MILLING HEAD ALIGNEMENT & EDGE FINDING USING A DIAL INDICATOR, EDGE FINDER OR WIGGLER. MARC LECUYER

[@abdulaziza]

Very best video

[@Patroand]

Another very, very informative video. Thanks Marc

[@The_Unobtainium]

Marc! i wish i had such a wonderful teacher in technical school. At least i can learn now from you:) The best and most informative shop vids ever. Thank you. Greetings from Poland.

[@MrShobar]

The magnetic corner-finder was a nice invention. It's been around for quite awhile, I think. Nice, informative video, as always.

[@ctjctj2]

Another good video. Using the dial indicator to find the edge was interesting. Once you've located the back face of the 1-2-3 block you moved to the side, repositioned to indicate off the front face of the vise jaw. With a DRO once you've got the front face of the jaw at the same distance from the center line of the spindle (high point reading of the indicator at the same zero as picking up back face of the 1-2-3 block). Take the readings off the DRO, add together and divide by two to find the exact edge. BUT, if you don't have a DRO, how do you use the dials and account for back lash? I think that I would move the spindle to the back of the 1-2-3 block, move backwards until I had a reading, then reverse the direction and move forward until the dial indicator moved. This should (?) take the back lash out, at that point I can move to indicating off the front face of the vice jaw with the table moving in the same direction so there should be no backlash? I should then be able to read the difference on the dial and again find the midpoint. (math trick: (X1-X2)/2 + X2 = (X1 + X2) / 2 which can sometimes be easier. )

[@beetlejuice4693]

I love this stuff

[@mandigit]

Thank you! It would be interesting to compare values (X, Y) of edge, ascured in yours test.

[@THATLAZYMACHINIST]

Hi Mandigit, I inadvertently compared the dowel pin touch method to the edge finder at minute 12:21 of the video. The x axis reads 0.1005" and I had just completed the touch of method and hadn't reset the readout since. 0.0005" of difference isn't very much. The accuracy of the methods has more to do with judgement than physical accuracy. As an example: The touch method requires a lot of judgement to evaluate the friction between the dowel and the shim, the edge finder requires much less judgement to use properly so it is generally considered to be a little more accurate. Marc L'Ecuyer

[@garycourt7016]

Great vidoes, greatly appricate your going into depth and explain all of the whys. On traming, I saw a good technetic by using a square angle plate and the quill down and look for light between the angle plate on both axes. Rapid traming.

[@THATLAZYMACHINIST]

Thanks Gary, that is a great suggestion and good for most everyday jobs, it would be much more accurate than using the scales on the machine and much less time consuming than the dial indicator. However for very accurate jobs I would still recommend checking with the dial to make sure! Thank you for the input, good suggestions like this are always appreciated. Marc L'Ecuyer

[@garycourt7016]

THATLAZYMACHINIST ` This is why I love the internet, as a begining machinest and rebuilding the old equiptment ( all that I can afford) I can research all of the machining sites and perhaps view 10 or more well experenced machinest and view different ways to procede on a project. My little shop has a 9 X 20 chinese lathe, a 22" X 12' ATW lathe, 14 1/2" SP lathe, 16" Steptoe shaper, 6X12 surface grinder, radial arm drill , BP mill, and Misc. What better way to learn than to get this old stuff turning true. All cheap and perhaps some are boat anchors. Regards.

[@xorfive]

I actually like the new intro music. Like I'm about to be cultured.

[@Rover109able]

Thanks Mark

[@fishoil2158]

Now I've always entertained the notion that the 0.200" is just a wee skosh off in real space because in order to get the tool to kick off one has to go some amount past the point of concentricity maybe half a thou on the dial by the time I respond to the change in the edge finder. I should figure a way to test this with gauge blocks in the vice

[@larrysperling8801]

good video using your technique to edge find both ends of a one two three block would also be a good way to check your accuracy. since the block has very accurate dimensions, your dro should read the block plus the thickness of the edge finder. what effect would any runout on the chuck or collet have on edge finding ? looking forward to your next video.

[@THATLAZYMACHINIST]

Runout in the drill chuck will only affect the first method (dowel pin) and is also a reason for considering it as less accurate. If you chuck was .002 out, your edge finding error could be anywhere from perfect (if you are lucky enough to touch on the error midpoint) to .001" in the worst possible case. Marc L'Ecuyer

[@marceloiannini8199]

What´s the expected error when using the traditional spring-loaded edge finder? I noticed that after the first method (feeler gauge), when using the 0.200" edge finder, the X axis on your digital read-out was reading 0.1005" (off by + 0.0005" from the 0.100" readius of the edge finder), but in the Y axis (in real-time), your DRO was reading 0.0965" (off by - 0.0035"). What is the accuracy one can expect to the edge finder? I have this question as I´m doubting everytime I use mime (also, I´m using an 1/8" edge finder with metric milling machine, it´s always confusing to deduct 1.59 mm of the edge finder - maybe I should turn an metric edge finder?). Thanks and always very informative videos!

[@jimmilne19]

Is the "unusual part with the magnetic surfaces" something you made? Can it be purchased? I do not have a DRO on my knee mill and it would be great for me to locate both the X and Y axis with one indication procedure. Very informative video. Again!

[@THATLAZYMACHINIST]

Hi Jim, its always a pleasure to hear from you. If you search for "magnetic edge finder" you should find some examples. Here is a link to one of the sites www.penntoolco.com/catalog/products/products.cfm?categoryID=270 Marc L'Ecuyer

[@jimmilne19]

Found it! Thank you very much. I appreciate your reply. Very encouraging.

[@ravanarbabi140]

The sound is a bit distant for better or worse, but otherwise perfect as always!

[@cym.1867]

Thanks for all your valuable tutorials but knowing how meticulous you are, wanted to point out its actually called the Roll axis what you refer to as Yaw axis.

[@THATLAZYMACHINIST]

Thank for the heads up, I apprenticed years ago (40+) in the High speed aerodynamics shop at the national research council and since it was mostly aviation engineers, I got use to pith and yaw. I will try to avoid it but it will be trying to teach an old dog a new trick. Thanks for watching and for taking the time to write, Marc