Thread: A very interesting, totally new, DIY electronic EDGE FINDER

Piece of paper or a feeler gauge works too.

I'm partial to a good electronic project but I think I prefer the simplicity (and accuracy) of my starett edge finder mounted in a collet. Strangely enough I enjoy watching the point at which it decides to skip off out of centre! Only annoying thing is I bought an imperial one because it was real cheap from US so I have to count 2.54mm to centre which requires a little more brain power when I'm tired or distracted!

Sometimes I deliberately use imperial measurement purely to ensure skills maintenance so I can always use both, but I confess to liking metric better.

getting back OT, do you think the "e finder" is more accurate than a traditional edge finder?

Or should I ask, can it achieve greater accuracy?

Simon

> getting back OT, do you think the "e finder" is more accurate than a traditional edge finder?

Probably not - and if it was, then not by an an amount that would matter for what I do.

What is really new about this particular edge finder is, that it does not need you to remove the cutter from the mill spindle, swap collet to take an edge finder, then swap back and do the maths. No, Rick Sparber's electronic edge finder lets you leave the tool you are using in the spindle. Just like with the cigarette paper system but more universal -- like on a lathe where the cigarette paper method cannot be used.

> Or should I ask, can it achieve greater accuracy?

maybe in another sense: if it is so quick and easy to use as it sounds, then it is likely that you use an edge finder more often, and by doing so you certainly would increase the overall accuracy of all your jobs? I at least find myself often using shortcut methods to save time, or because I am too lazy to install the mechanical edge finder....

Anyway, this project is on my (long) to do list. Right now I am testing my new electronic rotary indexer that I just made to Steve Ward's circuit - very pleased so far.

Originally Posted by simonl

I'm partial to a good electronic project but I think I prefer the simplicity (and accuracy) of my starett edge finder mounted in a collet. Strangely enough I enjoy watching the point at which it decides to skip off out of centre! Only annoying thing is I bought an imperial one because it was real cheap from US so I have to count 2.54mm to centre which requires a little more brain power when I'm tired or distracted!

Sometimes I deliberately use imperial measurement purely to ensure skills maintenance so I can always use both, but I confess to liking metric better.

getting back OT, do you think the "e finder" is more accurate than a traditional edge finder?

Or should I ask, can it achieve greater accuracy?

Simon

A couple of points that come to mind.

When using with a milling cutter it sets the cutter right on the edge, not the thickness of paper or feeler away and no adjustments for difference in diam for edge finder, but the cutter has to be positioned so that the outer diameter of the cutter is able to contact the edge of the work. Would be good for height setting.

I am not sure I would trust it with positioning a drill bit.

The indicator light comes on for about 1/10 sec. An edge finder stays off centre. What about wiggle factor?

In the lathe it would be very useful. Hard to use a edge finder.

I think it would be useful in some situations. More accurate? I cannot answer that one as I have not tried either.

Dean