ATTN Machinists - What is this lathe part??

The indicator sits on your granite bench.

 

Gotcha. Figured that might be the case.

 

I know what you're going through!I bought a Myford ML7 a while back.Haven't got a clue what half the shit that came with it is.
Could it be part of a vertical milling attachment?I know it's not the same but,here's a pic of mine to give you an idea(top right with the bolt up through the centre).

 

I believe that IS a vertical milling attachment. Very cool!!

 

The top is whats called a "finger gauge" as opposed to a dial test indicator (DTI). The stand it is mounted to may have a scale down the side making it a vernier height gauge. The finger clock can be used to set up objects in your four jaw chuck but if you are new a mag base DTI would be easier. Those drive dogs are used when "turning between centres" when not using a chuck. Most turners will have a box of bits and bobs that evolves through their career as required.

 

Figured they were dogs, especially with one of the face plates having a pin to catch the rod end, but I've never seen them where they don't have a wedge to one side or at least some way to center it. Strange lookin'...

I actually need to pick up a set of bent dogs for my face plates.

 

I have several bent dogs I don't need....but so do most guys who have old lathes. Most of us use those newfangled chucks, or collets for smaller work.

 

HAHA! Yep! I really want to get this thing set up for collets. That would be nice.

I figure at some point I'll have a use for dogs. Just hope I have them when/if I get to that point.

You guys have all been an incredible help with all this. Glad we at least got to the bottom of what that crazy lookin' part is. I have a feeling one day it'll get modified to so another job. Probably something on the mill.

 

Called a "surface plate"

 

I have a 12 inch Lantaine, and I have never seen anything like it.

 

I don't think they are dogs for turning in a lathe, they don't look sturdy enough. They might go with the grinding attachment that you didn't get. At any rate, turning between centres with dogs sucks, chucks are much easier.

 

That's a pretty beat up height gage. It should have a beveled scribe on it, to layout lines on parts, but many have indicators attached to them for inspection work. The fine adjustment screw is beat to shit. I'd only put some time into it if it were a Lufkin or Starrett.

Bob

 

Not for nothin'... but some shops were known to paint EVERYTHING in the shop one color. This was to keep up with corporate colors (why puke green?...) or to keep equipment migrating from one shop to another in huge companies. Hey.. that belongs in plant 2...

So that piece may be from something entirely different than your lathe.

Bob