Thread dial Indicator for Sieg SC8

IHi all. I am new on this forum. I am from NORWAY, retired Maritime Engineer and interrested in the making of various workshop and modeling work. I have an Sieg SC8 mini lathe without a thread dial indicator. I know how to make threads without but now and then an indicator would be ok. Does anybody here know if - were such indicator can be bought? Bjovar

Hi Bjørn,

Welcome to the forum, good to see more Norwegian members. What leadscrew pitch is the SC8? If 3mm you might be able to adapt the Thread Dial Indicator used on the 280/290 types of lathes, I have got one and have made an extra wormwheel to cover more pitches.

Thor

Welcome aboard. There is an article on making thread dial indicators in the current MEW page 58.

John

If you cannot find what you want from another machine, (unlikely perhaps) but how would you fancy making one?

Lacking a Mill, you may need to mount the raw material for the body onto the toolpost, or cross slide, put an end mill into the chuck and do the milling that way. The Dross slide and top slide will provide the graduated dials to give the finished dimensions required

The most difficult bit may be the gear, but that could probably be bought, maybe a spare from another machine?

Howard

Welcome to the forum Bjorn,

I think for the larger SEIG machines they assume you will withdraw the tool and reverse under power feed, so they don't supply a dial.

As John says, there is an article on making one in MEW 271. the gear can be of a simplified form and will still work.

Hi all, thanks for info. It’s 3 mm leadscrew pitch. I will try to get one from a 280/290 machine. Thanks again. Bjorn

Bjorn the gear on a DTI does not transmit power and does not do anything precise. Therefore you can cut one from thin sheet brass and file the teeth and it will work ok. Using a thin gear means you don't have to worry about curves or angles for the teeth or mounting - very simple. A bit of plastic cut with scissors will work mounted on a drawing pin in a bit of wood.