What’s it called?

[Derrick MarshParticipant @derrickmarsh12737]

Sorry for the long post

Hello everybody. I'm new to the site even though I regularly read topics. All the reading isn't making me any better but certainly making me want to get into the garage and waste some metal.

When I was younger and knew everything I spent a short time in and engineering workshop as part of my training. As it was practical and I was theoretical I did not apply much effort (I know now — the power of hindsight). The rather skilled chap who persevered with me had made himself a 'gadget' that I now appreciate and would like to have a go at making. The trouble is I don't know what it /. they are called and so cannot find any plans.

He had made a couple blocks that could be used as height gauge scribing blocks. There were two blocks of steel of different sizes and dependent upon which way they were placed presented a different height. The combination of the two blocks meant that he could set things up very quickly (usually whilst I was staring blindly at something else).

Does anybody know what these blocks are called? I have asked the great and mighty google many different ways but nothing comes up. I suppose the best description would be a combination gauge block.. Can anybody help?

[Derrick MarshParticipant @derrickmarsh12737]

Old timers tool

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

The only thing that springs to mind are 3,2,1 blocks.

https://www.rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/SET-OF-3-2-1-BLOCKS-143.html

Is that what you remember.

(just to be different, the Americans call them 1,2,3 blocks!)

Brian

Edited By BDH on 24/06/2018 07:30:10

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

123 blocks will give a limited range of heights in combination, basically in increments of 1 inch. Better would be a pair of blocks of different dimensions. But they seem to me to be of limited use, it's much easier to set the height gauge especially in these days when digital ones are relatively cheap. I've never come across any but the the standard 123 type or a variation designed by the late Sir John which Arc sold (but seem to have discontinued). I have a pair of those and 123 blocks and they are almost never used!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I'm sure that Brian is correct

These blocks were originally 'metrology' items, and priced accordingly: **LINK**

http://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/706BZ#Features

But the concept is now widely used, and machinist's versions are affordably priced: **LINK**

https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Workholding/Vee-Blocks-Angle-Plates/Stevensons-Metric-Blocks

MichaelG.

.

Edit: Found it  … This is the best write-up I have seen:

https://www.circuitousroot.com/artifice/machine-shop/auxiliary-tools/setup-blocks/index.html

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 24/06/2018 07:52:13

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You just make blocks to suit 0.5-1-1.5 and 3/8-3/4-1 1/4 and buy a couple of metric 10-20-40 and 20-40-80 blocks and they will do a lot of common sizes. I use my blocks quite a lot but I do seem to make quite a few models.

I also keep a few 3" lengths of 1/4×1/2, 3/8×3/4 and 1/2×1 that are useful for both packing castings as they often have fractional steps and these also come in handy for simple marking out just hold the part and the required block on your surface plate and scribe a line along the top of the block and are more than adequate for a lot of parts that don't need to be to 0.001"

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Or is Derrick describing a Sine Bar? Picture from linked from Wikipedia:

[Derrick MarshParticipant @derrickmarsh12737]

Wow thanks for the super responses. For nostalgia I have been and dug out the only thing that was successfully made at that time – a pair of finger clamps. Everything else was recycled. Glad I did because I found a scrap of paper wrapped around them with the dimensions and more information on. The trouble is that they are imperial and so I will have to convert to metric.

Jason wins the award for being closest with his 'you just make…' (those words have got me into so much trouble in the past).

I have found a 'closest thing' but it's for diy / woodwork and is called the SimpleScribe

**LINK**

But anybody still listening or interested, the original blocks I saw were:

block A: 1/2 x 3/4 x 3 inches with a hole for the scriber to fit through 1/4 up x 1/8 in on the 1/2" side

blockB: 1/2 x 1 x 3 inches with a hole for the scriber ar 7/16 up x 3/16 in on the 1/2" side

That's all I wrote at the time so I don't know if it will make sense to anyone else. Any more information or links always welcome. Perhaps this could form the basis for a simple project in the magazine?

Michael – thanks for the links, I'll get reading.

Old duffer – sine bars look scary and will probably another new skill to learn.

Once again, thanks for the warm welcome and help.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Very clever!

I can see how block 1 gives you 1/8, 1/4, 3/8" (1/2" – 1/8&quot, and 1/2" (3/4"-1/4&quot

Block two gives you 3/16", 5/16" (1/2"-3/16&quot, 7/16" and 9/16" (1" – 7/16&quot

Obviously you can combine them to add extra steps.

1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8", 11/16", 3/4", 13/16", 7/8", 15/16", 1", 1 1/16", 1 1/8", 1 3/16", 1 1/4", 1 5/16", 1 3/8" and 1 1/2".

That is pure genius – the practical man's jo blocks!

You could even add a slip of 1/32" gauge plate to fill in the gaps and double the number of steps.

So—- Derrick will you make a pair and write them up for MEW?

Neil

[Author]

Posts