Dial Test Indicators: why "constant clockwise"

jgedde

jgedde

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I'm in the market for another DTI (as a spare for my Compac) and am stymied by a feature offered on many DTIs. Automatic reversing with constant clockwise rotation... Granted, the Last Word indicator's reversing switch is a nuisance... My Compac indicator turns counter clockwise when you push down the tip, and counterclockwise when you lift up. In other words, it reads plus and minus without any action on my part.

We have a few Mitu's and Bestests at work that also work in both tip directions, but offer an auto reversing feature and the needle always turns clockwise regardless of which way you push the tip. Huh? What purpose does this serve? Why would I want this feature? I simply can't think of any value to this.

John
 
I've not seen that, and can't say I'd like it, or see any use for it. I'd have to think about it, or someone else point out a use for it.
 
Last words are cute,and I have a few of them,but they are not real good indicators because their styli take too much pressure to operate,and the indicators aren't as sensitive as decent later models.
 
Same here, George. I have at least one, but I never use it. My go-to test indicator is a B&S Bestest, black face. Interapid is too rich for my blood, but I have used them and if they weren't priced so high, I'd have one or two of them. I have a variety of Mitutoyo indicators, with different point lengths, and a few others stashed away that I can't even remember the make. I have some for parts as well, different makes. When I worked QC for a while, I had a nice lab area with time and patience to work on them for the guys in the shop, and sometimes ended up with spares from parts of crashed instruments. In a CNC shop, quite a few guys would rapid into the part and mangle their indicators. I've tossed probably a gallon bucket full of junkers.
 
Well, I can hardly complain. Mine was a gift from my vocational instructor back in high school. He got me my first job running a turret lathe at McEvoy Oilfield. He fixed me up with a few basic tools, most of which I still have.
 
I can't either. I got mine used,but like new for cheap. Just old technology,which I generally rely on most of the time. In this case,though,old isn't as good as newer tech.
 
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