Tailstock Indicator

Dial Indicator for the tailstock:

 

 I’m not the one who decided to do this first. However, the mods needed some 1/2 inch square bar stock, and really needed a mill. So while I was prospecting in the nether regions of the HF store, I found a magnetic mount, HF# 01601. For only $3.99. Well, I picked it up just because. Once I’d walked out of the store, I realized that I only needed to make an adaptor to achieve the same kind of result. A few hours later, having experimented and also trying to find the tools, I had a piece of metal that worked. It was also too short. It didn’t allow the gauge to be far enough away from the magnetic mount.

I made a second one, and allowed enough space for everything.

Detailed pictures are next.

 
Basic metal adaptor shape. The stripe on the large piece is a center mark made by the lathe tool. It was used to locate the cross-drilled hole for the gauge. The left part is sized for the base, the right part is spaced in to allow the dial face enough room. It is also drilled and tapped for 1/4 20 threads.

 
The base, part 1601.

 
The adaptor with the gauge retaining knob. The knob is bought, and the rod is a piece of threaded brass. It will not scratch the gauge. I used locktite to keep the brass section in the knob.

 
Base with adaptor mounted. Not shown is a small flat milled on the bottom that holds the gauge in alignment with the magnetic base. I used a cross feed vise and a milling bit. Following this experience, I have decided that a vertical mill is somewhere in the future.

 
The completed gauge sitting on the headstock.

 
The gauge can be mounted anywhere on the lathe it will fit. Here, it is mounted on the tailstock. It measures the tool travel parallel to the bed.