Centering microscope for the LMS 3900 Mini-Mill

[cazclocker]

Anyone know where to find a centering microscope for the LMS 3900 Mini-Mill? The spindle has an R8 taper, so the microscope will have to fit that. I plan on drilling brass plate for clock pivots, so hole placement will be critical.
Thanks in advance,
...Doug

 

[JimDawson]

I have one like this, except mine is made by HECO in Santa Anna, CA.

http://www.flexbar.com/shop/pc/CENTERING-MICROSCOPE-W-CASE-p4835.htm

This is just what you are looking for.

 

[David Kirtley]

If you don't have a computer nearby, I would just get one of the cheap endoscopes and slap it in a collet. Either the ones like HF sells:



Or the USB ones they sell on ebay for not much money if you have a computer nearby. I picked up a USB microscope for under $40.
My real preference would be the cool USB Borescopes that you can pick up for $20-$30 on ebay. They come with as much as 20' of cable. Pretty slick.

 

[Uglydog]

I have one like this, except mine is made by HECO in Santa Anna, CA.

http://www.flexbar.com/shop/pc/CENTERING-MICROSCOPE-W-CASE-p4835.htm

This is just what you are looking for.

I picked up a center scope for $100 on ebay.
Works well. However the reality is that my current skills can't keep up with the accuracy that it allows.
Regardless, It's actually huge fun.

Daryl
MN

 

[cazclocker]

I have one like this, except mine is made by HECO in Santa Anna, CA.

http://www.flexbar.com/shop/pc/CENTERING-MICROSCOPE-W-CASE-p4835.htm

This is just what you are looking for.

Jim, you're right - that's just what I'm looking for. Thanks for the tip!
...Doug

 

[cazclocker]

If you don't have a computer nearby, I would just get one of the cheap endoscopes and slap it in a collet. Either the ones like HF sells:

View attachment 70911

Or the USB ones they sell on ebay for not much money if you have a computer nearby. I picked up a USB microscope for under $40.
My real preference would be the cool USB Borescopes that you can pick up for $20-$30 on ebay. They come with as much as 20' of cable. Pretty slick.

Those look interesting, except there's nowhere for the cable to exit my collet. It can't come out the side of the spindle housing, and up on top there's the collet closer.

 

[cazclocker]

I picked up a center scope for $100 on ebay.
Works well. However the reality is that my current skills can't keep up with the accuracy that it allows.
Regardless, It's actually huge fun.

Daryl
MN

Hello Daryl, I've seen a few centering scopes on eBay, but none of them say they are made to fit an R8 collet, so I never bought one. Maybe you're supposed to stick a protruding mounting stem into a collet - is that how it works? I thought an R8-fitting scope would be made to fit in the spindle like a collet body.

 

[JimDawson]

Hello Daryl, I've seen a few centering scopes on eBay, but none of them say they are made to fit an R8 collet, so I never bought one. Maybe you're supposed to stick a protruding mounting stem into a collet - is that how it works? I thought an R8-fitting scope would be made to fit in the spindle like a collet body.

Yes, that is exactly how it works. My scope has a 0.375 shank, just put it in a collet like a tool bit.

 

[Uglydog]

Hello Daryl, I've seen a few centering scopes on eBay, but none of them say they are made to fit an R8 collet, so I never bought one. Maybe you're supposed to stick a protruding mounting stem into a collet - is that how it works? I thought an R8-fitting scope would be made to fit in the spindle like a collet body.

Mine has a 1/2 inch straight shank and fits into my Cincy monoset collets, should do the same with your R8.

I'm not sure if I should have attached the digital copy of the manual.
If the moderator disapproves, then please delete it. I can't figure out how to delete attachments.


Daryl
MN

 

[cazclocker]

Yes, that is exactly how it works. My scope has a 0.375 shank, just put it in a collet like a tool bit.

Thanks Jim - OK, thanks for the clarification. Elegantly simple...

Mine has a 1/2 inch straight shank and fits into my Cincy monoset collets, should do the same with your R8.

I'm not sure if I should have attached the digital copy of the manual.
If the moderator disapproves, then please delete it. I can't figure out how to delete attachments.


Daryl
MN

Well the .pdf's were still there this morning, so I gather it was OK! Thank you so much, Daryl. What a great group this is.