G0602 Or Simaler Small Lathe Owners Z Axis Dial Indicator

[umahunter]

I was wondering what yall use for dial indicator to cut accurately in z towards the chuck magnetic indicator like pictured or maybe something else post pics if ya got em thanks gents

 

[Bob Korves]

Yes, I use that regularly. I also have a 2" travel one I made up. I just stick it on the V-ways so that it touches the carriage, slide it to a convenient location to have near full travel available, and zero the indicator at the start (or the end) of the cut. The carriage handwheel dial on my 13x40 is worthless.

 

[ch2co]

I was going to try to add a magnet to the back of one of my dial indicators and noticed that the indicator needle had a not so subtle reaction with the magnet.
I would imagine that this problem might only happen on some dial indicators while others have antimagnetic movements.
I had built a carriage stop a while ago and decided that maybe I could modify it to accept the dial indicator interchangable with the adjustable stop rod

CHuck the grumpy old guy

 

[francist]

Standard 2" face 1" travel indicator on my 618. Didn't want to go the magnet route so cast a holder in urethane resin that uses brass thumbscrews instead.

-frank

 

[ch2co]

My only other objection to the magnet idea, is that the magnet attracts steel swarf which I find to be a pain in the kazoo My current DRO system is held on with magnets and attracts
huge bunches of it while machining steel.

CHuck the grumpy old guy

 

[Bob Korves]

View attachment 121395 Standard 2" face 1" travel indicator on my 618. Didn't want to go the magnet route so cast a holder in urethane resin that uses brass thumbscrews instead.

-frank

Frank, you cheated and made all your ways flat for the indicator holder. That makes it a lot easier. I'm going to try that on my lathe, too! I'm headed for my angle grinder now... 8^)

 

[ch2co]

Bob
Be sure to record it for a YouTube video! There's a lot of us who want to watch and learn from your expertise. :^}

CHuck the grumpy old guy

 

[kd4gij]

I use one of these .

 

[higgite]

I use 2" DI with a magnetic back like the one in your pic. My bench lathe has a leadscrew cover which makes a perfect platform for it.

Tom