I agree with Harold. Don't do that. Don't even drill it.
Machinist's Level help
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- Bill Shields
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Re: Machinist's Level help
safest thing to do it stick some adhesive rubber feet on the bottom...
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Re: Machinist's Level help
I don't understand. It is a chord that I cut from a brake rotor, and I've milled half an inch into the top fins and around 100 thou into the bottom already. I feel as though I need to place it into a 500F oven for half a day and let it cool, and then lap it again on my surface plate. Milling it for four long feet instead of two rails would seem to be an easier thing to dial in.
I would not be surprised if it cracked in the oven though...
I would not be surprised if it cracked in the oven though...
Standards are so important that everyone must have their own...
To measure is to know - Lord Kelvin
Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
To measure is to know - Lord Kelvin
Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
Re: Machinist's Level help
It is highly unlikely that the piece is free of stresses, in spite of the work you've done. If you wish to stabilize the stresses, the 500F you spoke of won't do it. What will do it is 550°C---650°C (1022°F ----1202°F).
Your fear of cracking is likely unfounded. So long as you don't thermal shock or heat cast iron unevenly, it normally doesn't crack from heating. Simply start with ambient temperature, soak for 1½ hours per inch of cross section (once temperature has been achieved), then, if you hope to not introduce any new stresses (from rapid or uneven cooling) simply allow the part to cool in the furnace.
H
Your fear of cracking is likely unfounded. So long as you don't thermal shock or heat cast iron unevenly, it normally doesn't crack from heating. Simply start with ambient temperature, soak for 1½ hours per inch of cross section (once temperature has been achieved), then, if you hope to not introduce any new stresses (from rapid or uneven cooling) simply allow the part to cool in the furnace.
H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
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Re: Machinist's Level help
I didn't realize you were talking a level you made rather than one you purchased. I'd go ahead and mill a bit off the center to make feet and then re-lap.ctwo wrote: ↑Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:44 pm I don't understand. It is a chord that I cut from a brake rotor, and I've milled half an inch into the top fins and around 100 thou into the bottom already. I feel as though I need to place it into a 500F oven for half a day and let it cool, and then lap it again on my surface plate. Milling it for four long feet instead of two rails would seem to be an easier thing to dial in.
Re: Machinist's Level help
It came a day early and I'm very pleased. Thanks Bill!Bill Shields wrote: ↑Fri Sep 04, 2020 7:31 am sure it will...if the plate is truly level...then the level will show 'level' in both directions....
first $50 + shipping from 19734 takes it.
98 level.jpg
been in the box for 40 years....and I have 3!
which is a good thing since my 4th got broken in shipping 35 years ago.
Standards are so important that everyone must have their own...
To measure is to know - Lord Kelvin
Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
To measure is to know - Lord Kelvin
Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
- Bill Shields
- Posts: 10605
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:57 am
- Location: 39.367, -75.765
- Contact:
Re: Machinist's Level help
very good...put it to good use.
remember...bubble side up
remember...bubble side up
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Re: Machinist's Level help
Hmmm!
I wonder
Could that be part of the trouble I've had with levels?
H
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
- Bill Shields
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Re: Machinist's Level help
It has a lot of miles on it..
Started in Mass...shipped to middle east (Saudi Arabia)...back
to Delaware then to California over 40 year time period.
And never been used
Started in Mass...shipped to middle east (Saudi Arabia)...back
to Delaware then to California over 40 year time period.
And never been used
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Re: Machinist's Level help
It is a world class level
I had not realized that there is a small vertical bubble in the center. I was reading about the cross bubble, but have not seen a use case for the vertical bubble (should say vial). I suppose I could put it on my mill or drill press quill.
I had not realized that there is a small vertical bubble in the center. I was reading about the cross bubble, but have not seen a use case for the vertical bubble (should say vial). I suppose I could put it on my mill or drill press quill.
Standards are so important that everyone must have their own...
To measure is to know - Lord Kelvin
Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
To measure is to know - Lord Kelvin
Disclaimer: I'm just a guy with a few machines...
- seal killer
- Posts: 4696
- Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:58 pm
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Re: Machinist's Level help
All--
I got it! Thank you for all the help.
The secret was to find a stable surface on which to set my granite surface plate. I used one of the free-floating shelves I built in the new shop. Although the shelf is strong, I avoided touching it; the only thing I touched was the adjustment mechanism on the level and I used a dental pick to adjust that. Since the shop floor is concrete, there weren't any issues there.
I think a level with a better, much finer thread and easier to use adjustment mechanism would be a vast improvement. From looking at the pictures, it appears that Mitutoyo and Accusize use the same form factor as Grizzly. I'll bet their implementations are not as difficult to adjust, though.
--Bill
I got it! Thank you for all the help.
The secret was to find a stable surface on which to set my granite surface plate. I used one of the free-floating shelves I built in the new shop. Although the shelf is strong, I avoided touching it; the only thing I touched was the adjustment mechanism on the level and I used a dental pick to adjust that. Since the shop floor is concrete, there weren't any issues there.
I think a level with a better, much finer thread and easier to use adjustment mechanism would be a vast improvement. From looking at the pictures, it appears that Mitutoyo and Accusize use the same form factor as Grizzly. I'll bet their implementations are not as difficult to adjust, though.
--Bill
You are what you write.
Re: Machinist's Level help
Fwiw my Mit uses a shcs Bill and I've never noticed much issue the few times it's needed adjusting.