Losing the battery cap from an expensive digital micrometer

[simplyloco]

Yes, it flew off some time ago, and after having half the benches off the wall I still couldn't find it. I got on to the  supplier, and they couldn't help either, so I resigned myself to using the Victorian instruments in the drawer!

Today, however, I was motivated to find a solution, so a small piece of alloy plate was fixed to the back of the micrometer with two M2.5 cap screws, and a spacer placed between it and the LR44 battery. It worked!

I can now measure to truly ridiculous accuracy again, this is the Beam cross bar at 9/32" exactly... except the high top rake polished carbide tool dug in on the centre section and ruined it! I'll wait for the tangential tool to arrive before I try again.

[cplmickey]

The cap locating lug broke off my (not so expensive) caliper and put it out of action. Taping the cap on didn't put enough pressure on the battery all of the time. I will look to see if I can adopt this solution later today. Thanks for posting it up. Ian

[lesstoneuk]

Sod's second law of engineering states that parts lost will return in proportion to the importance and complexity of the repair after said repair is finished.

[jon38r80]

So it will be Sod's turn instead of Murphy this time

[lesstoneuk]

Dec 6, 2021 13:03:36 GMT jon38r80 said:

So it will be Sod's turn instead of Murphy this time

Isn't Murphy's law.. Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong

[jackrae]

it's the 'borrowers' that trouble me. I use something, lay it down and two seconds later it's not there !

[Roger]

I thought you had a 3D printer?

[simplyloco]

Dec 7, 2021 18:48:03 GMT Roger said:

I thought you had a 3D printer?

I have one like yours, but my solution was quicker!

[Roger]

Dec 7, 2021 19:37:25 GMT simplyloco said:

Dec 7, 2021 18:48:03 GMT Roger said:

I thought you had a 3D printer?

I have one like yours, but my solution was quicker!

Maybe, but not as much fun or anywhere near as satisfying. You know me, I love that kind of challenge!

[SteveW]

Guys,

What about this stuff Sugru

Its a malleable putty that sets hard like a plastic.

[jackrae]

Dec 8, 2021 14:16:43 GMT SteveW said:

Guys,

What about this stuff Sugru

Its a malleable putty that sets hard like a plastic.

But then you need access to replace the depleted battery

[jon38r80]

Gremlins, elves, borrowers- they all seem to be related and they all have their homes in workshops, they seem to get more numerous in proportion to the age of the engineer whose shop it is.

[SteveW]

Dec 8, 2021 16:10:21 GMT jackrae said:

Dec 8, 2021 14:16:43 GMT SteveW said:

Guys,

What about this stuff Sugru

Its a malleable putty that sets hard like a plastic.

But then you need access to replace the depleted battery

The point is to make a replacement cover not to glue the 'kin battery in.

Years back I used a bit of spare perspex to replicate a missing battery cover. Bit of a fiddle but a satisfying result.

[lesstoneuk]

Dec 8, 2021 18:25:00 GMT jon38r80 said:

Gremlins, elves, borrowers- they all seem to be related and they all have their homes in workshops, they seem to get more numerous in proportion to the age of the engineer whose shop it is.

Aren't gremlins aviation related? Or are they the little Bs that you don't drop in a pool?
Also, I get confused with Elves, do they save mankind from the evils of a ring making wannabee diety, run household's for the odd magician or make toys up north somewhere.
My house is riddled with borrowers... The little Bs nick my specs, eat the last chunk of chocolate, put my specs back and relocate every pen I own.

[barlowworks]

My gremlins are currently 8 and 3 years old respectively. I love it when they are here but heave a sigh of relief when they have gone home. 😉

Mike