DTI contact points

I have a newish Mitutoyo 2046 DTI (M2.5 x 0.4 thread for contact point). Tried all the obvious and non obvious suppliers and either the asking price is silly money (£20 for a DTI that can be had new for £40!). or there is a whopping minimum order charge, or the P&P is astronomic.

Plenty from China for £7 or £8 pounds, but I don't like supporting China's industry if I can possibly help it!

Making one is difficult for me as the M2.5 thread is a bit too small for my failing eyesight to cope with.

Any suggestions? Apart from the obvious "OP is tight fisted" which I am!

Andrew.

Andrew

Plenty from China for £7 or £8 pounds, but I don't like supporting China's industry if I can possibly help it!

This maybe one time you have to bite the bullet and order from China.

Emgee

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Make from : an existing M2.5 hex socket screw, and a small ball secured in the socket with a spot of Loctite retainer.

MichaelG.

Thanks Michael,

Now why didn't I think of that myself!

Andrew.

A nostalgic note: years ago I had a conversation with the Verdict rep at a show as a result of which he sent me a couple of these FOC including the useful elephant's foot.

A good lens and white card background will help with failing eyesight or, like Dan Gelbart on YT, you can use a camera and monitor.

Edited By ega on 08/05/2021 10:59:09

Check the thread pitch as Tracy's chart shows M2.5 coarse as 0.45mm pitch and M2.5 fine as 0.35mm pitch.

Have a look at:

https://mqs.co.uk/kaefer-contact-points-m2-5-x-45-length-3mm.html

(the diagram is especially useful. It would be good to see the pdf catalogue form which that comes).

You would need to buy 167 pieces to qualify for their free delivery though.

Edited By DC31k on 08/05/2021 11:02:02

I bought a 'carbide' tip from ebay and found that the stem was easily shaved with my carbide scraper. Not carbide then. Seller tried to get me to accept a refund but I kept it and added appropriate feedback so that others may be warned.

Try this, looks like a private UK seller...

Ebay - Dial Gauge Bal Contact M2.5..

Thanks everyone,

Diogenes has the answer. Two for £4.25! Scoured Ebay with various descriptions last night, but never tried DTI Ball Contact. At that price they must be Chinese or Indian, but better price than £7-8 each direct from China

Andrew

It’s interesting, when I first read the post I thought it was for the arm on a DTI. It turns out it’s not a DTI but a Dial Gauge. Mitutoyo themselves actually call both items Dial Gauges these days but differentiate by calling them Lever type or plunger type. If you do a Google image search for Dial Gauge 90% of the results are indeed plunger type Dial Gauges. If you do a search for Dial Test Indicator about 75% of the results are DTI’s and the rest are Dial Gauges. I’m not an ex machinist but have been aware from working with a few over the years that they know very well from experience what a DTI is. Not meant in any way as a slur on the OP but I still think it’s a shame that apparently the “old” original names for tools are gradually being forgotten. I expect any measuring tool with a dial on it will soon be called a “Clock”!

Edit: I remember now that when I worked as a mechanic they did in fact call Dial Gauges “Clock Gauges”!

Edited By Vic on 08/05/2021 14:38:14

Hello Vic,

Yes I agree with you. I only referred to the gauge as a DTI because Mitutoyo themselves use that terminology.

The give away should have been the thread .Plunger types have a thread of M 2.5 for the contact point, whereas lever style DTIs have a thread of, I believe, M1.6 for the contact point.

Andrew.