Part too long for table travel

[Jimsehr]

I would drill as many holes as you can do in 1 setup, then indicate in off of the existing holes. Depending on how many times you have to do this, there are 2 ways I can think of:
1- Just use an indicator in the 'last' hole to 'indicate' then move to the furthest away and try to tap that in. Go back and forth until you get it right. You can indicate in with a coax indicator, last-word style indicator, etc.

2- To be most accurate, you need to again do #1, BUUUT to make your life way easier: Clamp piece of material down to the table, face it, then clamp down your piece on top of the plate. Drill/ream the 1st bunch of holes, going through the plate below (hopefully lined up over your T slots ). Keep the plate attached, but remove the piece. Put gauge pins into a few of the holes, and use THAT to align the piece on the same 'line'. That way you don't even have to move your DRO, since you'll just be 'redrilling' the last few holes.

If you make a square bushing 2 inches long with a set screw to hold it in place,
then mount bushing in middle of shaft and measure 7 and a half inches from each end of bushing you will have your 17 inch length.
Jimsehr

If you make bushing square your holes will be true to each other. Or your bushing
could be round with a flat milled on it.