grim_d
Unlikeable idiot.
- Messages
- 4,218
- Location
- Scotland - Ayrshire
I picked up a super cheap electronic edge finder, £10.48 delivered (without batteries)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312731151721
I've had good luck with Chinese machine tooling so far so I thought it was worth the punt for the price.
It arrived and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality for the price with my only comment being that the recess for the batteries is way too big, they hold in fine however.
The tip is a 10mm ball held in with a spring so you don't damage it if you get a little over enthusiastic on approach, the ball actually measures 9.995mm, I can deal with that.
So up to the workshop tonight, new toy in hand I thought I'd see what China's finest bestowed upon me, popped it in a collet and started the mill. The thing was wobbling like an old drunk. My heart sank.
I'll give it the best chance says I, I cleaned my mill taper, cleaned the collet chuck and cleaned the collets. (I tested with two collets at the shank is 20mm)
My spindle runout was less than I can measure...check.
Collet chuck taper...just a shade under 0.01mm...expected.
Collets are cutwell standard accuracy (0.01mm runout)
Edge finder was now running perfectly true to the eye,right down at the tip however I could measure an accumulated runout of 0.03mm.
As for function? Well it lights up and beeps when the tip touches something conductive. Absolutely zero complaints there.
Is it significantly better than the myriad of other edge finders out there, wigglers and offset...no.
Is it slightly more convenient and worth a tenner? Absolutely.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/312731151721
I've had good luck with Chinese machine tooling so far so I thought it was worth the punt for the price.
It arrived and I was pleasantly surprised at the quality for the price with my only comment being that the recess for the batteries is way too big, they hold in fine however.
The tip is a 10mm ball held in with a spring so you don't damage it if you get a little over enthusiastic on approach, the ball actually measures 9.995mm, I can deal with that.
So up to the workshop tonight, new toy in hand I thought I'd see what China's finest bestowed upon me, popped it in a collet and started the mill. The thing was wobbling like an old drunk. My heart sank.
I'll give it the best chance says I, I cleaned my mill taper, cleaned the collet chuck and cleaned the collets. (I tested with two collets at the shank is 20mm)
My spindle runout was less than I can measure...check.
Collet chuck taper...just a shade under 0.01mm...expected.
Collets are cutwell standard accuracy (0.01mm runout)
Edge finder was now running perfectly true to the eye,right down at the tip however I could measure an accumulated runout of 0.03mm.
As for function? Well it lights up and beeps when the tip touches something conductive. Absolutely zero complaints there.
Is it significantly better than the myriad of other edge finders out there, wigglers and offset...no.
Is it slightly more convenient and worth a tenner? Absolutely.