they're all 5/8" too
    long . And not 1-2 , 2-3 , etc . So I was thinking that I can cut them
    off to measure correctly in my unit . This will give me 0- 5" if I cut
    them to the appropriate lengths . It looks like I won't have to be
    absolutely on the mark since there is a calibration adjustment on each
    rod . I'm thinking that my Dremel in the toolpost clamp and a cutoff
    wheel , then a light polish with a fine grinding wheel also using the
    dremel . I have 123 blocks that I can set up to calibrate - maybe not as precise as a metrology lab , but I think close enough for what I do .
      Does this sound doable , and any suggestions ?

    There are two depth mics in my shop. One is a Shars set I bought new,
    and the other is old Craftsman maybe? Anyway, they have a domed or
    convex end on them so that the contact point is very small. Look at
    your other anvils/rods for the shape.

    If you get the dome very close, then you could polish a couple tenths
    quite easily using your 123 blocks and a small inexpensive surface plate
    to check as you go. You might not make the metrology snob happy, but
    you should be able to get significantly closer to .000 than .001. With
    some, but not excessive, care you could get really darn close. If you
    have a tool and cutter grinder or surface grinder, and any kind of
    fixture for turning the rods you could turn a shallow cone pretty darn
    close and polish to finish with just tiniest of flats on the end. A
    cone is maybe not quite as durable as a dome, but you will probably wind
    up with a tiny flat or dome anyway.

    I don't bother to "precision" calibrate the mic myself. I just take a
    quick reading on something close like a gage block, 123 bloc, etc, and
    then add/subtract the error to my final reading.

    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Snag@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Wed Jun 26 16:52:23 2024
    On 6/26/2024 3:21 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 6/26/2024 11:47 AM, Snag wrote:
       I scored a Mitutoyo unit a while back at a yard sale . It only had
    one rod , 0-1" and I wanted more ... so I bought some on eBay . Thing
    is they must be for a different model micrometer , they're all 5/8"
    too long . And not 1-2 , 2-3 , etc . So I was thinking that I can cut
    them off to measure correctly in my unit . This will give me 0- 5" if
    I cut them to the appropriate lengths . It looks like I won't have to
    be absolutely on the mark since there is a calibration adjustment on
    each rod . I'm thinking that my Dremel in the toolpost clamp and a
    cutoff wheel , then a light polish with a fine grinding wheel also
    using the dremel . I have 123 blocks that I can set up to calibrate -
    maybe not as precise as a metrology lab , but I think close enough for
    what I do .
       Does this sound doable , and any suggestions ?

    There are two depth mics in my shop.  One is a Shars set I bought new,
    and the other is old Craftsman maybe?  Anyway, they have a domed or
    convex end on them so that the contact point is very small.  Look at
    your other anvils/rods for the shape.

    If you get the dome very close, then you could polish a couple tenths
    quite easily using your 123 blocks and a small inexpensive surface plate
    to check as you go.  You might not make the metrology snob happy, but
    you should be able to get significantly closer to .000 than .001.  With some, but not excessive, care you could get really darn close.  If you
    have a tool and cutter grinder or surface grinder, and any kind of
    fixture for turning the rods you could turn a shallow cone pretty darn
    close and polish to finish with just tiniest of flats on the end.  A
    cone is maybe not quite as durable as a dome, but you will probably wind
    up with a tiny flat or dome anyway.

    I don't bother to "precision" calibrate the mic myself.  I just take a
    quick reading on something close like a gage block, 123 bloc, etc, and
    then add/subtract the error to my final reading.


    These are all flat on the tip . I can see the point of making the tip rounded or conical . These all have an adjustable collar with a lock
    ring on the top end , so I figured on polishing them a thou or three
    short then adjusting - start with the collars bottomed out (lightly) on
    the threads .
    --
    Snag
    It's great to be straight !

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Snag on Wed Jun 26 15:30:08 2024
    On 6/26/2024 2:52 PM, Snag wrote:
    On 6/26/2024 3:21 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 6/26/2024 11:47 AM, Snag wrote:
       I scored a Mitutoyo unit a while back at a yard sale . It only had
    one rod , 0-1" and I wanted more ... so I bought some on eBay . Thing
    is they must be for a different model micrometer , they're all 5/8"
    too long . And not 1-2 , 2-3 , etc . So I was thinking that I can cut
    them off to measure correctly in my unit . This will give me 0- 5" if
    I cut them to the appropriate lengths . It looks like I won't have to
    be absolutely on the mark since there is a calibration adjustment on
    each rod . I'm thinking that my Dremel in the toolpost clamp and a
    cutoff wheel , then a light polish with a fine grinding wheel also
    using the dremel . I have 123 blocks that I can set up to calibrate -
    maybe not as precise as a metrology lab , but I think close enough
    for what I do .
       Does this sound doable , and any suggestions ?

    There are two depth mics in my shop.  One is a Shars set I bought new,
    and the other is old Craftsman maybe?  Anyway, they have a domed or
    convex end on them so that the contact point is very small.  Look at
    your other anvils/rods for the shape.

    If you get the dome very close, then you could polish a couple tenths
    quite easily using your 123 blocks and a small inexpensive surface
    plate to check as you go.  You might not make the metrology snob
    happy, but you should be able to get significantly closer to .000 than
    .001.  With some, but not excessive, care you could get really darn
    close.  If you have a tool and cutter grinder or surface grinder, and
    any kind of fixture for turning the rods you could turn a shallow cone
    pretty darn close and polish to finish with just tiniest of flats on
    the end.  A cone is maybe not quite as durable as a dome, but you will
    probably wind up with a tiny flat or dome anyway.

    I don't bother to "precision" calibrate the mic myself.  I just take a
    quick reading on something close like a gage block, 123 bloc, etc, and
    then add/subtract the error to my final reading.


      These are all flat on the tip . I can see the point of making the tip rounded or conical . These all have an adjustable collar with a lock
    ring on the top end , so I figured on polishing them a thou or three
    short then adjusting - start with the collars bottomed out (lightly) on
    the threads .


    Makes perfect sense to me. Not sure about them being flat though. I'll
    go double check both of my sets when I have another minute.

    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Snag@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Wed Jun 26 18:13:31 2024
    On 6/26/2024 5:21 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Snag"  wrote in message news:v5hnnl$29e1b$1@dont-email.me...

      I scored a Mitutoyo unit a while back at a yard sale . It only had
    one rod , 0-1" and I wanted more ... so I bought some on eBay . Thing is
    they must be for a different model micrometer , they're all 5/8" too
    long . And not 1-2 , 2-3 , etc . So I was thinking that I can cut them
    off to measure correctly in my unit . This will give me 0- 5" if I cut
    them to the appropriate lengths . It looks like I won't have to be
    absolutely on the mark since there is a calibration adjustment on each
    rod . I'm thinking that my Dremel in the toolpost clamp and a cutoff
    wheel , then a light polish with a fine grinding wheel also using the
    dremel . I have 123 blocks that I can set up to calibrate - maybe not as precise as a metrology lab , but I think close enough for what I do .
      Does this sound doable , and any suggestions ?
    Snag

    -----------------------------------

    How about making a 5/8" long adapter sleeve for the head end, with appropriate threaded ends?

    If you set the lathe compound 6 degrees off square each 0.001" division
    on the dial will move the bit 0.0001" sideways.

    The mike will read the zero error and corrections will be to the one DIY sleeve, not all the rods. A screwup will cost you only the sleeve.

    The biggest problem may be matching the threads. You need to match only
    the mike end, you can make the cap.

    My depth mike is a Starrett so measuring its thread won't help you.

    When I set my South Bend up for metric threading I found that the
    standard 100/127 gear set wouldn't give me the fine lens threads I
    wanted, 120/127 gave more. I used a spreadsheet to calculate and
    tabulate the inch - metric equivalence of several possible choices.
    Change gears were much cheaper in the early 90's. They weren't a direct
    fit, I had to make a bearing adapter.


    The way this is made there's nowhere to add a spacer sleeve . I've
    got a whole 40 bucks in this set of used rods o it's not a big deal if I
    screw one up . I think shortening the rods is really the only way to
    make this work . In case you aren't familiar with Mitutoyo depth mikes ,
    the thimble is 2 pieces . The top half unscrews and the rod is dropped
    thru the hollow lower half . The top half is then screwed on to clamp
    and retain the rod . The top of the rod is threaded , the collar that is
    the clamping surface has 2 tiny setscrews plus a lock nut on top .
    There's enough threads that if I screw up and have to take a little more
    off I can , up to maybe .060" . About the only way I can see ruining one
    is to bend it . That's a tight hole it fits in .
    --
    Snag
    It's great to be straight !

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  • From Snag@21:1/5 to Bob La Londe on Wed Jun 26 18:59:40 2024
    On 6/26/2024 6:41 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 6/26/2024 3:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v5i4pg$2bc2r$1@dont-email.me...

    Makes perfect sense to me.  Not sure about them being flat though.
    I'll go double check both of my sets when I have another minute.
    Bob La Londe
    -----------------------------------
    The rods for my Starrett are flat across the end.

    I went and looked.  I was in the back shop slitting some stock to width,
    and I was right there.  The Craftsman set is flat.  The Shars set is definitely radiused on every rod. I recall using the Shar's to get some dimensions for the rails on a handgun frame and I had to sweep it back
    and forth to make sure I was getting the dimension.  With a square end I would not have had to do that.

    I thought I had a benefit to the radiused end in my mind, but when I
    think through it doesn't seem to add up.  Maybe just ease of grinding to length being just a theoretical single point instead of a perpendicular
    flat.




    And this might not be as straightforward as I thought . Those collars
    at the top only want to rotate about 90° . Might be because the
    setscrews have flattened the threads but I haven't pulled a screw to see
    . Tomorrow will be soon enough .

    --
    Snag
    It's great to be straight !

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  • From Bob La Londe@21:1/5 to Jim Wilkins on Wed Jun 26 16:41:24 2024
    On 6/26/2024 3:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v5i4pg$2bc2r$1@dont-email.me...

    Makes perfect sense to me.  Not sure about them being flat though.  I'll
    go double check both of my sets when I have another minute.
    Bob La Londe
    -----------------------------------
    The rods for my Starrett are flat across the end.

    I went and looked. I was in the back shop slitting some stock to width,
    and I was right there. The Craftsman set is flat. The Shars set is
    definitely radiused on every rod. I recall using the Shar's to get some dimensions for the rails on a handgun frame and I had to sweep it back
    and forth to make sure I was getting the dimension. With a square end I
    would not have had to do that.

    I thought I had a benefit to the radiused end in my mind, but when I
    think through it doesn't seem to add up. Maybe just ease of grinding to
    length being just a theoretical single point instead of a perpendicular
    flat.




    --
    Bob La Londe
    CNC Molds N Stuff


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  • From Snag@21:1/5 to Snag on Wed Jun 26 22:27:58 2024
    On 6/26/2024 6:59 PM, Snag wrote:
    On 6/26/2024 6:41 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
    On 6/26/2024 3:33 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:
    "Bob La Londe"  wrote in message news:v5i4pg$2bc2r$1@dont-email.me...

    Makes perfect sense to me.  Not sure about them being flat though.
    I'll go double check both of my sets when I have another minute.
    Bob La Londe
    -----------------------------------
    The rods for my Starrett are flat across the end.

    I went and looked.  I was in the back shop slitting some stock to
    width, and I was right there.  The Craftsman set is flat.  The Shars
    set is definitely radiused on every rod. I recall using the Shar's to
    get some dimensions for the rails on a handgun frame and I had to
    sweep it back and forth to make sure I was getting the dimension.
    With a square end I would not have had to do that.

    I thought I had a benefit to the radiused end in my mind, but when I
    think through it doesn't seem to add up.  Maybe just ease of grinding
    to length being just a theoretical single point instead of a
    perpendicular flat.




      And this might not be as straightforward as I thought . Those collars
    at the top only want to rotate about 90° . Might be because the
    setscrews have flattened the threads but I haven't pulled a screw to see
    . Tomorrow will be soon enough .


    I decided to look up calibrating the rods ... the collar doesn't
    rotate and the nut on top adjusts the length . The setscrews lock the
    collar in place . I'll be checking that in the morning .
    --
    Snag
    It's great to be straight !

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