Thread: Where to find gage rods for toolmaker's microscope?

Guys -

For a holiday weekend project, I fixed up two Titan toolmaker's microscopes. The final parts that I need to make both complete are some 1", 2", 3" and 4" gage rods for the X-axis. The stages on each microscope are 2" Y travel and 6" X travel, with a pair of Mitutoyo 152-388A micrometer heads. These heads each have a 2" range and an accuracy of +/- 0.0002".

The Y-axis is no problem - the micrometer head moves the stage through its entire 2" range. However, the X-axis needs some relatively precise "gage rods" or "gage blocks" to have full travel.

The X-axis on each microscope has a trough at the front edge of the stage. I have only one gage rod that is 1" in length and would like to find some that are 2", 3" and 4" so that the full travel of the X-axis is useable. The microscopes are one Titan TM-10 high magnification measuring microscope and one Titan TM-IV toolmaker's microscope. Both have substantially identical 2" X 6" stages.

The only "gage rod" that I have that came with one of these microscopes is made of a 1" long by 0.25" diameter steel rod in a nylon "spool" that is 0.626" diameter and 1.128" long. Hopefully, I have uploaded a photo of the rod and its dimensions. Titan's website for the TM-10 is here:

http://www.titantoolsupply.com/High_...ing_Microscope

and page 4 of the "view product PDF" link shows a longer gage rod with spool on the photo of the microscope with the videoscope on it.

I would like to find a source for purchasing the remaining 1" (need only one), 2" (need two), 3" (need two), and 4" (also need two) gage rods. These need to have the same diameter (0.626") nylon spools on them so that the gaging surfaces align correctly. Can't find them anywhere - I am probably not calling them by their correct name!

Any help with this is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

A.T.

The end measure sets (think micrometer standards on steroids) for jig borers are about that diameter. Sets commonly show up on ebay. Pratt & Whitney and others made them.

Failing that you could probably make sleeves of the appropriate diameter for mic standards. Mitutoyo with their flat faces would probably be better than Starrett with their spherical faces for this application. It's likely that what you have (rods from a maker of standards) is a mic standard with a nylon bushing.

Naturally, the maker probably has what you want for more $$$.

Thanks, Pete!

I have some of those P&W end measures, but mine are suspect in their true length, and they are hemispherical on the ends. Mine have seen better days - they occasionally see use in a primitive V-groove on the front of my Enc0 bench knee mill. The V is off an old German jig borer and has a covered dial indicator on the left end. I have never used the end measures themselves for measurement - they just push the dial indicator.

Sounds like what I am looking for is the "rods from a maker of standards" in 0.25" diameter. I guess I'll have to make the nylon spools. Do you know of someone who sells this type of rod standard in 1/4" diameter? I do have a Punch Products Corp. punch grinder, but would like something with a proper length - I am just too lazy to make these by trial and error...

A.T.

Pete - Many thanks!!! I just purchased a set of 1", 2", 3" and 4" Tumico micrometer standards on Ebay! Perfect!!

I love this group!

A.T.