Indicator Holder for Lathe Saddle Travel

This holder is for use with a digital depth gauge of the type shown in the pictures. Note that you need the type of depth gauge which has metal indicator stem with length extension. Although these have a plastic body, they are surprisingly accurate. The depth gauge also needs to be modified by cutting off the "wings" - also shown in the photos. Note that I designed the holder to work with my specific model of indicator - it's a common design so it should work with others as well (but no guarantee!).

You will also need:

• 2 high strength cylindrical magnets (10mm diameter by 5mm thick)
• 1/4"-20 (or M6x1 for you metric folks) bolt and washer
• threading tap for bolt

After printing the holder, tap the hole for the bolt. Press the magnets into the holes (the small through-holes enable you to press them back out again if necessary). The magnets are a press fit into the holes - no glue needed. I tried the magnets with both poles facing the same, and both poles opposite; didn't seem to make much difference in holding strength, although "both poles same" might have been a bit stronger.

Bolt the modified indicator to the holder (use the stem extensions to get a length that works with your lathe).

To use the indicator, simply attach it to the lathe bed with the magnets so that the indicator stem contacts the right side of the lathe saddle (small lathes like mine don't have room for this on the left side). The photos show the indicator on both my mini-lathe and my 9x20 lathe. I also included stock photos of an un-modified indicator.

The OnShape 3D CAD files for this are available here:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/cdb76acca987d837909382b0/w/7b4ec5a7445defcb4a47df1f/e/fa41bb49841a096c14638511

Print instructions

Printed .3mm in PETG (PLA would probably work also).

• 20% rectilinear fill
• perimeters = 4
• support on build plate only
• fill angle 45 degrees