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Thread: Edge Finder

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Edge Finder

    I want to buy my B in L an edge finder for a xmas present and haven't a clue what is a good one or a bad one. He is a tool maker by trade and does not tolerate cheap and nasty and when I went to look on Ebay there are different price points but also different specifications as well. I have looked at Ebay and then at this Video From Suburban tooling and he sure looked astounded at how accurate the electronic version was after explaining the run out issue. Is Ebay the wrong place to buy something like this? TIA

    CHRIS

  2. #2
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    I assume you mean an electronic one because any toolmaker surely has (at least) one mechanical one already.

    Depends how much you want to spend, but Vertex make good quality that isn't crazy expensive https://www.gettoolsdirect.com.au/ve...er-vps20b.html
    Haven't used it myself, but I have used some of their other products and they're definitely a step or 2 above the bargain basement stuff from China.

    That being said, we have an ebay special at work that seems to do just fine. Unless you're chasing microns, I don't think there's going to be a huge difference

  3. #3
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    Elan, thanks for the reply, B in L is retired and learned his trade in the days before stuff like even mechanical edge finders were routinely used or perhaps unavailable for all I know so he was taught to do it using other methods such as holding a piece of paper up to the edge and gauging how close he is via the tension needed to drag the paper out from the edge. We are talking of an apprenticeship started about 55 years ago in a pattern shop so he has never bothered to buy such a thing just doing what he knows works for him. I am trying to drag him into the 21st century but it is hard work at times. He spent about 35K on a new mill last year (he already owned a 1970's Bridgeport from new) so I think a new edge finder will go well with it.
    CHRIS

  4. #4
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    Nothing wrong with a slip of paper, we still do that at work sometimes; standard 80gsm paper is very consistent at 0.1mm / 4 thou

    Well if you want to keep it basic there's nothing wrong with these https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/M692
    Or you can go fancy and get the Mitutoyo version https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitutoyo...4AAOSwwqVcTMBj

  5. #5
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    I have an electronic and a starrett mechanical ...i grab the starrett all the time...smaller and easier

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by eskimo View Post
    I have an electronic and a starrett mechanical ...i grab the starrett all the time...smaller and easier
    And the battery never goes flat...

  7. #7
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    Default

    Starrett or Fischer, both us made. Fischer are carried by little machine shop.com and make one that .akes a rumbling noise when it finds the edge which can be handy in deep bores etc.

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gavin Newman View Post
    And the battery never goes flat...

    yeah ..that too

  9. #9
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    Sep 2012
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    York, North Yorkshire UK
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    Hi Guys,

    This is a Laser centre and edge finder that I made using a laser pointer from Aldi a few years ago. I find it very convenient to use on both the mill and lathe.

    Laser-CF.png

    This is the article that I used to build it.

    04-01-2018-centrefinder-03.JPG

    The elastic band is used to depress the button to switch on the Laser and hold it on.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  10. #10
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    Default

    That video is just flat out wrong a few times. Mostly about spindle runout effecting the reading if I remember correctly.

    I like wigglers but maybe I'm old fashion

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stustoys View Post
    That video is just flat out wrong a few times. Mostly about spindle runout effecting the reading if I remember correctly.

    I like wigglers but maybe I'm old fashion
    That's a big comment for one of the better machine shop owners in the US who specialise in producing calibration equipment. Where specifically is he wrong as I would not have a clue but others here might benefit from your insight.
    CHRIS

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    That's a big comment for one of the better machine shop owners in the US who specialise in producing calibration equipment. Where specifically is he wrong as I would not have a clue but others here might benefit from your insight.
    Well I haven't watched the video so maybe he has changed it.
    I have pointed out the mistakes in the past.
    But assuming the video hasn't been changed here a couple of videos that show that spindle runout doesn't effect some center finders, the coaxial indicator and wiggler being two of them.

    In the first video the indicator is mounted in a boring head with little runout, its show that the part(which granted you cant see so will have to take my word for it) is pretty well centered.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMgiTwtDa-Y
    Second video show the boring head moved about 5mm to give 10mm spindle runout.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsS0CiLZZcw

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