What is a Blake Coaxial Indicator?

[@ArnoldsDesign]

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[@brianday6433]

I've used a Blake coaxial for over 40 years. Great tool, just don"t let someone drop it out of the chuck. Also note that the long black rod that comes with the kit screws into the top of the indicator to hold it from spinning (using a vertical bolt or rod to stop rotation). This is more precise than touching the tool with your hand. Giving you a free hand for each axis..much quicker. And for Bridgeport type mills use the curved tip and set it as far out as possible. Then have a ground plate about 4"X4" lying on the table. bring the indicator down to the plate and adjust the head to get it perfectly perpendicular to the table in both directions.

[@phanrangsam]

Brian, you sound like me I used one for years then when I retired I gave it to a young friend (Machinist) that had never seen or heard of one!! They Work Great & like you said the Rod makes it so much easier and steady!! But now days I just think about what I use to do!!!!Woody

[@rosskocen4641]

Thanks for the video- I just purchased one from a retired tool maker- now I know how to use it

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Excellent. They're pretty cool, and FAST.

[@rosskocen4641]

Blake Manufacturing is located in Los Angeles area i just got my device rebuilt by them

[@Javelina_Poppers]

Loved my Blake indicator and one of the few tools that I only loaned to a very select few.

[@jamesmacneil1609]

Very, very interesting. Was glued to your video. Thank you. Definitely a "thumbs up!".

[@MegaGeorge1948]

I used mine to tram in a CNC vertical miller x,y, program zero. It saved me so much time. Because it has a lot of travel (aprox. .500"). But I use a collet instead of a drill chuck. Because even the best chucks run out some.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Collet is the best way.

[@johnkinnane547]

G'day and greetings from Tasmania Australia 🇦🇺 you explained it well thanks for filming it regards John

[@guanglier]

Great tool ! i got another method that is quicker : for one axis, turn by hand so the nedle is on one axis side, put the dial to 0, turn so that the nedle goes to opposite, then move that axis to get half value. do the same with other axis. then makes it turn and tune it.

[@Dgerma1]

I love my coaxial! Its my goto for even tramming my vise, super useful all around. Jealous of your Blake, mine is just an Enco. One thing to keep in mind tho is the graduations are not absolute, but relative... Depending on the angle and length of the probe the resolution and overall limit can be magnitudes different. So unless you have it calibrated it for a specific scenario you can never say, "its out X thou"

[@ArnoldsDesign]

You're right. Another thing too I think that affects the accuracy is the straightness of the drill chuck. If the drill chuck is worn and has a little bit of runout, I think it will bias the reading. I've never used mine for other than holes, but tramming your vice is a good idea.

[@Hawk013]

Yea, chucking an indicator in a drill chuck is a sure way to make sure that you won't be on center lol. Even the best German drill chucks are not as accurate as that Blake indicator over that length.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

assuming the device does not move in the chuck the concentricity of the chuck is irrelevant. Personally I would never trust this style of indicator for precision work. The measuring forces and friction are large and the calibration of the dial can not be taken literally.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Rob B Yeah, this is pretty much for general machining work. I've never used it for tool and die work where things need to be matched up to the tenth.

[@geoffwaldron5929]

£300 in the UK now but a nice bit of kit.

[@scottcollins1139]

Some still come in a wooden box. They still sell for between $200 and $500. They are pretty awesome.

[@vlvtopcat]

I have 2 of them.Awesome tool.

[@rayfalcone6897]

nice video,Arnold,where can I get one of those, it sure makes the job a lot easier

[@pauls5745]

wow, nice little instrument! quickly get zeroed in

[@ArnoldsDesign]

It does speed things up.

[@wxfield]

I've been using an offset Mitutoyo center finder for a few years now with "ok" results. I often wonder if I should spring for a Blake. I always talk myself out of it however..new I think they're close to $400. I wonder if it was indicating 1/2 thousandths out because it was riding up & down an internal thread? Great video !

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Thanks. I'm not familiar with the Mitutoyo center finder, or maybe I've seen them but didn't know what they were called. Blakes aren't cheap for sure. I don't know what caused the .0005 runout. Usually when I get that close, I call it good, depending on the job. If I need to find an exact center within a couple tenths, like when I'm doing tool and die work, I still use a dial indicator on a holder.

[@littleworkshopofhorrors2395]

​@@ArnoldsDesigncoming a bit late to this conversation but I too use a dti for precise work and try to make the reading point as near to the same length as the cutting tool to overcome even slight mis-tramming of the mill head causing misalignment problems. The extra length of a co-ax indicator, especially with a long stylus(which already reduces accuracy due to leverage effect) can find your day if tramming not perfect. I have a friend who claimed his was useless, so I checked it and it was fine, turns out no one had checked the mill's tram for years!

[@stevenconnor4221]

nice bit of kit, but could you not do similar with a wiggle if you want to centre the hole upr, albeit not with as much grace as shown here

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Thanks

[@crazybob1954mo]

I'm not a machinist.. so be nice.. SO, If you took a pencil/marker and made a big 90 degree X across the hole that lines up with your X and Y axis and run the spindle as slow as possible while watching the indicator. Would this help determine if the 'error' is on the X axis or the Y axis. OR After marking the X, Start at one line axis (X or Y) turn the spindle by hand 180 degrees at a time until there is zero error on that axis. Then turn spindle 90 degrees and repeat the 180 degree turns until there is zero error on that axis. OR..... Am I over-thinking this deal?? .... As Usual?? HaHa Thanks for your Vids!!!!! m/

[@tylermarier2862]

If u were to try to explain that to me.... Lol. That's pretty cool.

[@Harrzack]

In 2020 there are some NICE Chinese Clones available for about $70!

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Yep, the Chinese are excellent at stealing intellectual property.

[@scottcollins1139]

I prefer things that work well and last a few years. It's cheaper to spend $300 and have the tool work well for years.

[@jasonruch3529]

What machinist dosen't own a blake? Lol. Or the cheaper version.... keep in mind they only get you close. They aren't perfect

[@billshiff2060]

Wonderful tool that has almost no useful purpose.

[@ArnoldsDesign]

Not true. I used mine twice in the last 20 years. Once was for the video.

[@billshiff2060]

@@ArnoldsDesign Wow you use it TWICE as often as I have but I ordered the expensive spring loaded needle from blake so that makes it extra special.