AES
Established Member
Thanks "TF". I look forward to seeing the video.
I've got a 600 x 600 x 100 granite block that needs calibrating if you need some practice with that new kit you've boughtOk, how's this for a haul of cool Metrology nerdiness. Spur of the moment eBay buy - all the indicator stands and v blocks and angle plates you could ever want, a Baty shadowgraph and a sigmasize analogue comparator gauge. Mainly I wanted to have a play with the shadowgraph - more on that when I get chance. The sigmasize has blown me away though - firstly that it worked when I turned it on, secondly by how accurate it is. You can adjust the +/- limits so the light goes amber or red if it's out of tolerance, it's metric or imperial, and it measures down to 0.00015 of an inch/ 0.005mm. Which is insane. The gauge block in the pictures is almost perfect, but you can see the difference in it's size if you warm it up in your hand for a minute. Amazing!
That was lucky, I had to see the doctor about mine......I sold an autocollimator earlier this year!
I wouldn't be so sure, there's plenty of people out there doing that kind of thing in home workshops, for my sins I've built two machine tool spindles in a home workshop. It does reach a point of your hobby being "Precision" though...Yeah, quite right Alpha-Dave, but my point was (along with several other members posting here I think) is that those sorts of things - which need such tolerances - are not usually made in what most of us here call a "home workshop"!!
I wouldn't be so sure, there's plenty of people out there doing that kind of thing in home workshops, for my sins I've built two machine tool spindles in a home workshop. It does reach a point of your hobby being "Precision" though...
If you're interested in the kind of loons who would do such a thing, google Stefan Gotteswinter to see an offensively competent German man (of YouTube fame) operating a small toolroom as his hobby from a home workshop.
My money is on a DSG 17T lathe or a Butler 8" slotter...It's very heavy, hideously complicated, possibly broken, obsolete and glorious. Just my cup of tea really![]()
A friend of a friend has twice offered to sell me his spare one (it's missing some components in the motor control box and he's never got round to sorting it), if it reaches three times, I may well take him up on it... It's always the moving it that's given me pause for thought.A DSG is certainly the fantasy big boy lathe.