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Dial indicator

M

Michael Perez

Joined
Jul 5, 2022
Messages
266
Likes
64
Location
Lima, Peru
Hello, after turning a pen I realized that the tip of a pen was not centered. I checked my lathe and was not aligned so I tried to fix it eyeballing and improved considerably and my next pens were ok.
But I thought it would be nice to have a dial indicator, so after some research all weekend I found this option at Amazon.de : https://www.amazon.de/-/en/10142/dp...33-babf-92389f6d8e4c&pd_rd_i=B00MY0KRZW&psc=1
1. Brand : KÄFER made in Germany.
2. No lug back.
3. No bezel lock.

What do you think? Does it worth? Love to hear any comments.
Thank you
 
I might suggest a Gunsmith's Boresight , which is basically a laser mounted in a MT2 morse taper... don't think you could get much more precise than that. (and much faster than a dial indicator) Or, even cheaper, turn your own MT2 taper (its easy) and when mounted in headstock, you can then bore out the center to fit this cheapie from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/EZshoot-BoreSighter-Button-Caliber-Handgun/dp/B07TK9SVVY/
 
Brian Gustin said:
I might suggest a Gunsmith's Boresight , which is basically a laser mounted in a MT2 morse taper... don't think you could get much more precise than that. (and much faster than a dial indicator) Or, even cheaper, turn your own MT2 taper (its easy) and when mounted in headstock, you can then bore out the center to fit this cheapie from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/EZshoot-BoreSighter-Button-Caliber-Handgun/dp/B07TK9SVVY/
Click to expand...
Hello, thank you so much, I couldn’t ever imagine something like that, definitely there is more than one way to do the same task.
For me one of the most creative and nice solution is also the Rick Herrell post, Very nice quality product.
I’ll check it and I think I also want something similar with laser for my drill press.
greetings
 
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I recommend using a dial indicator like the one you noted in the original post. You will also need a mag base with an arm to hold it: something like a Noga arm (https://ornamentalturners.com/wiki/index.php?n=Main.NogaArm).

This is the way I use to re-center an object once moved to a new chuck (or other holding method).
 
RichColvin said:
I recommend using a dial indicator like the one you noted in the original post. You will also need a mag base with an arm to hold it: something like a Noga arm (https://ornamentalturners.com/wiki/index.php?n=Main.NogaArm).

This is the way I use to re-center an object once moved to a new chuck (or other holding method).
Click to expand...
Hello, thank you so much, yes I know that I need a base and I’ve been checking that the most recommended brand is Noga, if I buy it now for the moment it will be exclusively for my lathe, I thought I could improvise a post holder for the shaft with a hole cut in the middle and screw to lock it, then I will buy the base, what do you think?or it is not a good idea?
Otherwise I can wait for a while and then buy them together.
 
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As long as it is stable whilst using it, that should work.

As for bases, I just buy generic ones on Amazon.
 
RichColvin said:
10mm travel is pretty small. I get them with 1” (~25mm) of travel.
Click to expand...
Oh thank you. I’m just starting I really don’t understand what the range of travel is for.
I thought if I’m going to calibrate microns that would be ok but just realized that in the Amazon reviews they mentioned to be aware that is a very short distance and if it will suit my needs.
My need is to check my lathe alignment is it going to suit it? Or maybe too uncomfortable?
I saw another the same brand that says 20mm of travel this one:
 
That indicator doesn't use a more standard lug mount. It mounts on the shaft at the bottom. None of my half dozen indictors use that type mount and I don't think it's very convenient for general use.

One revolution of the dial is 1 mm (.0394") and graduated in mm's. Most in this country are more accustomed to inch readings.

Me? I'd pass on it in favor of one closer to my others.
 
As for the 10mm range (In US Imperial that'd be roughly 0.380") I would say it depends on what is being measured, and desired accuracy - If I was measuring runout of my lathe (spindle centerline) I'd be looking at .0001" at the headstock , if not less so a 10mm in Nanometer increments would be needed to measure that in which case a 10mm travel would be more than sufficient.

HOWEVER, I don't see how one would be measuring headstock - to tailstock alignment (which is what I assume is wanted?) using a dial indicator... assuming you're using tailstock to center a drill on the rotating material in headstock, then it would be the headstock-to-tailstock alignment to correct.. so I just don't see the need of a dial indicator?
 
How do you intend to use the dial indicator on the live center in the tailstock? The indicator will only tell you about runout around the headstock. With a sharp point on your drive center and a very sharp point on your 60 degree live center, you can align the lathe very accurately. Using pen bushings with center drive are far superior to a mandrel method.
 
One of my earliest purchasers as a new turner was a dial indicator with magnetic base. In the 13 years since, I've used it once. If you didn't use a mandrel for turning the pen, get one and you'll not get off center.
 
Thank you very much to all. I feel embarrassed and I’m really novice maybe I’m not explaining me well because I don’t know anything about dial indicators, just looking for information maybe I don’t even need a dial indicator and I’m going to use it in a wrong way.
This is the short story:
First I realized that my pen wasn’t concentric with the nib so I checked my lathe: spur center and live center and they weren’t aligned. I aligned it eyeballing and looked perfect.
But when using my pen mandrel I realized that the shaft didn’t align with the revolving tailstock so I aligned it again eyeballing but with the shaft and the revolving tail stock and it improved considerably.
So I thought "maybe I need a dial indicator" to check it with greater precision than eyeballing.
I’m going to attach a file to explain me better.
All your comments and advices will help me a lot.
 

Attachments

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So, you are saying that your Tail Stock is NOT aligned perfectly with the Head Stock. Right?
If that is the case, you might have some machining issues that need addressing to get them to align. ???
I'm not really clear on how you would use the dial indicator to fix your lathe issues(s)? But, good luck with all of it.

BTW: There are many other uses for the dial indicator besides seeing if the item between centers is off center or out of round. Yes, the drill press comes to mind and a big one for me has been checking the alignment of my blade, fence and mitre slots on my Table Saw. Good for the Bandsaw as well.
 
Steiph Zargon said:
So, you are saying that your Tail Stock is NOT aligned perfectly with the Head Stock. Right?
If that is the case, you might have some machining issues that need addressing to get them to align. ???
I'm not really clear on how you would use the dial indicator to fix your lathe issues(s)? But, good luck with all of it.

BTW: There are many other uses for the dial indicator besides seeing if the item between centers is off center or out of round. Yes, the drill press comes to mind and a big one for me has been checking the alignment of my blade, fence and mitre slots on my Table Saw. Good for the Bandsaw as well.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. I keep learning and searching information in the web and a lot from all of you guys.
Now I’m understanding that one thing is runout and another thing is misalignment.
For misalignment i saw someone using a double ended mt2 alignment bar, but others advice that it could damage the spindle Mt2 receiver.
Maybe the dial indicator isn’t the tool for that purpose. I already aligned it but just eyeballing, unscrewing the headstock bolts and moving it laterally until the compresor pen shaft meets the revolving tailstock.
My concern is if eyeballing is enough or not that‘s why I thought maybe a dial indicator could achieve this task.
 
Just to clarify my previous response..... I said I wouldn't buy the Amazon indicator linked to. I would suggest a dial indicator as a useful tool, just not that particular one mostly because of its mounting.

Whether a dial indicator will solve your pen problem, not sure because I haven't taken the time to try to understand it. But an indicator is useful in checking chuck run out and run out of re-chucked parts among other uses. Plus it can measure things.

There is another kind of somewhat similar indicator, a test indicator. For a turner a dial indicator would be the best choice rather than a test indicator.
 
Doug Rasmussen said:
Just to clarify my previous response..... I said I wouldn't buy the Amazon indicator linked to. I would suggest a dial indicator as a useful tool, just not that particular one mostly because of its mounting.

Whether a dial indicator will solve your pen problem, not sure because I haven't taken the time to try to understand it. But an indicator is useful in checking chuck run out and run out of re-chucked parts among other uses. Plus it can measure things.

There is another kind of somewhat similar indicator, a test indicator. For a turner a dial indicator would be the best choice rather than a test indicator.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your time I linked 2 dial indicators which one do mean the german one Kafer from Amazon.de or Teclock from Amazo.com or both doesn’t worth.
Amazo.com (this one has a lug back)
Amazon.de(don’t have lug back)
When you refer to its mounting do you mean the lug back?
 
Hello, I want to thank everyone for all the advices, recommendations and time it has been very helpful to me.
Finally I made up my mind and bought today the Teclock DI. I’m sure I’ll learn more in the future playing with my new toy.
best wishes and happy week
 
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