Precision

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:44 am

The link below is to the current email offer (from Shopsmith) for the Dial indicator. It has probably been posted many times before but this time I (for some reason) read it. I already have a dial indicator so I don't pay much attention to the ads for one. Now I have a question.

How would one go about using this gauge to set the miter gauge?

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/specials/7DU206.htm?jn=32624&kt=MKT&kr=0007116570&cnum=0007116570&epn=UWUVPXS

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 8:33 am

Like you, Dusty, I never read the e-mail either because I have dial indicators and a TS aligner Jr for set-up work.

The e-mail says you can measure blade height as well and it's not apparent how that is done either. Perhaps if we saw a photo from the back of the unit we could better understand how it works.

To my thinking, if you wanted to set a specific angle on the miter gauge using a dial indicator you would need a second reference point, and It doesn't appear possible with a single dial indicator.

Perhaps the block can be rotated 90 degrees and mounted in one miter slot, with the miter gauge mounted in the other slot. If such a set-up would give you the necessary reach across the table, you could measure in thousands how much you were tilting the face of the miter gauge, but that doesn't give you a precise angle.

Hopefully, someone has one of these gizmos and can explain how it works.

algale · Post by **algale** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:52 pm

dusty wrote:The link below is to the current email offer (from Shopsmith) for the Dial indicator. It has probably been posted many times before but this time I (for some reason) read it. I already have a dial indicator so I don't pay much attention to the ads for one. Now I have a question.

How would one go about using this gauge to set the miter gauge?

http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/specials/7DU206.htm?jn=32624&kt=MKT&kr=0007116570&cnum=0007116570&epn=UWUVPXS

Not sure how to do a 45 but a 90 is straightforward. Place the base of an accurate square against the miter fence. Place the dial indicator in the opposite slot and zero the indicator with it's tip touching the far end of the blade of the square. Move the miter gauge along it's track while maintaining contact between the indicator tip and the blade of the square. If the fence is accurately set to zero degree the dial indicator will stay at zero as the blade slides along the dial indicator.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Feb 04, 2012 6:02 pm

algale wrote:Not sure how to do a 45 but a 90 is straightforward. Place the base of an accurate square against the miter fence. Place the dial indicator in the opposite slot and zero the indicator with it's tip touching the far end of the blade of the square. Move the miter gauge along it's track while maintaining contact between the indicator tip and the blade of the square. If the fence is accurately set to zero degree the dial indicator will stay at zero as the blade slides along the dial indicator.

That makes sense, but I would be inclined to move the gauge.

Using a combination square(45) the same thing would work.

Gee! I had no idea how to do that with a gauge. Turns out, 'the same way as without one'! Just like table to blade alignment.('the same way as without one').