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Author Topic: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge  (Read 14793 times)

Offline sbwhart

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Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« on: September 16, 2009, 05:07:58 AM »
I've seen these for sale but thought it would be a nice easy job to make ureself its also a nice milling exercise for a newbie that will give a usful addition to your kit.

This is it

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2375.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

Its made from a bit of 1/2" mild steel plate.

First job is to check you're mill for tram and that you vice is set square as any errors will be passed onto the gauge.

Next square up your chunk of plate and mark it out.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2363.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

Then drill your holes

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2365.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

Then set up nice a flat on parallels with the end sticking out from the vice.

First mill the slot in the midle to take your vernier make the slot just a little bit deeper than the thickness of your vernier, and clear away for any obstruction on the vernier that will stop it sitting flat, mine had a screw standing proud.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2369.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

Then without taking the base out of the vice mill across the base this way the base will be dead square with the slot.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2372.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

Next cut away all the unwanted meat and give it a bit of a polish, I skimped the polish a bit as it won't work any better no mater how shiney it is, I'm a bit lazey that way.

Then saw through to the midle hole, then drill and tap a M3 cross hole and open it out 3mm for half the distance to make a pinch clamp.

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2374.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

And this is it in use

http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq32/sbwhart/Vernier%20Depth/100_2377.jpgCheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge

It measured the 2 inch side withing 0.0015 depending where I positioned it on the table, it was picking up bumps and hollows on the table, the table is one I picked up from the scrappy and its seen a hard life.

Cheers
 :beer:
Stew



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Offline Xldevil

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #1 on: September 17, 2009, 01:16:52 AM »
Hallo.
Thank You for that. :thumbup:
I definitely will build this . :ddb:
Regards,Ralph
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Offline dsquire

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #2 on: September 17, 2009, 02:10:24 AM »
Stew

That is a very cute little addition you have made there and simple too. Great job. :ddb: :ddb:


Cheers  :beer:

Don

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Offline websterz

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2009, 02:43:25 AM »
Dangdongit Stew...like I don't have enough stuff on my Have-To-Make list...you gotta' go and do that to me.  :bang:  :proj: I think I'll post up pics of my 108 LED spindle light and get even with you.  :thumbup:
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Offline sbwhart

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2009, 02:57:41 AM »
Quote from: websterz on September 17, 2009, 02:43:25 AM

:proj: I think I'll post up pics of my 108 LED spindle light and get even with you.  :thumbup:


Now I'm definitely in the market for one of those  :lol:

Cheers

Stew
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Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2009, 03:35:08 AM »
Nicely done Stew.....  :thumbup:

David D
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Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!

Offline arnoldb

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2009, 06:03:02 AM »
Very nicely done Stew - thanks!

Oh no not more  :proj:  :bang:

Cheers, Arnold
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Offline websterz

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2009, 04:52:46 PM »
Quote from: sbwhart on September 17, 2009, 02:57:41 AM

Now I'm definitely in the market for one of those  :lol:

Cheers

Stew

Alrighty then...here are the pics:











Each 36 LED array runs on 12 VDC and draws about .3 amps. They are available on Ebay for about $7.00 each, and are basically LED replacements for automotive lights, brake, stop, etc. I encased each in a block of clear acrylic resin, the mix and pour kind. They are 100% waterproof and run with no heat. I am running them on a 12 VDC switching power supply I also got on Ebay for about $10.00. The modules are mounted with blue permatex onto a T shaped piece of thin aluminum that I attached to the mill by replacing the 3 bearing shroud bolts with longer ones, and a small stack of washers on each one to give clearance above the light for the wiring and also the end of the transmission shaft that sits behind the spindle. The switch is just a basic 120 volt light switch...a switch is a switch as far as DC is concerned so I used what I had. It's hard to tell with the bright backlighting from the window but these suckers glow like a 100 watt bulb. They light up the whole bench at night. You need one...trust me! :proj:
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Offline Bernd

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2009, 04:57:54 PM »
Next time I break a lens on my trailer, which LED lights, I'll have to save the lights and use them on my machines for lighting.

Nice idea there Websterz.

Bernd
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Offline websterz

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2009, 05:09:36 PM »
Quote from: Bernd on September 17, 2009, 04:57:54 PM
Next time I break a lens on my trailer, which LED lights, I'll have to save the lights and use them on my machines for lighting.

Nice idea there Websterz.

Bernd

Wasn't my idea, I got it from a Yahoo mini-lathe group.
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Offline Bernd

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Re: Cheap and Cheerful Vernier Depth Gauge
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2009, 08:44:18 PM »
Quote from: websterz on September 17, 2009, 05:09:36 PM
Quote from: Bernd on September 17, 2009, 04:57:54 PM
Next time I break a lens on my trailer, which LED lights, I'll have to save the lights and use them on my machines for lighting.

Nice idea there Websterz.

Bernd

Wasn't my idea, I got it from a Yahoo mini-lathe group.

Still nice that you passed it on to use po' folk.  :lol:

Bernd
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