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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
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    SA
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    Default Cheap CTC Test Indicator fix

    I know a couple of members in this group have one of the cheap CTC test indicators, like mine, and while it's a great little unit for the money, it has several annoying deficiencies.

    1) The two mounting rods that are supplied are (A) undersize or (B) oversize, and (C) not even of uniform diameter, for the tube mount on the movable arm.
    2) The dovetail that screws onto the mounting rods is too wide (on mine) and can slop around on the indicator,
    3) a longer mounting rod would be handy at times.

    Unless the mount and screws were really tight the indicator could slop around.

    I fixed all three issues quite easily.

    I made up a longer and snug fitting threaded rod modeled on the originals.

    Rather than turn up something, I found that the ground steel rod used for the carriage rail on a junked Canon BJ series inkjet printer (any of them) was near perfect fit and finish for the job.

    I also squeezed the dovetail in the vice to close down the width a bit - it's alloy.

    Now the CTC unit works like it should have. No slop.

    I might use the rod left over to make a full length arm and do away with the tube mount completely.

    Incidentally, I only got one screw on dovetail with mine, did anyone get two ?

    Some snaps of the new rod etc for interest.

    Rob
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    Default

    Here's the left over printer rail in it's new role.

    Should be handy.

    Rob
    Attached Images Attached Images

  3. #3
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    Default

    Well done, should work a lot better now.

    Those old printers (and scanners) have quite a few rails in them, as well as lots of gears etc.

    Whenever I am at a garage sale I always look for those printers and scanners, usually they only cost $1-2, last lot I picked up was 2 printers and 2 scanners for $2. They are still sitting waiting to be taken apart for the bits, have a large drawer full of those.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Big Shed View Post

    Those old printers (and scanners) have quite a few rails in them, as well as lots of gears etc.

    .
    Yes. The best part is that they are precision ground and usually hard chromed.

    The actual $30 ? test indicator from CTC is great, but the rest could be a bit better.

    Perfecto now

    Rob

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Hi Rob,

    Well done. I too have a few of those rods. They always come in handy. What a great application for them!

    Cheers,

    Simon

  6. #6
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    Sep 2006
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    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
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    1,010

    Default

    HI Rob,
    My Test Indicator is Ok, but one of the Dovetail mounts was actually missing its actual Dovetail. I like the idea of the Extension dovetail mount in the 2nd pic. I wasn't very Impressed in the Rest at all. Good Tips Rob.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  7. #7
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
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    Hi Rob,
    I got 2 mounts with mine. The little one i never use fits really well and the big one i use all the time is woeful, the dove is way to wide. Mine is the .002mm model though. I like old "junque" (high class junk) too, printers and treadmills.....pure gold!
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ueee View Post
    Hi Rob,
    I got 2 mounts with mine. The little one i never use fits really well and the big one i use all the time is woeful, the dove is way to wide. Mine is the .002mm model though. I like old "junque" (high class junk) too, printers and treadmills.....pure gold!
    Hi Ueee,

    The CTC site shows two dovetail mounts in my kit. But I only got one.

    It would be easy to make up another one, but not much point.

    I can't even see where I could use the bigger diameter mount. Doesn't fit anything I've got.

    I do like the small articulated magnetic mount - basic, but it's easy to fit into tight spaces and quite solid.

    The wobbly mounting rod really me off though, hence the Canon rail fix.

    Rob

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