Thread: Looking for a small dial gauge

Hi Joe,
I'll have a look but I doubt there would be anything metric in 'my' shed.
You never know, there may be something covered in (a lot of) dust.

Phil

I have a surplus 1 1/2" Fowler in 0.001", but it only has 1/4" travel (and no lug on the back).

Michael

I have a Mitutoyo 1045S (40mm dial, 5 mm travel, 0.01mm resolution, outer dial graduated 0.50-0-0.50) if that suits your needs. It has a lug mount.

Hi Joe,

I had a quick look, I remember seeing a small Federal dial gauge that would probably be close to that size.... I have a proper look later.

Regards
Ray

Bought a crankshaft aligning set cheap a few years back. The gauge is imperial in .001" graduations and about 0.5" stroke. Comes with a set of screw on extension rods. I radiused the end of a short extension and replaced the heavy return spring with a light one, (from a Biro I think). Has a lug mount and I use it on my mag base anytime space is at a premium, as it would be only about 30mm diameter. Worth watching for a cheap one, as most people have no idea what they are for.
Combustor.

Joe,

I have a small, 43mm diameter .0001" Baty if it's not too fiddly. Yours for nothing if it will do the job.

Bob.

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

Hi Joe,
I'll have a look but I doubt there would be anything metric in 'my' shed.
You never know, there may be something covered in (a lot of) dust.
Phil

I'd be perfectly happy with imperial and dust, Phil PM me if you find one.
I'm not trying to measure anything with it, just indicate runout and its removal...
the units really don't matter, as long as they are reasonably small...
And besides, I'm perfectly comfortable with either imperial or metric, having had to change over TWICE in my life

Originally Posted by Michael G

I have a surplus 1 1/2" Fowler in 0.001", but it only has 1/4" travel (and no lug on the back).
Michael

Michael, that would suit me just fine. The designs I have clamp the indicator by its stem, no lug required.
PM me with your expectations in return.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

Joe,
I have a small, 43mm diameter .0001" Baty if it's not too fiddly. Yours for nothing if it will do the job.
Bob.

Thank you very much for the offer Bob! I'll try and find a smaller one if I can first. Sounds like Michael's or Gavin's might suit me. My preferred coax indicator design is only about 45mm long and the gauge should stay within that frame or shorter. I'll attach the desing in a separate message shortly.

To give you an idea what I have in mind to build, here is my so far preferred design by Bill Todd.
It stands out by its very short length, suitable for small machines with limited tool space.
Construction seems straight forward too.
The second design I like is even simpler, but takes a little more space - it was designed by "stratos kk" and I have no drawings yet, only my own sketches I made by watching his YouTube clips. I intend drawing it at some stage after I give up trying to contact him...
The total range for the dial gauge in either case is less than about 2.5mm or 0.1"

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi Joe,

I had a quick look, I remember seeing a small Federal dial gauge that would probably be close to that size.... I have a proper look later.

Regards
Ray

Hi Ray. It looks like there are several offers already. Thank you for thinking of the small Federal. I inrend coming for a visit just after Christmas. If I haven't come to an agreement about the other offers, I'll let you know.

hi mate how about a 30mm 0.001"
fixuruperra dial. a mercer

Well thanks Joe, now I can bin the project I've been working on and start over!
Though mine(if I had ever finish it) would save about 20mm Z over the one in the pdf.
If you mount the dail gauge on say a 1/2" bar you can bring it away from the spindle, you then have the option to turn it 90 degrees. The plan was also to have the bearings inside the 30 taper. It had a couple of other ideas that look pretty stupid now having looked at the pdf lol

Stuart

Originally Posted by Gavin Newman

I have a Mitutoyo 1045S (40mm dial, 5 mm travel, 0.01mm resolution, outer dial graduated 0.50-0-0.50) if that suits your needs. It has a lug mount.

Hi Gavin. Thank you for your offer! I will try and find a smaller one if I can - and it looks as though Azzrock just messaged me with the "jackpot" for size.
I'll PM you if the other offers don't work out.