Indicators

SW

whitaker33 wrote:

Look in the drop box. Ted Edwards posted a bit on that subject.

Holts Precision Inc Po Box 8368, Manchester, CT 06040 (860) 643-5157

Highly recommended! They have brought more than one of my measuring tools back from the dead. Reasonable pricing (to my mind) and prompt service.

I usually drop off my stuff and they mail it back but things can be mailed (or UPS) both ways.

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department

H.H. Ellis Technical High School

New England Model Engineering Society

Mitutoyo has its own repair service for its products.

Ted

Very clever method of making the crystal, Ted. Thanks.

Harold

This really works. I have four or five indicators I've re-built, and replaced the xtal in them using this approach.

Jim

My own approach is to machine the crystal flat, just turning the edges round, and putting a bevel on them. Turn them to just a few thousandths larger than the ID of the bezel ring.

Then, I support them with a polished ring at about 80% of the OD, and press in on the center with a soft object (I used a golf ball, FWIW) so you won't mar the surface. This domes the crystal, and reduces the OD just enough so you can drop the bezel ring onto the OD. Then release the pressure, and the OD expands to grip the ID of the bezel ring. You can adjust the degree of doming by how much oversized the OD happens to be turned.

The page which I put together to document this can be found at:

So does Starrett, and I believe they will do other makes as well.

John Martin