Thread: Large diameter compound dial

After looking at the larger diameter dials on the DGM I finally realised that the compound dial was the 37.5mm size as a later model 9" or 260 cross slide dials, just machined down to look the same as the compound dial. It is easier to read than the standard dial of 31mm OD, the bush is obviously bigger too but I thought that it might be an option to do as an upgrade if you have trouble reading the compound dial. The large dial on the cross slide is also an excellent upgrade from the standard as well. I have added photos of the dials as comparisons.

I have put the larger dials 2.24" on my 260 compound and also the cross slide.
I had looked at a few Southbends and they also had larger dials than what I was using.
I think it is a great upgrade, easy to read.
I also put in large diameter knurled brass screws so that I could re-zero the dials.
https://australianmetalworkinghobbyi...ch=dial&page=2

Originally Posted by Somedayplumbing

I have put the larger dials 2.24" on my 260 compound and also the cross slide.

The large dials available from Mal look great. Can you please post a pic of the larger dial on your cross slide? I'd like to see how you extended the witness mark. I assume the new dial is considerably larger than the existing part it butts up against?

EDIT: I just noticed Tinkerers picture with his witness mark extension piece.

Originally Posted by Somedayplumbing

I have put the larger dials 2.24" on my 260 compound and also the cross slide.
I had looked at a few Southbends and they also had larger dials than what I was using.
I think it is a great upgrade, easy to read.
I also put in large diameter knurled brass screws so that I could re-zero the dials.
https://australianmetalworkinghobbyi...ch=dial&page=2

That would definitely be easier to read, How do you go with swivelling the compound, is there much clearance with that size dial on there? Mine have the same screw in them, much better than getting the screwdriver out to adjust them.

When the dials are over each other there is about 8mm between them.
I don't usually use the compound, I use a solid block normally.

I just finished fitting a 2¼" dial to my 260. I made a ring with an index mark and two 4mm grub screws at 90 degrees. As I'm not confident in my ability to bore a hole to an accurate dimension, I made an aluminium mandrel the same diameter as the original collar and bored the new ring to be a snug fit. Then I superglued the ring to the mandrel and faced it to 7mm thick. Used my lathe indexer and toolpost-mounted drilling/milling/grinding attachment to drill the holes for the grub screws. Scored the index mark with a 60 degree thread cutting tool on its side in the toolpost.

Thanks to Tinkerer for the inspiration.