Mercer comparator gauge repair help.

[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Hello All,

I’ve got a Mercer “Mikrokator type dial gauge” and the twisted strip and glass indicator needle have broken. This gauge reads down to 0.00005″ [50 millionths] and was extremely accurate until I broken the strip etc. I’ve searched the UK for experts with this type, and all reply saying its not their remit. Anybody out there know where I can send it for repair and calibration. Photo attached. thanks Graeme.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Sorry it doesn’t help … but we can all drool

MichaelG.

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[cogdobblerParticipant @cogdobbler]

Maybe Long Island Indicator in New York.

Shipping into USA is currently chaos though  due to tariffs uncertainty, with many countries suspending postal services to there.

[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Thanks,mine the same as the top photo, albeit being metric version. I’ll try emailing New York company. the phosphor beonze wire is flattened ans loads of holes along its lenth, the twisted clockwise halfway then anti clockwise for the other half. The needle is glued on halfway. Stretching the wire moves the needle clock and releasing it lets it go anti clock, didnt mic the broken wire but estimate no thicker than 5 thou. Amazing instruments. Graeme.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Graeme

Again this is probably of no practical help, but it may be of interest and Abramson gets a mention in the references

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-C13-0c7770f847b9df9db4738c1fc74a9cae/pdf/GOVPUB-C13-

0c7770f847b9df9db4738c1fc74a9cae.pdf

MichaelG.

[PeteParticipant @pete41194]

Afaik Long Island Dial Indicator repair is out of business and has been for upwards of a couple of years according to reports on American located forums. And there’s some posts saying the owner died. Lot’s have mentioned that Mark Rand at M.R. Tool Repair do excellent work with fast service. There also in the U.S.

Mercer metrology tools were I believe part of or bought by Mahr, I think I’d start with Mahr first. But your Mikrokator type dial gauge is I believe an older model and spare parts may not be available anywhere.

I’ve got one of the more modern Mitutoyo branded millimess indicators built by Mahr for Mitutoyo and it’s an impressive tool. So I can see why you’d like to get yours repaired.

 

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

In case anyone was bewildered …

MichaelG.

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[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Hello All, thanks for all of your contributions.

When a first year apprentice, I asked my Turner, how many thous in an inch? Reply—- hundreds of the buggers!!

Graeme.

[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Hello Michael, thanks for your message. i have 2 pieces of ribbon, one 8mm long and the other about 25 plus a length of the needle. You are welcome to these pieces, no need to send them back. Any research into these Mikrokator types is welcomed. Please bear in mind that these items are not Johansson but Mercer made. Parts are in a small bag and difficult to see, I measured the 8mm sample and it seems to be around 3 thou dia.

Just need an address, thanks.

Graeme.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

How’s this for ambition !?!

MichaelG.

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[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks, Graeme

Yes, I realise yours is a Mercer

I recall visiting their factory/workshop in St Albans , decades ago and seeing the guys working on chronometers … but unfortunately saw nothing of the Mikrokator.

MichaelG.

[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Hi Michael, I’ve sent a reply. graeme

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

First … Please excuse the dust

The microscope is as old as me, and we could both do with a re-build

It is also a biological microscope, so the incident lighting was improvised.

_____

Excuses over … here are three images

1. Calibration with a ‘stage micrometer’ : each division is 0.050mm which makes the full width of the frame almost exactly 0.75mm
2. The ‘Pointer’ which at first glance looks remarkably like a human hair, but is actually a strand of glass.
3. The bronze  ‘Ribbon’ which to my surprise [and presumably Graeme’s] is NOT perforated.

Dare we confess that the Mercer version is a simplified version of the original ??

MichaelG.

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[ryan.carter848Participant @ryan-carter848]

I had stored this tidbid of info away but a comment on that video Michael posted says:

“Just a fyi, as far as I know there are two companies in China that still make those ribbens in a selection of resolutions. Not super cheap (about $80+shipping for a tube of 50) but they are available. In case you are just looking for the ribbens. Glass pointers are available as well. Actual Microkator pointers are glass tubes about .002″ in diamater.”

He posted the link but youtube deleted it. Theres a lead though maybe…

Also – Cylos Garage is an absolute legend check out his air bearing lathe he is making, he did a placement with Professional Instruments and his videos are great.

I have a really nice Mikrokator I got for £15!

 

[ryan.carter848Participant @ryan-carter848]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264462869952?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=264462869952&targetid=2268927532442&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9216498&poi=&campaignid=20938568783&mkgroupid=160131055320&rlsatarget=pla-2268927532442&abcId=9367980&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20938568783&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1e5rxPkJWF9tOOmGx8TTnWfV&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5onGBhDeARIsAFK6QJZROupMrjZ_lg8t4YacF50bur37y2sZG3OVJUMfR4q8rvUWvdQsISMaAgIhEALw_wcB

 

?

[ryan.carter848]

On ryan.carter848 Said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264462869952?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=264462869952&targetid=2268927532442&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9216498&poi=&campaignid=20938568783&mkgroupid=160131055320&rlsatarget=pla-2268927532442&abcId=9367980&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20938568783&gbraid=0AAAAAD_Lr1e5rxPkJWF9tOOmGx8TTnWfV&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5onGBhDeARIsAFK6QJZROupMrjZ_lg8t4YacF50bur37y2sZG3OVJUMfR4q8rvUWvdQsISMaAgIhEALw_wcB

 

?

Ryan’s link is to a Swiss ebay seller offering a repair service as well as selling items.  Be sure to read the Seller Feedback.  First seven:

 

Dave

[Pete]

On Pete Said:

Afaik Long Island Dial Indicator repair is out of business and has been for upwards of a couple of years according to reports on American located forums. And there’s some posts saying the owner died. Lot’s have mentioned that Mark Rand at M.R. Tool Repair do excellent work with fast service.

 

Sorry, just noticed this thread…

Small correction:- It’s Mark Ratkowski, not Mark Rand 😀

[simondavies3Participant @simondavies3]

Dave,

Interesting feedback, however with a little further analysis I notice that the 3 negative ones are from different account references – but they all have the same byline….

i.e. 3 separate aggressively negative feedbacks, apparently from the same source.

Carrying out an exact text search on that byeline presents me with a US based repairer of instruments (surprise, surprise):

I would still treat the seller with some caution, however I’m not sure I would write them off solely on the basis of an apparent single account and moreover, from someone who is clearly a competitor.

Simon

[simondavies3]

On simondavies3 Said:

Dave,

Interesting feedback, however with a little further analysis I notice that the 3 negative ones are from different account references – but they all have the same byline….

…

 

I would still treat the seller with some caution, however I’m not sure I would write them off solely on the basis of an apparent single account and moreover, from someone who is clearly a competitor.

Simon

Have you checked all the feedback Simon?  I suggest anyone thinking of using this seller should do so. Deciding if this seller is trustworthy is the customers responsibility, not ours, and there are plenty of scams about.

What worries me about this seller is reports of expensive gear being sent for repair and never returned.   The service charge is refunded, so ebay are happy, but the customer loses his item.  A clever theft if that’s happening.

Anyone on the forum used this service successfully?  I’d be pleased to hear from them!

By the way who is the competitor?  A link to his business would be helpful because Graeme is still looking for a repairer.

Dave

[SillyOldDuffer]

On SillyOldDuffer Said:

 

Have you checked all the feedback Simon?  I suggest anyone thinking of using this seller should do so. Deciding if this seller is trustworthy is the customers responsibility, not ours, and there are plenty of scams about.

What worries me about this seller is reports of expensive gear being sent for repair and never returned.   The service charge is refunded, so ebay are happy, but the customer loses his item.  A clever theft if that’s happening.

Anyone on the forum used this service successfully?  I’d be pleased to hear from them!

By the way who is the competitor?  A link to his business would be helpful because Graeme is still looking for a repairer.

Dave

Dave,

Totally agree that it’s the prospective customer’s responsibility – and also agree that the very negative reports are not good. I was just trying to suggest that its worth looking beyond the really negative (and really positive) feedback since sometimes they are less than genuine – or come with an ulterior motive.

My error regarding the negative reports all coming from the same source – I was mislead by the header/footer to the individual reports.

As ever, you shouldn’t believe everything you read on the ‘net:

• error on my part regarding the reports coming from the same source
• error on my part regarding the source being an apparent competitor (closey inspection suggests that they are individuals, not a single source)

Mea culpa, Simon

 

[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Hi Michael, thanks for your microscopic efforts. My search for replacement ribbons and repairers drew a blank. Does anyone remember the chinese link for ribbon makers?

All the best, Graeme.

[PeteParticipant @pete41194]

Given the sensitivity and accuracy of these types of indicators, I have real doubts a ribbon from another manufacturer would work properly. Yes it would indicate numbers once repaired, but almost for sure be well out of calibration for any accurate numbers that might be trusted at all. Even to check your Mercer’s calibration and repeatable accuracy would take a decent set of ceramic gauge blocks, and stabilized in a metrology lab environment temperature for at least 24 hrs at the minimum. I know far too little about these Mercer Mikrokators to be sure of anything, but one would assume there are internal adjustments that Mercer would have used to compensate for minor variables between the parts going into each indicator as they were being assembled. But it would take proper training and experience to do so during any repair.

The UK has more than a large enough population and still enough industry to justify it. There has to be more than a few metrology labs doing the required instrument calibration in the UK that many companies are required to do semi or yearly at least, and fully certified as traceable to your National Physical Laboratory. (NPL) If they aren’t personally doing repairs, then still contacting a few might get you some leads for smaller metrology repair companies that are. Contacting those might in turn get you a contact for any company that still just might service, repair and re calibrate yours? This is one of those problems that might take quite a bit of time to find a workable solution.

[Graeme SeedParticipant @graemeseed34272]

Hi Pete, thank you for your reply.  Your directions to consumers of these items is very interesting. I suppose it could cost an arm or a leg to get it functioning again, shame all these antique metrology firms disappeared or got swallowed up. Graeme.

[PeteParticipant @pete41194]

Fwiw Graeme, some further information about how the original Johansson Mikrokator works and gets calibrated. Impossible for me to say your Mercer is exactly the same internally. But since you mentioned in your first post that your indicators twisted strip and glass needle are broken, then I’d assume your Mercer is at least a fairly close copy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HIKmxHcxkg

The channel is extremely good and apparently he’s going to try and repair his in the future with the same issues as yours. So it may be worth keeping an eye on his future posted videos?

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I have this one which I’ve used once.  Seems to work though I’ve no idea how accurate it might be. Can’t see me using it again.

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