[modeleng] Digital Angle Guage
- From: "Shep" <shep.28@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Modeleng" <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:39:12 -0000
Hello everyone
When I designed my little lathe, I did not engrave a 'protractor' for the
topslide - this would have been difficult in the available space, and these
protractors are not very accurate. I thought that I would either use a sine
bar or a vernier protractor - neither of them very attractive options to an old
chap, with poor mathematics, and less than perfect eyesight.
I was browsing through the Allendale Electronics web site:
www.machine-dro.co.uk and found an inexpensive digital angle gauge of the
stock-and-rotating-blade type, giving readings of 360 degrees to .05 degree
alleged accuracy. My suspect maths say that .05 degrees is 3 minutes? It
will work in any plane, and has a reasonably accurate level on the stock
I received it this morning - it is larger than I would have wished (10" blades)
and looks rather crude, with a rolled aluminium stock, but checking it against
accurate squares confirms its accuracy.
It can be zeroed at any point and has a 'hold' facility. Above all, for an
old chap, it has clear 12mm figures. I have tried it on the little lathe,
with the stock on the edge of the cross-slide and the blade along the back of
the top-slide, and it works perfectly.
With a bit of bodging, it will work on the taper-turning attachment on my
Hardinge lathe and I will include it in the design of the proposed taper-tuning
attachment for the little lathe. It will be useful for accurate setting of
angles for the vertical head on my VMC milling machine.
They also sell a more accurate digital protractor with all the bells and
whistles at three times the price.
When I use it in anger next year, I will report further.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas, with good health and good modelling
throughout the New Year.
Cheers! Hubert
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