Replies

1. 
   RickL | Jan 04, 2005 07:47pm | #1

   From your description I beleive you are referring to a dial caliper not a dial indicator.  This is a common thing and I've seen this done many times, especially on wide belt sanders.  You should mount it off to the side  with a clamp type bracket to secure it. Most jigs and fixtures are of an intuitive nature. If it doesn't work keep experimenting until it does. Inexpensive dial calipers are available from http://www.use-enco.com  and http://www.wttool.com about $13 for a six inch model. I just bought a 6" digital from wttool for $17.

   
   

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   Edited 1/4/2005 12:20 pm ET by rick3ddd

2. 
   JMartinsky | Jan 04, 2005 07:50pm | #2

   Dear Chris,
   I am not sure why you would want to mount a dial indicator to your planer, but I would think that the vibrations would play hell with the indicator. They are not typically intended for that use. In addition, I might offer that the type of tolerances that they measure to, are not practical for wood working. A set of calipers may serve you better.

   Good Luck,

   John

3. 
   JohnWW | Jan 04, 2005 07:59pm | #3

   Chris,

   Sounds like you've got the basic idea worked out.  The mounting details will depend on the layout of the machine.

   Two things to consider:

   1. You can purchase a dial indicator with a 2 inch range, they are less common but the additional capacity is worth having, import ones aren't that expensive.

   2.  To be useful, you have to be able to fine adjust the position of the indicator to get it to read accurately.  You can either make the mounting adjustable or you can make the bearing point of the tip adjustable.  The second way is usually easier, just install a bolt in the table at the bearing point and adjust its height to zero the indicator.

   Hope this helps, John W.

1. 
   Schmolze | Jan 04, 2005 08:40pm | #4

   John,

   Thanks. I think I'm o.k. on the bearing pt. which means not using the tin infeed table as the reference plane. Which means going off to the side by the crank or possibly reaching down through a hole in the input shield.  I'm ok with the delta on thk'r stock so I picked up a dial indicator from Harbor Frieght for $6 with 1"inch travel thinking that when it engages I'll be able to lower my delta on thinner stock. A % game right!  I'm hoping to mount the dial caliper in a bracket that will engage the bearing point at some dim. less than 4/4 so that I can engage the dial to set the thickness.  And then of course I can feedback and adjust with caliper measurements. 

   I think the basic issue is that besides a tap and die set i don't have access to an end mill and was hoping to see some ideas on the mounting bracket.

1. 
   nicobie | Jan 04, 2005 09:06pm | #5

   Chris,

   Send me a email and I'll send you some pics.

   Whenever I attach a image here it ends up giant size and I'm too dumb to figure out how to resize. 

1. 
   Schmolze | Jan 04, 2005 10:15pm | #6

   Thank you.  I'm at:

    

    [email protected]

4. 
   MikeIke | Jan 05, 2005 01:27am | #7

   A couple thoughts, and this is based on some background in metrology (measurement ). I heartily agree with the respondant who mentioned the problem of vibration playing hob on the dial indicator guts. You may break it sooner than later.

   Another gage that ought to serve well, with only 2 moving parts, no jewels or gears to break, is the lowly height gage. Repeatability should be great, and more than precise enough for you. Vernier scales will get you down in the neighborhood of .002", so you should be well served. The gage would have a sweep of 4 to 6 inches, can be mounted magnetically or mechanically fastened in the manner to your liking. 

   Good luck!

5. 
   GHR | Jan 05, 2005 04:45pm | #8

   I think a ruler (.02" graduations) with a pointer would work better.

   While machinists, mostly lathe hands, use dial indicators on machinery, they usually remove them when the machine is running,

   
   

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   Edited 1/5/2005 8:47 am ET by GeorgeR

1. 
   Schmolze | Jan 05, 2005 04:56pm | #9

   Good pts. So the bracket should create the reference plane and the dial indicator should be easily removed from the bracket. Then the thickness is set when the machine is not running. Thanks.

1. 
   JohnWW | Jan 05, 2005 06:21pm | #10

   Chris,

   Given the price of import indicators I wouldn't worry about wearing one out, especially since the problem is theoretical rather than a sure thing. 

   Planers don't produce a lot of vibration, an indicator will probably last for hundreds of hours of use, and if it wears out you can replace it for under $10.00.  If anything, the indicator will probably have more problems with dust gumming it up rather than vibration induced wear. 

   Dismounting the indicator each time before you start the machine would make planing down to a certain thickness a much slower process: stop, attach, measure, remove, start, plane, repeat, and much more likely to introduce errors.

   Keep it simple.

   John W.

1. 
   nicobie | Jan 05, 2005 09:16pm | #11

   I agree with John W.

   I haven't had any problems with the cheap plastic one I mounted on my Dewalt 735.

   I really like it too. I makes it easy to duplicate any thickness. It reads in both .01's and in fractions which IMO is plenty good for woodworking.