Boxford TUD lathe query

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

This thread prompted me to measure my Boxford dials. The cross slide is 1.5″ dia but the top slide is 1.6″ – I’ve always assumed they were the same but now they do look different. But then I measured my spare topslide ……1.4″.

1/10″ between ticks would be nice and readable into my old age = 10″ circumference. That would be nearly 3″ dia. maybe a bit big. So 2.5″ might be enough giving 2mm between ticks.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

If you can get to a 3D printer these may be adaptable. Also watch the video linked in the print pictures which covers several lathes.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2820947

 

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

So I found a dial generator on Thingiverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6641801 which is customisable and printed one. Some errors on my part – even a few thou is hard to sand off the inside to get a good fit and I made it nearly 5/8 thick getting big numbers forgetting the original dial over which it fits is only 3/8. I painted it with white acrylic and cleaned up with a flat file expecting a good fill in the 1mm deep and wide ticks. While the photo looks fine the paint is rather thin and blueish in practice.  The paint also shows up the flaws, gaps and dings in filament prints.  The design doesn’t provide a simple means of making a friction fit.
However it is extremely readable so worth developing.
Yes it would have been easier in the end to use conventional means to divide and engrave but its fun to try new methods.

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