Thread: Laser light.

Hi,
I thought it might be an idea to have a tube with a laser light centred in it
so it could be put in a chuck of a mill or lathe to easily align the head or
to centre the work under the chuck.
Is there a commercial device available?
Thanks

There used to be one for drills that mounted in the chuck as a tempory measure to locate for a hole then was swapped out for the drill bit. Was around $30-40 five years ago. Never got one so I have no idea of its accuraccy. Have not looked recently so I don't know if they are still around.

Minitech have a 3/8 and 10mm for around $150.00.

Same as this one here -

http://anotherdooratthe.endoftheinte...minute-review/

Nev

Thanks guys.
Now I know what they're called, I've found a few different ones.

I built one with a cross hair laser in it. I haven't quite figured out or completed the fine adjustment sustme needed to make it useful (to have the cross haors EXACTLY) in the spindle centre.... When that's done, I'll post about it. I'm thinking about 2 sets of 3 grub screws in the tube so I can shift the laser radially and also tilt it - all within a very small range. Essentially it is held centally in the tube. Cross hair versions like this to set the spindle to a centre punch or crossing marking out lines are availabe commercially as well.
Joe

Hi,
There is an article about making on in a MEW......its no 186, Feb this year.

Check out - Centre Cam
CentreCam

for a similar amount of effort you might end up with something that is more versatile.
I haven't done this yet. I bought a webcam for it in 2009 but my now ex- missus pulled the pin before I had a chance to make the holder etc. I haven't gotten back to the lathe yet.
bollie7

Hi Joe,
Have you thought about just mounting the laser and turning the spindle on?
Should get you close. (how small is the run of the mill laser dia?)

Stuart

Originally Posted by bollie7

Check out - Centre Cam
CentreCam

for a similar amount of effort you might end up with something that is more versatile.
I haven't done this yet. I bought a webcam for it in 2009 but my now ex- missus pulled the pin before I had a chance to make the holder etc. I haven't gotten back to the lathe yet.
bollie7

Thanks for the link. That's a great idea.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Hi Joe,
Have you thought about just mounting the laser and turning the spindle on?
Should get you close. (how small is the run of the mill laser dia?)

Stuart

Not exactly sure what you mean Stuart. The laser is a small 7mm dia brass tube and currently is loose inside my arbor along with battery an a couple short wires... not sure that spinning that would achieve much other than a rattly little light show....

Joe

Hi Joe,
I was thinking if you dont bother to get it dead center but turn the spindle on, you'll have a circle. The size of the circle will change with Z. A little circle may even be easier to read.......... not sure never tried it, just an idea.

Stuart

I once had a look through a small place that made laser assemblies for a larger company, and they did basically what Joe was suggesting - mounted the laser diode in a tube and then adjusted the position front and back to put the spot in the same place when the tube was rotated in a chuck.
One thing you may have to think about is that most of the cheap lasers (such as key ring laser pointers) produce a relatively large irregular blob at ranges typical of a lathe bed length. You may have to put a small aperture in there somewhere to get a smaller round spot.
I don't know what laser edge finders do to give a small beam. I have a device on my drill press which mounts on the column giving me two lines intersecting at the centre of drill rotation. It's more a gimmicky thing for drilling holes not requiring high precision, but I do find it handy occasionally for lining up some objects especially when I am setting up clamps and things.

Michael

There are also laser bore sights for rifles. Here's one, but I'm sure there are cheaper ones available:

SSI Sight-Rite Basic Laser Bore Sight w/ Alignment Target and Pouch FREE S&H XSI-LBK2. Sighting System Instruments Bore Sights.

Michael G,
I hadve the same misgivings about the 'blob' shape of laser pointersw. That's why I used one with a cross-hair beam. I't much easier to line up, even when it's a little fuzzy closer up.
Joe