The Home Machinist!

Sorry for the confusion. Let me clarify. First, they are glass scales, and I have not measured anything with gage blocks or anything else. I didn't even realize that you could calibrate the DRO until I read Jim's post. So, no, I haven't calibrated it. I used the linear hole pattern function and set ...

I discovered today that my mill DRO has backlash. I guess I already knew that, but didn't really grok it until today. I was milling a series of holes in a linear pattern for a new fixture plate. After spotting a hole, I noticed that if I overshot the distance to it from the last hole, then the next ...

on a slightly off topic, does anyone know why DROs don't provide a feed indication? I know all those IC electronics have internal clocks, and they definitely have position, so it wouldn't be hard to incorporate a setting display so that you can do a little better than "eyecrometer" the fee...

Yep, I discovered Quinn about a year ago myself. Fun to watch. I especially like watching her build the Pennsylvania Switcher model locomotive, a project I would not have the patience for. The books recommended are a good starting point. I would recommend you spring for the large print version. They...

Are there any machinist clubs in the Pacific Northwest?

If not, is there any interest in starting one?

Finished the oil system project for the mill with no leaks.

OK, a couple leaks, but they were mitigated by the judicious 1/8 turn of a couple fittings.

I was surprised how easy and inexpensive it was. Should have done this years ago.

Time for an update. I found that an appropriately sized E-Z-Out worked best to remove the ball oilers. And, surprisingly, I was able to get all the balls and springs out too. Only really had trouble with one, and a combination of a punch, several strong magnets, and "sticky trap" (from the...

I have a Grizzly G4003 lathe and a Grizzly G3617 mill. I have never been happy with the ball oilers. I always had the impression that no oil was going into the machine. 20 years ago, shortly after I bought the lathe, I replaced all the oilers with new ones, figuring the original ones were just bad. ...

Sounds like a technique issue. Too much pressure being applied to the slide of the caliper and holding the standards out at the tips of the jaws. hmmm. I considered that. Just went out to the shop and checked again. Doesn't seem to be a technique issue. If I set zero, then the standards all read .0...

Charles: So yes, that is what I'm saying. I can set the 1" with the standard, and when I close the jaws to 0 there is a .003" gap. But with this setting all the other standards read correctly. I agree with Harold's assessment on the accuracy of calipers in general. My life in the shop seem...

Been a few days since I was on here so I missed the question. When tested against standards, I can adjust it to match, say the 1", and then all subsequent standards are right on the money, but when I go to zero it reads -0.003". If I set the zero to 0.0, then all the standards are off by 0...

I checked it to 1", 2" and 4" standards that came with my micrometers, and it's spot on at the indicated distances. However, in all cases, when going back to zero it's off at zero by about 3 thou. If I adjust the dial at zero, it's off at the standard length. Any ideas how to adjust z...