Laser centre / Edge finder

[mrblobby]

Has anyone else bought one of these laser centre/ edge finders. I bought this from chronos and the read up sounded good, I put ot in my mill but trying to get it to find the same position every time is a nightmare, i'm dissillusioned by it so it might be back to my wiggler set!!!

[jackrae]

I bought one and was disappointed by the spot size. They then offered a polarizer which I also bought. Spot size was a bit smaller but upon examination it was obvious the polarizer was faulty - the "lens" seemed to be distroted. They replaced it but my concerns are :
a) the size of the spot can in no way permit you to fix a position better then a wiggler offers
b) finding an edge is very much guess-work
c) the body is an aluminium alloy which is too soft to avoid chuck jaw damage. If the shaft is damaged then there is no way it can be properly gripped true to chuck centre.

If there is a use for it , it is to "centre" the chuck above a selected drilling position. Even if it fails to run true then simply running the mill or drill at slow speed produces a circle which you can then locate concentric with the desired drilling centre.

I may eventually rebuild the body using stronger/harder material to avoid shaft damage.

I suppose it has its uses but the previous 15 years of swarf facture were accomplished without it. Nuff said !

Jack

[Shawki Shlemon]

I have been giving this a thought for the last few months,but I kept putting it off because I am getting by as I did for the last 26 years.Thank you for the information ,it helped me making my mind.If does not safe a lot of time why change our old ways that works OK !!

[steammadman]

Nowt wrong with a peice of fag paper to find an edge ,
i've been using it for over 50 years now.
AND IT ONLY COST AFEW PENNIES ! ! ! ! !

[modeng2000]

How thick is f*g paper?
I have used a feeler gauge and seem to get consistent settings

John.

[jackrae]

Feeler gauges might be a bit expense and unforgiving.
If you don't want the stigma of being seen to buy Rizlas you could use aluminium cooking foil
jack

[waggy]

Talking of stigma and f*g papers - About a year ago, just after my sons 16th birthday, he went to the shop to put a lottery ticket on and get me some papers, for edge finding. He came back with the lottery ticket but no papers! The bloke in the shop refused to sell then to him as he thought he was going to roll "wacky backy"!
I was somewhat astounded at this, so we both went to the shop to ask what the reasoning was behind such a decision? The shopkeeper stated that he looked "dodgy" because he wore his hair spiked with gel! The world's gone mad!
Needless to say, none of us have darkened the doorstep again!

Waggy.

[steammadman]

A ; fag paper is a lt cheaper than fealers and you dont have to run to the shop when you break one .

B ; yes jackrae , but it's still more expensive , and , no need to sneak indoors when the boss is not looking, result, no bo--ocking if your caught.
i know , i'm a regular receiver of same

C ; waggy, what was the shop keeper doing selling a minor a lottery ticket anyhow ?
he still broke the law.

[3405jimmy]

I have never been shown how to use wobblers to set up from an edge. As to f** paper that is also another mystery. Although if your skilled I am sure all that 50yr old tech is just mint.

For me not being that skilled or that accurate or even that able to see these days. I prefer to dimension off the CAD find the datum with my J&L electric edge finder, zero the digital read outs and by heck I am just as good as some one who knows what they are doing. In fact to add some more asterisk, much to my surprise some of the stuff I turn out is so accurate it’s the dogs B***s

Jim

[havoc]

In fact to add some more asterisk, much to my surprise some of the stuff I turn out is so accurate it’s the dogs B***s

Got me laughing Ainsleys through my nose on that one. But I recognise the siuation. I was so peplexed when the parts I made actually fit together I spend a whole 15 minutes just putting them together and taking them apart again.

I use a 0.05mm feeler gauge for this. Since it is much smaller than any tolerance I can work to, it is good enough.

[waggy]

My dear steammadman,

Can't speak for the far reaches of North Lincolnshire but in the rest of England, it is perfectly legal for a 16 year old to play the lottery!

Waggy.

[bobfly]

I have used a Starrett edgefinder for years both at work and still in retirement suits me and i like it simple and works all the time.

[chris vine]

Bobfly speaks the truth. Anyone who doubts his word should see his CNC machined valve gear components!

Chris.

[steammadman]

yes but we can't ALL afford a fancy C-N-C set up.
i can't and whats more i dont want to, i ENJOY my
time spent making my miniatures (models are toys),
and , by the way , i don't buy castings either.
i call myself a MODEL ENGINEER, not a computer wizz
kid , at my age i'm too old for "wizzing2.

[chris vine]

Sorry Steammadman.

In fact Bobfly made his own CNC mill by adapting a standard one with bits and bobs.

Chris.

[cardiffpat]

A very interesting thread, I don't think I will part with £50 for a laser finder after reading it.
BTW are these precision 'F G' papers you talk of available from engineering suppliers?.

[houstonceng]

cardiffpat said:

A very interesting thread, I don't think I will part with £50 for a laser finder after reading it.
BTW are these precision 'F G' papers you talk of available from engineering suppliers?.

Only the ones who "roll their own".

Personally, I'm still using my local "spliff dealer" for supplies.

Andy