After a new dial indicator

So I found some that do have a very high accuracy, and they are expensive too compared to the cheaper ones. The ones I got have an accuracy of +-0.03mm with a resolution of either 0.01mm or 0.001mm.

The ones I overlooked, come in different accuracy ratings, ranging form +-0.003mm to +-0.007mm over the range of the instrument. Some shorter distance ones are +-0.002mm .

So it is spend the money and get the more expensive model that comes with a certificate. I have a situation of needing to measure a distance and then a movement. I have been using a depth mic until now and want something digital that is easy to set and then read off the information. The higher end ones have a better IP rating , not that its an issue with what I am doing.

Came to this thread late.

Recently posted a (similar) query here about a Moore & Wright item I was thinking about purchasing.

DIAL INDICATOR 0 - 0.8mm - MW420-03

I did purchase.

All I can realistically report at this point is that I am satisfied with form and function.

Not yet used under battlefield conditions but seems fine in rehearsal.

Regards.

Frank C.

....and no its not exactly the same but...

Edited By Chuck Taper on 14/03/2023 09:59:36

As its from Amazon its not a problem, i will getvavrefund and have a rethink

I would agree, well for me anyway

Cheers hiwever i am looking for a plunger type

This thread stirred my memory and made me rummage through my toolbox. As stated before I use a Mitutoyo DTI but I do have a cheap Chinese ? DTI and remember now buying it as a back up in case I ever need it. I seem to recall it was sub £20 and good to know I always have something to work with. On inspection it looks like a Mercer and appears to work well. My DTIs used in my working life all had carbide fingers to counteract magnetism rather than for wear resistance, not required for home use.

Have a look here, H Roberts. Local to me but no association, give then a ring though to check wether in stock or delivery time.

A 0.001mm dial indicates high sensitivity, not that the instrument performs just as well as a micrometer! I've never used a DTI to measure anything. Am I wrong?

I still have the Mitutoyo 0.001m resolution dial gauge that I used to use for demonstrating to customers that alignments were within spec. on rebuilt machine tools. For its intended use, it was regularly sent out to an independant test establishment & came back with a certificate that detailed the errors thoughout its working envelope (1 mm in this case) - it read within 0.001mm over the full travel with an uncertainty of measurement of +/- 0.001mm, so either dead on or 0.002mm error over 1mm. Having sat in a cabinet in my garage for around 20 years, it is out of calibaration at the moment.

The readings taken with this gauge were used to measure the machine alignments when compared to precision artifacts i.e. large lumps of calibrated granite. So there are instances where a direct measurement is useful. Obviously care had to be taken to ensure that the gauge was set perpendicular to the artifact, but when looking for small errors, care has to be taken period !

I do note that Dave's comment refers to DTI rather than dial gauge, but Neil's comments were WRT plunger clocks. DTIs can be accurate, but IIRC they only read "correctly" when the stylus is in certain positions relative to the body. I have a recollection of a DTI coming with an instruction leaflet that showed the effect that having the stylus set at an angle would have on absolute readings - not an issue if looking to adjust the setting of something to show zero deflection.

Nigel B.

Cheers, this seems a very good price HERE ...... Edit: actually you need to add £9 for delivery and then VAT

are they a reputal company?

Edited By petro1head on 14/03/2023 14:43:59

Just an update re the Starritte guage, I got my refund this afternoon.

H. Robert’s read their story, sixty years of selling top name equipment in metrology, so I would say reputable.

Hi, I bought two magnetic bases and two 0-1" - 0.0005" resolution dial indicators many years ago from Chronos Tools, which were not that expensive, and none of them have any brand name, although the dial indicators were made in China. The dial indicators still work very smoothly, and this evening I gave one a simple check using a precision ground block that came off a second hand indicator that I bought. I didn't need the block on the indicator, as the shape on the other side wasn't much use for my needs, when using it with the indicator, but does make a good true spacer for other jobs.

Shown below is my dial indicator and magnetic base attached to my small surface table, with the indicator set to zero with the plunger touching the table.

The block was measured in several different places on each of the two sides, and came out at 25.08mm.

The block was then placed on the table under the indicator plunger, and a reading was taken at 0.9875". The block was rotated so to get a reading on all four edges, and the reading stayed the same, and I repeated the procedure three times and got the same reading each time.

So, 25.08mm = 0.9874" near as, and so my reading of 0.9875" looks pretty good to me for an unbranded dial indicator made in China.

Regards Nick.

So they do make with a readout of the accuracy of the instrument for the real ones. I see that the digital stuff now goes down to 4 decimal places metric on a mercator style fine dti. There is also the long distance digital indicators to take the place of the 50mm travel dial, and they go up to around 150mm travel. Again the good ones, come with a range readout for that particular instrument.

I have some undercut detail I want to measure, but do so while its on the machine and set up. Its easy to make a foot with the M2.5mm thread, shape it to what is needed, place on the end ff an indicator, thats got the base like that of a depth mic. What I have will work, but would be nicer if it actually read the correct amount right off the bat.

RDBarratt - Mitutoyo 2046a 10mm 0.01

..on 'sale' from this established engineering industry supplier. £32.51.. ..+ all the usual I expect but still looks like a good clock for the money.

No connection other than as a previous customer, they do have some nice (& affordable!) Bison MT Collet Chucks...

I have bought the Mitutoyo 2046A from Digital Micometers.

I've also had fantastic service from H. Roberts for Mitutoyo DTIs. They have a Mitutoyo DTI sale on at the moment.

H Roberts charge £9.99 standard delivery - Total cost £48.23

DML charge £5.99 for next day delivery - Total cost £43.48

Ah but … is it wise to buy an Analogue instrument from a firm with Digital in its very name ?

[ only kidding ]

MichaelG.

Oh bugger, better cancel the order then

So I got the new dial gauge and thought I would give some feedback.

The replacement was a Mitutoyo 2046A

The packaging compare to the Starrett 3025-481 was disappointing.

The front dial on the Mitutoyo 2046A is a little stiff and not as fluid as my old Clarke one.

However I am pleased with it and will put it to good use.

Cheers for all the help