Thread: Distance Scales

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi BT,

Do you have the DRO on yours? Very slick looking machine by the way..

Regards
Ray

Nah Ray ,
Mine's an older style!



Michael,
I've done my rounds of the hardware stores and looked on-line for an easy option but there is nothing that comes close to the original scales. Being anal about these things doesn't help but that's me.

Todd,
Here is a rough pdf of the shortest scale. Some refining is still required. The circles indicate the screw fixing locations.

This is the best match that Mcmaster can do, but might do in a pinch -

Michael
Attachment 190445

Bob, Where I used to work we had an Epilog laser engraver which we used to make stainless steel name plates. We would get stainless with a polished finish on one side, spray with some stuff called Cermark and then run it through the laser. This would leave black lettering on the stainless plate, not sure exactly what the process is that causes the stainless to go black but it seemed to work well. (A google search for Cermark will show what can be done). The laser can engrave to a really fine level so should work OK for producing a scale for you. The company we bought the laser from in Sydney, Project Engraving, have an office in Perth. It may be worth while giving them a call to see if they can put you in touch with one of their customers. I am sure that it would only take a matter of minutes to set up and engrave, you may have to drill your own holes though.

Hi BT,
Who'd want a scale in cm? hehe

PM set ages ago.

Stuart

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Thanks for the suggestions fellas.


Mark "Markpest",
I am interested in the scanned article and I am sure others would be.


BT

Hopefully of interest. I was impressed as "not excessively toxic." All the best with this one - as always look forward to hearing / seeing the final pics. Mark

Last installment Mark

As promised here's the photos of how markings were engraved with a hand shaper which is more or less the only use for a small hand shaper. The 96 tooth index wheel is not made this way but hand stamped and faced off to smooth out the edges of the stamped numbers. The brass knob is made using the hand shaper and then stamped using a jig to hold the numbers in position.

The hand shaper bolted to a steel channel back and a cast iron channel base (made back when you could buy cast iron easily).




A brass knob mounted in the rotary table chuck being engraved with lines.




Another shot showing detail of the shaper depth adjustment and clapper box.




The finished brass knob ready to use.




A 30+ year old 96 tooth brass index wheel showing the stamping.

Mark, very tidy work. Thanks for posting.
Can I ask what the knob was for?

Originally Posted by Bryan

Mark, very tidy work. Thanks for posting.
Can I ask what the knob was for?

Hi Bryan, it goes on a gemstone faceting machine:

Mark,

Thanks very much for going to the trouble to post the photos. The little "shaper" setup is neat. So far, the graduating I've done has been radial and axial and I've managed on the lathe. Linear will be a challenge.

BT

Originally Posted by markpest

Hopefully of interest. I was impressed as "not excessively toxic." All the best with this one - as always look forward to hearing / seeing the final pics. Mark

Thanks for the scans Mark.

BT

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Mark,

Thanks very much for going to the trouble to post the photos. The little "shaper" setup is neat. So far, the graduating I've done has been radial and axial and I've managed on the lathe. Linear will be a challenge.

BT

I'd expect one of those cheap linear encoder readout units that look like they came off a digital caliper would do the trick, you could even work out the readings to make a vernier scale on a spreadsheet.