Buyers beware

[FMESParticipant @fmes]

[FMESParticipant @fmes]

If anyone is ever considring purchasing a laser center finder please give this one a miss.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-Cross-Centre-Finder-for-Mach3-Denford-Boxford-VMC-Bridgeport-Elliott-/272698671517?hash=item3f7e1b819d

I bought one as a trial for the club and although the concept is sound and accuracy quite acceptable (after a bit of twiddling to set it up) the red plastic control button soon failed on the thread.

The unit requires that the red button is screwed in tighter to brighten the laser output, the thread on this soon failed and in addition it was almost impossible to turn the unit off which soon resulted in flat batteries.

I have been chasing the seller since September last year for a modified button but so far all I have received is excuses.

Regards to all

Lofty

Edited By *.* on 19/01/2018 19:12:33

Edited By *.* on 19/01/2018 19:13:23

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

Bought one of these from the USA about 10 years ago, it's still working fine.

These days I'd probably roll my own using one of these for less than a fiver

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Martin 100 on 19/01/2018 20:28:35:

Bought one of these from the USA about 10 years ago, it's still working fine.

These days I'd probably roll my own using one of these for less than a fiver

Sounds a good idea if you do get around to it hope you'll please share the build details

H

[JonParticipant @jon]

Imported on of these in 2004 when they just came out.

Battery Powered Original LC/EF – 1/2″ Shank – Dot

Tried once and never used again, there are far better and accurate means of finding edges. Just found it out and batteries dead but remember the beam spread is like all of them not sharp defined rather has a rolling off and way too thick.
Almost impossible to clock a vice up with.

Wigglers have came out to play but poor quality of late have gone on to two of this type and never looked back, easy to use. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mechanical-Edge-Finder-CE420-10MM-For-Milling-Lathe-Machine-Touch-Point-SensorYJ/263428923157?_trkparms=aid%3D555019%26algo%3DPL.BANDIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20151005190540%26meid%3Dbf557413f9c440e4bf883c5ec4aa2d88%26pid%3D100505%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26&_trksid=p2045573.c100505.m3226

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Re Jons comment on Wigglers

Main issue with the usual four piece kit is inconsistent and, frankly excessive, friction in the collet style holder. If you swap things around its pretty much impossible to get them back to exactly the same grip so the move over centre error before it runs off sideways varies. If you are really careful about setting up and never change the probe you can get them down to a couple of thou (ish) but they are never as good as the Huffam style. The lower friction, spring loaded, nylon pusher makes them half thou reliable off a smooth surface given appropriate care.

Be a nice little project to make Huffam style carrier(s) for the barrel and ball end probes whilst retaining the collet holder for the sharp pin which needs to be bit stiffer anyway. If I were to do such I'd make two carrier units so as to have both styles of finder ready to go. I imagine the Geo. Thomas design would work fine if suitably dimensioned to match the commercial ball ends.

I've never found a use for the indicator carrier shaft and have both imperial and metric Huffam sets so my old collet type has the pin permanently mounted. With a 3D Taster for critical jobs all bases are covered and I'm a happy bunny.

Clive.

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