Surface Gage

[rossbotics]

I built this gage to use as a primary height and square gage, not as a surface gage, I have dedicated surface gages but I wanted to have a dedicated gage just for checking square and height.
There is a radius machined on the front of the base just for checking square, some people machine a slot in an old surface gage, Install a piece of steel in that slot then hand grind a radius on the piece. I chose to incorporate that as part of the tool.
The spring under the pivoting arm was made from a piece of .055" music wire wound on the lathe at 12 coils per inch. The only thing I didn't make was a 1/4-20 set screw which secures the 7" stem to the pivoting arm.

The entire gage was made from O-1 tool steel, except for the 7" long stem which was made from 316 stainless steel. All parts that were flat was hardened and ground, all parts that were round was hardened and polished.

Below are some photos
Thanks for looking and happy machining

Doug



Photo before assembly



Another view before assembly


Assembled



Another view after assembly



Using it for checking square



Another view of checking square



Using it as a height comparator



Another view of height comparator

[kbalch]

Thanks Doug! I've added your Height and Square Gauge to our Machining and Measuring and Marking categories, as well as to your builder page: rossbotics' Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Height and Square Gauge by rossbotics

tags: gauge, square, dial indicator, height gauge

[kbalch]

Hi Doug,

Very nicely done! Your Height and Square Gauge is the 'Tool of the Week'!

You'll be receiving one of our official HomemadeTools.net T-shirts:



Let me know (via PM) your size, color choice, and mailing address. We'll get the shirt in the mail to you directly.

Congrats!

Ken

[Paul Jones]

Very nicely made and with great photos. This type of surface gage has been on my "to do" list for sometime now but didn't want to tackle grinding a thin slot. Now I see your alternative and I like the design. Thank you.

[Christophe Mineau]

Yes, congratulation Ross for your tool of the week selection, as Paul above, your gage is really nicely made, and I like the solution of the post than can tilt with micro-adjustment.
Very nice !
Looking forward to see more about you,
Christophe

[Altair]

Great job machining the gauge Doug.

Al

[DIYer]

That's a beautiful piece of work!

[kbalch]

This thread has been moved to the Must Read subforum. Congrats (and thanks) to Doug for making such a valuable contribution!

[Ed ke6bnl]

can you take a regular surface gage and put it on a rotary table and put a radius on on it, and what radius did you use?

[rossbotics]

I don't see why you can't, the radius I used was 1/2 the width of the surface gage