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1.
Two height gauges have been salvaged after conversion from dial-reading
to digital-reading. The measuring height has been reduced from 300 mm to
150 mm, which is more convenient for my work.
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2.
2. This project starts with two height gauges with broken counter mechanisms,
but with fully-functional vertical movement mechanisms. |
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3.
Rear view showing the up/down hand wheel. As time permits, plans
call for replacing the plastic wheel with one of higher quality.
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4. Close-up of the rise/fall mechanism. Up/down movement
is accomplished by turning the hand wheel, which turns the pinion,
which engages the rack. |
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5. Originally, a rack was machined into each shaft, one for the rise/fall
system, and one coupled to the dial counter. The converted, digital system,
retains only the rise/fall system. |
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6. The upper connecting bracket and aluminum cover plate were temporarily
removed to allow for cutting the shafts. See photo #9, below.
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7. Unnecessary parts removed. The movement of the main body was checked
and found to be smooth. |
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8.
The pinion gear for the rise/fall operation and a plate spring is installed. |
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9. Shafts cut to desired length as a pair, since they are press-fit
in base. |
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10. Squaring and finishing bandsaw cuts in milling machine.
Great care was taken to pack the shafts to avoid bending or marring.
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11.
Making the upper and lower scale fixing brackets. Cut four brackets from
the block . The raw material is a casting. |
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12.
The scale is fixed centering in the completed bracket. |
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13. I wanted to make the base a little more compact, but gave up after
not finding a good way to accomplish this while maintaining structural
integrity.
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14. New foot installed, giving new life to an old broken height gauge.
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15. The remodeled gauge on the right is considerably more compact
and easier to use on smaller jobs. |
