68 - Our All-New Router Jig, страница 32

Fine tune your machinery and your woodworking by adding a dial indicator to your set of tools.

Needle indicates changes in 0.001" increments on dial with 0.1" range

Word gets out quickly when a new tool shows up around here. So it wasn't surprising when several people just happened to show up in the shop as I was checking out a new dial indicator.

A Miter Slot. Identical readings at both the front and rear of the saw blade ensure the miter slot and blade are perfectly aligned.

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IS PERFECTLY ALIGNED WHEN FRONT AND REAR READINGS ON DIAL INDICATOR ARE IDENTICAL

A Rip Fence Alignment. Aligning the rip fence is just a matter of checking for any variation between the front and rear of the fence.

At first they took turns pushing the spring-loaded shaft in and out, watching the needle spin around like a clock in overdrive. Then the questions started flying. How accurate is it? mat's it cost? And the most important question, what can I use it for?

For a quick and dirty demonstration, I set the dial indicator on top of the table saw and then adjusted the position of the indicator so the contact point of the shaft was resting against the table.

After loosening the knob holding the bezel in place (see photo above) and "zeroing out" the dial — I slid a sheet of paper under the tip. The needle jumped like an earthquake had just hit. Even though the paper was only four thousandths of an inch (0.004") thick, it was easy to see this

Secondary dial keeps track of complete needle rotations

Contact point can be replaced to; surface being measured (see margin on opp site page)

Locking knob allows bezel to rotate so needle can be "zeroed out"

Spring-loaded shaft transfers measurement changes to needle (1" total travel)

CHECK AT BOTH ENDS TRIANGLE

ATTACH WOOD fx BLOCK TO HEAD ^ OF MITER GAUGE ^ WITH CARPET TAPE, ^x THEN ATTACH DRAFTING TRIANGLE \ TO BLOCK _WW

A Miter Gauge. A drafting triangle and dial indicator make quick work of squaring the head of a miter gauge.

amount because the dial accurately reads changes as small as 0.001".

Accessories - To accomplish this, I did need more than just the dial indicator. Taking full advantage of its capabilities requires a couple "must-have" accessories. The first is a magnetic base like the one you see at the top of the opposite page.

Regardless of what you want to measure, you can twist and turn the arms of the magnetic base to position the dial indicator right where you need it. And if you need to lock the base in place, all you have to do is flip the switch on the base and the magnet grabs a steel or cast iron surface like it's been nailed in place.

The lower margin on the opposite page shows a second accessory to consider buying — a set of contact points. The contact point can easily be changed to ensure you'll have the right tip for the task at hand.

But don't worry that a dial indicator and a couple accessories will cost a lot. The dial indicator was less, than $20, and the two accessories were just under $30. (For sources, refer to page 35.)

Shop Talk

Adjustable reference points mark location of needle to verify changes

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ShopNotes

No. 68