Dial calliper mounted on lathe

[Holescreek]

The biggest problem I see with using a dial caliper is having to do math every time you want to move in step distances. At least with a digital caliper you can reset zero anywhere desired and continue on. There are other downsides too, think about the steps needed for a simple lathe operation.

 

[Tozguy]

Dial callipers and dial indicators can be zeroed too.
It seems to me that there is math to do anyways but maybe I'm missing something.
The times I wish I had something to measure carriage travel accurately was for parting off at a specific length, cutting a shoulder of precise width, etc. Up to now in cases like that I have had to measure with a dial calliper in my oily hands on work that had to be cleaned of oil and chips first.
I do appreciate all your comments as at this stage I am interested in discovering all the pros and cons.

I realize that DROs are the way to go for most persons but for now this is not on my radar screen.

 

[KMoffett]

Before I added a 2-axis DRO to my lathe, I used a 2" throw dial indicator with a magnetic base (attached). It was from ENCO and not very expensive.
Worked great...up to 2". But that covered 90% of my work. In some ways I felt comfortable watching wind down to my set point, anticipating when to disengage the feed. The digital is a little less easy to anticipate. But you can still get cheap used ones. (Starret's are over $300) Googled: 2" travel dial indicator
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/2-dial-indicator
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARS-2-HIG...-3-BIG-FACE-TRAVEL-LUG-BACK-NEW-/330534540196
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dial-Indicator-Chicago-Brand-0-2-001-/262926488900
Ken

 

[Tozguy]

Ken, thanks for the links, I didn't realize the 2'' travel indicators were so inexpensive.
I have been using a 1'' indicator in a mighty mag on the ways in a similar fashion.
In what way were you limited with the 2'' indicator?

 

[KMoffett]

You're limited only in the 2" feed travel. If you need longer feeds, you can reset it's position, but that gets real putzy for multiple passes.

Ken

 

[T. J.]

Randy Richard posted a video recently where he makes one:

 

[Tozguy]

TJ, that's exactly what I'm looking for, actually the magnetic mounting is a big plus over what I had in mind. THANKS

 

[T. J.]

Glad to help. One of those is on my to do list as well.

 

[umahunter]

That thing is sweet

 

[Cheeseking]

Pre-DRO I used to do the same like Kmoffett. Mag base on dial ind. easy on/off although doing it this way is subject to a degree of cosine error unless the plunger is perfectly parallel to travel. Not too bad to eyeball it straight using the ways as a reference. Bonus to the mag attach is if you brain fart and get over zealous on retracting the carriage it pushes the indicator out of the way vs a hard crash.