Dial Indicator Mount Studs

[Ulma Doctor]

I have some beautiful BC Ames dial indicators that have a mount system that i had no way of attachment to my indicator stands





my other indicators have a lug back that is easy to attach to my indicator stands with a pin and knurled nut
like this...



here is the mount stud and knurled nut installed on the lug back,
the stud was made by the stand manufacturer.



i decided to copy the idea, sans the knurled nut, as it is not necessary for the finished parts.

i made a crude sketch of the indicator mount stud, i was to create....



i turned a .625" hunk of unknownium to about .500" diameter
then turned one end to .307"
i flipped the part and turned the end to .250", then single point threaded the 1/4-20 tpi to .250" length
broke all the edges and tried a test fit !

it worked out beautifully, so i made a second one and gave it a test fit too!



here is the indicator ready for duty!!!



thanks for looking!

 

[benmychree]

My first indicator as an apprentice was an Ames, as there was a auto parts store in Napa that stocked them; the indicator has gone to a (hopefully) better existence, but I still have some of the accessories from the kit that I bought. I have never seen a indicator back with that detail; does the contact point come off and have a tapped hole with the AGD 4 - 48 thread?

 

[Ulma Doctor]

i'll check to see if the points come off, thanks

 

[Ulma Doctor]

My first indicator as an apprentice was an Ames, as there was a auto parts store in Napa that stocked them; the indicator has gone to a (hopefully) better existence, but I still have some of the accessories from the kit that I bought. I have never seen a indicator back with that detail; does the contact point come off and have a tapped hole with the AGD 4 - 48 thread?

They are wonderfully crafted and have very nice spring force !

Yes, the contact tips are removable
Yes, they are 4-48 !
i purchased a contact tip set, used(for cheap), a while back- i know where i can use them now

 

[mmcmdl]

Unknownium ? Does that machine like Unobtainium ? Nice looking work .

 

[cathead]

Nice job Ulma Doctor on the Ames indicator mount. My experience was similar in that the tab on the back was continually coming loose.
To solve that, I made a mount that pinched on the stem and that has proved to be quite satisfactory. Here's a photo of what I did to mount my
Ames indicator.






I havn't graduated to a "Noga" yet. The tensioning handle on the magnetic base was made
from "propanetankium" or better known in the biological world as "Propanius scrappum".

 

[C-Bag]

Good job Mike and good on you for getting it done. I have an assortment of indicators that didn't come with anything and it has been frustrating there is no one single mount that works on all of them. The three Starretts I found back lugs for on eBay and that helped somewhat. But the silly proprietary diameters and sometimes thread pitches is maddening. When I bought my old Starrett height gauge one the things that clinched the deal was a pile of assorted snugs. It's shocking how few work with anything I have. It never seems to come up in my memory when I have some time and could actually make something only when I'm in get er done mode and don't want to stop and make another tool, again.

 

[hman]

Cathead -
Good on ya for finding a use for the older (now illegal) valve handle! Propanetankium, indeed

 

[matthewsx]

Unknownium ? Does that machine like Unobtainium ? Nice looking work .

My dad (a real life rocket scientist) taught me about unobtanium back when I was a kid. It machines like butter and is harder than diamonds without further treatment from what I understand....

Never heard of unknownium but pretty sure I have some in a bucket around here somewhere.

Cheers,

John

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Unknownium ? Does that machine like Unobtainium ? Nice looking work .

Hi mmcmdl,
Surprisingly, unknownium is a bit softer than Unobtainium
thank you very much!!!