****Ultimately you can get better cuts by ->NOT<- dismounting and remounting the part you are making multiple times. While it may be possible it increases the chance of operator induced error exponentially.****
Yes, I did take the part out to measure it. I used a height gage. The same one I use for measuring tool heights in tool holders for the CNC mills. By touching the TGP round surface and zeroing you can a quite accurate measurement. (I'm pretty sure I mentioned i started with a piece of TGP rod) The funny part here is I could have used that method in place on the mill, but I had already dismounted the part once. The mill table being pretty new is quite good enough. My results might have been better.
Since I cut it to final dimensions as stated by end milling and ->NOT<- side milling for practical reasons I could not measure it with the mic you and I both thought of without taking it out of the vise or by boring a large hole in the table of the mill. While I am not normally opposed to modifying expensive tools if it makes money I would have had a hard to justifying to myself making a large hole in the table so the barrel of the mic could hang down.
I took it out of the vise. I didn't have that mic anyway. I used a height gage on the surface plate.
I would also point out that I didn't watch ANYBODY'S video step by step as a tutorial. Its often counter productive as I rarely have exactly the same tools they have. I knew I needed one for the job, what tolerances I could live with, and I made one with the tools I had handy.
Yes, there were better methods of measurement. I used one, although I did not use it in the best way. The mic you and I both thought of was actually not one of them as the part would still have needed to be dismounted to use. Even if it would do the job I don't have one. Yes I have lots of gage blocks. Building a gage block stack would have been no better, and has no bearing on the fact that we both considered a tool that was not actually the optimum tool for the job even though it appear to be.
I'm not sure what the argument is here. I successfully made the part the tool was made for and have it on the front bench for packaging now. I detailed how it was not a perfect tool just for the edification of others. I pointed out how we both initially thought of the same measuring tool. I pointed out how that tool would not have been any better, and in fact the choice I made was better even if I didn't use it the best way. I even noted (in this post) what would have been the better way. What else is it you are trying to prove here? That I didn't do it exactly the same way as Clough? Okay. I didn't. He didn't make a perfect tool either. Just ask him. That I didn't make a perfect tool? Admitted already. That I didn't use the best method? Admitted. That you are smarter than me? Okay, maybe. That doesn't mean I'm not smart enough. That my method was a failure? I disagree. My part is not only finished its been tested. The holes in opposing pieces at a 45 degree angle line up and the pull pins (4 of them) drop in easily. 8 holes in 4 pieces had to line up 4 times. They do. The mold makes good castings (also tested). If I throw the gage away right after I hit send on this post I'm money ahead because the job got done.
If I offended you by pointing out I had considered the same tool and that I didn't agree it would have been ideal after I thought about it... sorry. I haven't change my mind though. Ultimately I think the reason I didn't get a "better" part was unrelated. I think as already detailed its because its was in a cheap vise.