StrikerDown
Enlightened
I recently picked up a Blake Co-Ax Indicator... Two actually, by mistake!:duh2:
If you have not used one of these they can really make life easier when centering part of a workpiece with the spindle or for even centering the tail stock on your lathe.
Say you want to bore a hole or bearing pocket larger, how do you center the existing hole under the spindle? What about getting a rotary table centered? I used to grab the dial indicator chuck it in the spindle and chase it in circles tweaking the X & Y until the needle stopped moving all the time trying to see the dial face to see how it was progressing all the way around.
With the Co-Ax indicator you chuck it up (in this case I'm using an ER-40 collet to hold it but a drill chuck works also if you will be drilling holes) adjust the item you want centered as close to centered by eye as you can then adjust the feeler point so that the small indicator is about centered in its travel with the feeler point sitting where it will be in operation. I have been rotating the spindle by hand to make sure there is no binding before switching on the power. When I'm sure it will spin without any obstruction I then turn on the power at 700 - 800 RPM or less. The indicator needle will start bouncing back and forth. Start by adjusting one of the axis wheels until the needle deflects the least, then adjust the other axis wheel for the least needle movement. if the hole is pretty smooth and round inside you can get the needle to not move at all. That is it! the part will be within .0002" centered on the axis of the spindle. You can also use the curved feeler point to indicate the outside of a round part or cylinder.
Here I am centering a part to open up a hole, the hole could also be the center hole of the rotary table:
This shot shows the restraining arm that keeps the indicator from spinning with the spindle and keeps the dial facing where you point it, no more chasing around in circles!:
On the lathe you can use the Co-Ax to center the tail stock. Here it is being held in a 5C collet and the feeler is indicating the operator side of the Tail stock:
Manually rotate the collet chuck 180 degrees to indicate off the rear inside of the TS. Power is not used here. Notice the needle is exactly in the same position front and rear so it should be within .0002"
You can also check the verticle offset, not that it is easy to adjust but it is nice to know if it is close.
It looks like my TS is .0014" above the axis of the spindle. As the bottom of it wears it will get closer to centering up!
Did anyone notice My new Power feed on the mill
So now I have two Like New Blake Co-Ax indicators, and only need one! I guess I will try eBay, unless someone here would like one for what I have in it.
If you have not used one of these they can really make life easier when centering part of a workpiece with the spindle or for even centering the tail stock on your lathe.
Say you want to bore a hole or bearing pocket larger, how do you center the existing hole under the spindle? What about getting a rotary table centered? I used to grab the dial indicator chuck it in the spindle and chase it in circles tweaking the X & Y until the needle stopped moving all the time trying to see the dial face to see how it was progressing all the way around.
With the Co-Ax indicator you chuck it up (in this case I'm using an ER-40 collet to hold it but a drill chuck works also if you will be drilling holes) adjust the item you want centered as close to centered by eye as you can then adjust the feeler point so that the small indicator is about centered in its travel with the feeler point sitting where it will be in operation. I have been rotating the spindle by hand to make sure there is no binding before switching on the power. When I'm sure it will spin without any obstruction I then turn on the power at 700 - 800 RPM or less. The indicator needle will start bouncing back and forth. Start by adjusting one of the axis wheels until the needle deflects the least, then adjust the other axis wheel for the least needle movement. if the hole is pretty smooth and round inside you can get the needle to not move at all. That is it! the part will be within .0002" centered on the axis of the spindle. You can also use the curved feeler point to indicate the outside of a round part or cylinder.
Here I am centering a part to open up a hole, the hole could also be the center hole of the rotary table:
This shot shows the restraining arm that keeps the indicator from spinning with the spindle and keeps the dial facing where you point it, no more chasing around in circles!:
On the lathe you can use the Co-Ax to center the tail stock. Here it is being held in a 5C collet and the feeler is indicating the operator side of the Tail stock:
Manually rotate the collet chuck 180 degrees to indicate off the rear inside of the TS. Power is not used here. Notice the needle is exactly in the same position front and rear so it should be within .0002"
You can also check the verticle offset, not that it is easy to adjust but it is nice to know if it is close.
It looks like my TS is .0014" above the axis of the spindle. As the bottom of it wears it will get closer to centering up!
Did anyone notice My new Power feed on the mill
So now I have two Like New Blake Co-Ax indicators, and only need one! I guess I will try eBay, unless someone here would like one for what I have in it.
