The Shop > Tools
My Squaring Gauge/Indicator Stand
sparky961:
I mentioned this tool in another thread, but thought it more appropriate to start a new thread to keep things tidy. Attached are the drawings I offered. Do be aware that these started life as quick prints that only contained enough information for *me* to make them from the 3D model I designed on my computer. I've added a few notes based on things I changed or critical fits while building.
The way the gauge works is that, looking from the front (where the indicator and bumper are) the knob on the left side is responsible for locking the pivot point between the rocker and the rod holder. It works because the rocker is threaded. The knob on the right side is responsible for locking the pivoting action of the rocker to keep everything very rigid while making critical measurements. The knob on the top is for fine adjustment and allows rocker to pivot the rod forward and backward using spring pressure from underneath the rocker.
I finished the exterior non-critical surfaces with a belt sander for a beautiful consistent "brushed" finish.
If you've never seen/used a squaring gauge before check out this video:
Also consider the following if you're going to build this:
1. I'm planning to hollow out the base for less contact surface area or add 3 small feet for positive contact with surface plate. No matter how much I lap and polish the bottom, I still get the smallest amount of "rocking" visible as fractions of a division on my 10ths indicator. Yes, I am that picky. :)
2. I have yet to build an appropriate clamp for the indicator. I plan on building one that keeps the indicator centered on the main rod and allows for smooth rough adjustment of indicator angle. If someone wants to add to this by posting drawings for a nice clamp, that would be great.
3. The way the locking knobs are designed _does_ work, but not as well as I had hoped. They tend to lock very positively but take a lot of effort to unlock.
Will_D:
That's a great video showing a very simple mod to a piece of kit most of us no longer use ( The vernier height gauge has forced all the old scriber gauges into early retirement)
sparky961:
And some pictures showing actual parts...
*** Note that the knob on the right has a more rounded end and is used for fine adjustment
(If you can't see the above images, I'm sorry. Some have reported not being able to view images I've embedded from Google Drive but the majority report no problems.)
Manxmodder:
Thanks for sharing this,Sparky. I had already seen the video explaining the technique used with this tool earier.
I sense a bit of shaper action coming on very soon ......OZ.
sparky961:
--- Quote from: Will_D on October 18, 2015, 05:08:44 PM ---That's a great video showing a very simple mod to a piece of kit most of us no longer use ( The vernier height gauge has forced all the old scriber gauges into early retirement)
--- End quote ---
I've seen lots of pictures but never handled one, let alone owned one. Woo Hoo! I feel young again! ;)
Definitely would have modified one, had I been blessed with one sitting around collecting dust instead of going to the extent of this project. As it stands, I'm pretty happy with the results - though it took many an evening for the little parts to come together into something usable.
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