Vee micrometer

Advert

New Replies

Report Bug

Help/FAQs

Vee micrometer

This topic has 10 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 24 June 2025 at 21:13 by Graeme Seed.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

Author

Posts
24 June 2025 at 00:16 #804276
Graeme Seed
Participant
@graemeseed34272
Hi All, I have a Newton Vee Micrometer and the V is not 90 degrees, more like 91 degrees. Probably wear? It has 1.75- 2.75″ hand stamped on it. I’m considering making a milled square with one milled corner edge to be able to set heights of slip gauges. It has a 0-1 Moore and Wright stem micrometer on it. I can’t find any info about Newton company, British, Canadian, or USA made. There’s a patent number inscribed with the makers name, 397631, but I’ve tried various patent offices with no luck. It’s very old and would love to know any history. Many thanks, hy toolman.
Advert

24 June 2025 at 07:19 #804286
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
https://worldwide.espacenet.com/patent/search?q=pn%3DGB397631A

PDF file downloadable from there ^^^

Follow the three-dot menu at upper right of page

MichaelG..
24 June 2025 at 08:39 #804290
JohnF
Participant
@johnf59703
Hi Graeme,

Most use is measuring 3-flute cutters or similar but here is a link explaining : –

https://www.higherprecision.com/blog/what-is-a-v-anvil-micrometer
24 June 2025 at 14:13 #804313
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
I would very much doubt that the angle of the vee was due to wear, you would first need a ground test piece of 1.75″ diameter or more that you can compare with both your vee mic and a standard one. Probably intended for measuring turned diameters rather than three flute tooling which would need a 60 degree vee. Check out tooling that you may have that already that has a ground cylindrical diameter within the vee mics range to test it
24 June 2025 at 14:56 #804323
Graeme Seed
Participant
@graemeseed34272
Hello, many thanks for your reply posts. Michael, the patent you found contains all that I need, thanks. 1933 tool from Barnsley, 1/2 hour from me! The off 90 is shown in a photo and the Vee sides are one polished, the other has horizontal lines but is smooth, no burrs etc. It can’t measure 3 flutes, that needs to be a 60 Vee. I can set it to zero with ground stock but this tool is not for this purpose. It’s to set and adjust the tool tip of boring bars. If anyone cares to read the link Michael sent, it’s an eye opener.
24 June 2025 at 16:36 #804350
peak4
Participant
@peak4
I have four of these, bought at a batch for very little money a couple of years ago.
Mine are well worn, with comparatively deep grooves in the V faces; three seem to be near enough right angled, but one, like yours, is a degree or so off.

I was considering re-grinding the V faces on a small Herbert Junior, but have been putting the job off until I can come up with a way to ensure the two refurbished faces will have exactly the same amount taken off, whilst still retaining the 90° angle, and being equidistantly aligned to the axis of rotation of the micrometer head.

Unlike more sophisticated grinders, the Herbert only has a micrometer adjustment on the vertical axis, so front to back needs a dial gauge and careful handle twiddling, with no feed lock.

Bill
24 June 2025 at 17:02 #804366
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I can’t see that the Vee angle is particularly important on these as it is really only to put on a cut not take an actual diameter reading and any reading will deepend on the diameter of the boring bar. Therfore so long as the bar sits nicely in a vee it should work as intended
24 June 2025 at 20:34 #804413
Graeme Seed
Participant
@graemeseed34272
Hi Bill, wow, a set of four, what sizes are they? I don’t think that these tools are of much use to us these days, we have moved on since the 1930’s. Apparently, Newton Brothers were into line boring engines and this tool could set up the boring tool tip most accurately. Michael Gilligans link shows the workings and the patent description. Who would think of a moving, inline micrometer with the added normal adjustment. a micrometer is calibrated but this tool is not adjusted the same. Mine can be set up to 10mm 0r 3/8″ forwards or backwards and then set to zero anywhere between zero and 3/8″. An adapter can be utilised for use with an allen key to push the cutting tool outwards from the clamped boring bar and therfore set the boring bar to its correct size, within a thou or less.

Good luck with your machining. Can you send a photo[s] of your collection please.

JasonB suggests diameter measurement? Nobody’s mentioned diameters. As far as an accurate Vee, surely it must be important as its part of the workings??? I again suggest opening Michaels sent link. I’ve certainly learned something new today. Regards, Graeme.
24 June 2025 at 20:46 #804414
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
not take an actual diameter reading

No I said it is just used to put on a cut. The diameter of the bar will affect the zero but as that is not what you are measuring it has no bearing. The angle of the vee will also affect a reading but again that is not what the tool is for

You take a cut with your boring bar and then measure the bore. Work out how much more material is to come off. Then measure the protrusion of the cutter in the bar and make a note of the reading. Bit of maths tells you how many thou you need to advance the cutter in the bar to get to your final bore.

It is no different to doing it with a standard mic but you just get a more consistant measurement due to the vee and have the screw in the valley of the vee to push the tool. I still use this method to know how much to advance the tool when getting close to a final bore.

How do you measure the cut with a simple between ctrs bar if you feel we have no need?
24 June 2025 at 21:12 #804424
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
Not a lot of use unless you line bore. The hole between the anvils allow the back of a boring bar tip some room, that type of boring was much more common back in the old days. It would not need any improvement to those faces to work as it was intended to. I had never considered line boring problems, never having done any.
24 June 2025 at 21:13 #804426
Graeme Seed
Participant
@graemeseed34272
Hello, thanks JasonB, your experience of line boring with type of tool is nice to know that they are still being used. Can you explain your last sentence, please. You seem under the assumption that I’ve mentioned ” measuring between centers” and ” I feel we have no need” sorry but I’m a bit lost.
Author

Posts