Help with dial indicator and stand

I’ve tried it in all the holes all different ways,

they simply don’t fit.

I suppose I could drill the holes larger.

pill have to contact arceurotrade to sort this out.

they should tell you if they are compatible.

thanks all

These things can be a headache!

They are fine if you use them with just the indicators they are made for, as far as I can make out, the bars and holes seem to be of peculiar diameters, and they are not necessarily compatible with sets from elsewhere. I have added some extra rods etc. to my set to hold some of my motley assortment of indicators.

I would advise against trying to drill the holes larger! That is a recipe for clamps never clamping anything sensibly again, if at all. The only way to alter the hole diameters on something like that without resorting to machine-boring them, is to use a reamer.... but then only if you are sure there is a fault with it.

It's possible that somehow your set was supplied from the factory with parts from another, though I don't know how likely that is.

Often the holes suite 3/8 (9.5mm) and 5/32(4mm). Some have the hole in the clamp take 5/16(8mm) shaft. Others have the hole in the clamp at 3/8(9.5mm) the same as the rods in the set. A lot of indicators come with 5mm or 6mm short shaft on the dovetail adaptor. Some come with 4mm and 8mm dovetail adaptors. Its easy enough to make a new shaft to suit the holder you have.

If you don't yet have a digital caliper, time to get one. And measure the holes and the spigots, then contact Arc with the results. They have a rep for good service so should sort you out.

Or check with (good quality) drill bits. Should get you close. Calipers are not good for measuring holes - particularly small ones. That is why things such as telescopic gauges are marketed.

This may sound silly, but have you tried taking the clamp apart and testing each hole in both the inner and outer part or rotating the outer drum of the clamp 90 degrees relative to the inner one to line up the other inner and outer holes? Often these clamps have a pair of larger holes and a pair of smaller ones in each part, and if you have large and small lined up instead of large and large, (possible if the fitting that is already in there for a clamp back dial indicator is the smaller size) the hole will effectively be the smaller size.

Brian G

Another case of 'why is nothing ever easy?'

Are stands standard? Mine has two holes, tightish sliding fits 4mm and 6mm diameter. The spigot supplied by the stand is 5.80mm diameter.

My dial, which is metric calibrated, came with 5.94mm and 7.92mm spigots, both tapped M5 x 0.5. I guess these are to fit nominal 6mm and 8mm stands. Also an empty space in the box just the right size for a 4mm spigot, not supplied. These appear to be metric standard sizes. So my dial and stand, both metric, only have one male and female match: maybe I had a narrow escape!

What are the imperial equivalents? Strikes me a 1/4" hole in a stand would easily take a 6mm metric spigot, but a nominal 1/4" (6.35mm) spigot might be too much a 6mm stand.

Dave

My imperial DTI has 1/8, 1/4 and 3/8" studs. My Metric has 4mm and 8mm, the stand is 4mm and 8mm according to ARCs site. Stands are usually a bit of a generous fit.

As The OP has a dual reading dti it may be imperial so that would be the problem though the 1/4" may well fit the 8mm hole and as mentioned by others the conical end of the sleeve should face towards the clamp which usually has a mating recess

Edited By JasonB on 03/07/2022 12:29:20

Hi all,

the dial indicator and stand are not compatible.

the dial spigot is 9.5mm and the stand takes an 8mm spigot.

I got this info after contacting Ian at arceurotrade, who are kindly going to send me an 8 m spigot in the post.

they were unaware of this and will have to change their website info.

thanks

chris m…..