How did I ever live without this? In my little world, I have had to mark and drill holes for bolts, threads and pins and have gotten lucky and not so lucky. The mark of a good machinist is how well he RECOVERS from little inaccuracies. My designs have always included fudge-factors for eyeballed holes, as setting-up edgefinders and using the BP for drilling every hole is just too time consuming and relies on accurate edges, good math and back-lash problems. My thanks to the person that came up with the optical center punch, it sure fills a spectrum of jobs. I think this should be one of the first tools in a machinist's box!
Optical center punch
Oct 12, 2005
22 Replies
How 'bout a link, Tom?
Well, now. There's an endorsement for you. I think I've seen what you're talking about but I'm not sure. I believe I just assumed it was an expensive toy, and moved on. You gotta pointer to the one you like? You mind if I ask what one might expect to spend on one?
So, how 'ya been? I've been in hibernation for a while, I guess. Sorry.
L8r, tg.
Tom Gardner wrote:
I googled it and found a bunch. I bought one from one of my customers, "Production Tool Supply" but, I would recommend Fowler...just because Fred is such a good guy...and it's $10 cheaper!
This is the one I use
Ken.
This tool's an epiphany! I wish I had one 30 years ago...especially with my eyes aging. Google it, they are $50 to $80 and worth many times that. The one I have is: "On Mark", Simple enough to make, you might have a couple hours in it. Get the "Fowler" one, it's cheaper and Fred's a third-generation indentured family servitude guy.
Been good! My dad just passed a few weeks ago...a good thing. We're building 2 new machines, one for flat wire and one for wire wheels.
Glad you're still drawing breath, hope all's well with you and the better half.
We're
Here is another handy gadget:
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It goes in a 3/8" collet in a mill -- or in the chuck of a drillpress. They go on sale now and then for under $100.
Aside from centering for drilling, it's also useful for measuring between features that are hard to "grab" with calipers or a mike. Find edge or feature with reticle, zero the DRO, find other feature, read the DRO.
If the base is accidentally moved between lining up the mark and exchanging the optic rod for the centre punch, presumably you don't find out until you've punched the wrong place? I guess people don't find this a problem...
Chris
Oh, it's a problem all right. My technique is to give the punch the lightest of taps. If all worked well (one gets better with practice) it is easy to drag the point of the punch into the mark and hit it again to obtain the appropriate dimple. If I did miss - try again.
Ken.
Love mine too - Got the one from Leevalley. It has a rubber ring on the bottom that helps keep it secure. Not too expensive either
Tom
You know, I almost bought one off ebay last week, but declined to bid because I wasn't sure it wouldn't just wind up as another unused tool, and I have lots of those. I'll take another look, thanks
- - Rex Burkheimer Fort Worth TX
Tom Gardner wrote:
Hey Ken,
$31.50 US on your webpage, $39.50 Cdn in the 2005/2006 Canadian catalogue which arrived with the Bull O' the Woods books yesterday. Some other neat stuff there too.
Brian.
I snagged one on ebay for $75, new condition, a while back...darn thing is one of the most useful things I have ever paid for. All I can say is it's like when someone told me "If you use your Bridgeport a lot, get a DRO"...I did, and they were 100% right, makes working on projects boatloads more enjoyable...same can be said for the centering scope...keep an eye open on ebay, if you take your time, they pop up every two weeks or so...don't pay more than $100 ish though...mine is a ECCO, very nice :-) John
PS There is one on ebay right now....#7553612161
some one should call it so there is not a bidding war amungst us gents ;-)
They're pretty easy to make, too, if you have some acrylic rod. I made one and use it regularly.
Pete Keillor
Just goes to show we've all got our own ways of working. I had a very nice SIP (the Swiss jig borer folks) centering scope that sat on the shelf for about 20 years before I sold it on ebay. I never used it, and though I was afraid I'd have a need for it as soon as it was gone, haven't missed it a bit.
On the other hand, I have a couple microscopes that I use all the time on the mill. One is a small inspection microscope with a calibrated filar eyepiece that's handy for making measurements in place that would otherwise require moving the part to a toolmaker's microscope. The other is a long focal length microscope (or maybe it's more properly a telescope) that allows you to get a magnified view in places where you can't comfortably place your head. Both can be mounted on a mag base.
Ned Simmons
Here's a guy that made his own:
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looks like it's pretty straight forward and not requiring too much skill or special material. Fits in with our motto of "Making tools for making more tools". Bob
see
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one of the better tools I ever bought. Esp. good when you get older and can't see like you used to. Magnetic base is very good.
This one looks much nicer than most I've seen. Any idea how much they cost?
Doug White
Magnetic base, what a great idea.
Now I know how to make mine based on an earlier posters home build instructions
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and instead of a steel base, I'll use an old speaker magnet!
Anyone else is allowed to copy my idea for home use..... for commercial use a few beers would go down well!
Peter
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