Measuring Gauges

I remember one place I used to work, they said, “Quality isn’t something you measure to see if a part has it or not, it’s something you design into the part AND the processes that are followed to build the part.”  Or in other words, Quality isn’t a gate; it’s the path that leads through the gate.

That said, I am trying to be a quality engineer as much as a quality craftsman.  But since this page is about the tools I use in pursuit of quality craftsmanship, let’s go there for now.  I think the DRO for the mill was a big step in the right direction, but there are additional steps to get me there.  Edge finders and “tenth” dials are essential to calibrating a machine and setting up a part.

Every now and then I stop and re-oil the ways and re-calibrate the orthogonal setup of the mill head with a dial gauge (or so-called “indicator”) and a chuck-mount holder.

The dial gauge is what I was using when I discovered that the spindle bearings on my mill were not helping in my quest for quality – I could grab the chuck and shake several thousandths out of it, so I figured that’s gotta be replaced.

The Y-axis rotating head on the mill is a great selling feature, but it makes a real pain in the butt for a calibration.  Kudos to machinechick on cnczone for her cleaver little trick to square it up.

A gauge on a magnetic base is one of the best general-use tools there is for set up on both the mill and the lathe.

A micrometer is also an invaluable tool to validate the precision of a cutting operation.

A flat surface is also important for sanding as well as a platform for measurements.