Edgefinding techniques 

35 minutes of edge finding and I was glued to the screen the whole time. You are a very talented teacher Mr.Gotteswinter.

Of all the machining videos on the internet, Stefan Gotteswinter’s videos are on a completely different level.

This is a Great video. How to convert the blatently ovbious to an entertaining, useful, educational video. I heard "mount your dial test indicator in a boring head" and I thought - thats Stefan still delivering better English humour than any modern-day brit will ever understand. Fabulas, I had to watch to the end. I was really exited for the boring head option. Please make a pt 2.

I have been a machinist since an apprentice The biggest game changer for manual machinists was the Digital Readout Scales Before that it was revoultions of the handle and then fractions of those revolutions plus or minus wobble bar , cutter erc Also for PCD calcukations oh my dont get me started Great video and well explained

Great video. Our 76 year young toolmaker that just retired used a .250 gauge pin and put black sharpie on it, spun it around a 1000-rpm and when he saw the black mark rub off he was good. he swore by that way, said it was way more accurate for him than an edge finder. If he is finding center of a part (no matter the shape of the part) it will always be a dial test indicator

Great demo Stefan. Everyone should learn this. Thanks.

I FINALLY understand what people are looking for in an edge finder! As a member of the general nosey public, I couldn’t find an explanation of what/how the edge finder was doing. Many thanks.

HI Stefan, you have been missed, thanks for posting

Very well done Stefan! ATB, Robin

Top quality clear instruction. Thanks for making this video.

I've been using the "crash and then back up" method.

The setting to a known diameter for measuring a radius was really interesting. I learned something today, thanks and great to see you again.😽🇺🇸👊🏻

It was so nice to go back to basics (and a good deal more), especially when it's so well taught. If you're ever running short on ideas I'd love to see a series of these, not only because I'm a huge fan, but because sometimes techniques can be hidden in other videos and lost to people that can't quite remember the video context. As usual, thanks for the videos and stay healthy!

Magnificently demonstrated and explained - thank you - I now have the techniques and knowledge that I needed for some projects to move forward.

We really appreciate your contributions to the machining community! :)

Another thing you can do which I have found works reasonably well is to just catch the paper with the end mill and pull it back, (with enough area for a micrometer tip), and then measure the paper thickness with your mics. I've also noticed that providing the pin has no runout, you should be able to see light past it down to .0002 of an inch. Most of these methods you have described very well and work fine for most purposes. Another trick I use occasionally is to clamp the part in your vice, then swing a radius between the vice jaws near the part, then zero the indicator in the center of the jaws, then you know exactly half that (thickness) to then indicate the sides of the part to center of the spindle. Good video.

I am a simple man, when I see a Stefan Gotteswinter video; I smash the 'like' button.

Thank you Stefan. As always, I enjoy your style of demonstration - the pace is just right, and the explanation is clear. I’m grateful that you do this in English!

Hi Stefan, great to see you back, once again clear and I'm formative. Take care. 😉

Just today, I changed to a collet just to use my edge finder and then back to my drill chuck. Now I know that I don't need to do that. This bit of information will save me material amounts of time. Thank you!

Thanks for this explanation - I have had difficulty getting my head around setting up a DTI to sweep a diameter. Between this and Joe Pies recent video it’s nice and clear now. The demonstration of effect of spindle run out on edge finding technique was especially interesting.

Great to have you back on RU-vid, Stephan! I am not a machinist but I do enjoy learning about mechanical things. Also, I enjoy your wry humour...

Good to see you're continuing to share your experience and knowledge Stefan, thanks a million.

I’ve seen much of these techniques on-the-fly in other videos, but never all together in one place like this. Very useful. Thanks!

As always your dedication to precision and excellent manner in which you present your topics is beyond reproach. I have learned more from your presentations than I could ever have imagined. Wished i lived closer so i could just absorb some of your knowledge from being there at your shop and hanging out. Thank you for for being THE PROFESSOR and opening our eyes.

Good to see ya back!

it took like 5 videos by 3 youtube machinists to finally understand how the edge finder works mechanically. its running truer, because it starts hitting the thing until the thing is being hit continuously!

Wonderful video! Very clean explanations. Thank you for taking the time to share this information.

Thank you, I am just a hobby machinist and the only system I was familiar with was the edge finder. It was great to learn about the other system

Great comparison of different techniques Stefan, well explained and verified by checking your collet runout. Great video, thanks for sharing. Cheers, Jon

Thank you so much for compering these techniques Stefan. I always wondered how much error the edge finder was introducing when it was "kicked off", since it was moved a bit of its "true" centre. The comparison at 16:00 put my heart at rest since now at least I know it must be below +/- 10 microns (granted this will also depend on the style and quality of edge finder used). Thank you so much for the video!

Note that even the highest precision ball bearing has some internal clearance. Great video.

Like I said before, you might as well just click the like button before you even watch Stefan's videos!

Saw this techniques several times. But no one explained it properly. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge!

Brilliant again stefan. I was suprised at how close the different techniques were in the end.

Stefan, Regarding 28:40--29:10, as far as the indicator is concerned, I believe it's technically the "low spot" being found, not the high spot. Great and useful video, as always!

Thanks for a great explanation for an untrained hobbyist. I enjoy your videos

Thank you for your very informative videos your knowledge and passion makes your videos a joy to watch. I’d like also to say that your effort of doing this in English is commendable.

Another excellent video, thankyou for sharing your knowledge in a way that is easy to understand! You are a talented teacher indeed.

Thank you. It is always a pleasure with you.

The newer DRO with LCD screens allow users to enter any arbitrary number into X, Y or Z counters. You only need to touch the edge, enter the diameter of the edge finder or thickness of the paper into appropriate axis and you are done. No need to move the table to reset the counter to zero. So if you are looking to buy a DRO display, get one with LCD display.

Another use for a (standard) edge finder is for finding centers of holes, using the 1/2 feature of your DRO. Just start off with your finder somewhere arbitrarily inside the hole (it doesn't seem to matter exactly where) and do a move in one axis to each side, using the 1/2 calculation to find that axis' center, and then repeat for the other axis. You can do a double check to be sure once you have established what you believe to be the center, but I have found it not usually necessary. You can do this on any size hole that the edge finder will (at least) loosely fit into. I do this routinely, and have checked with a test indicator for accuracy, finding it always within a half thou. Just make sure the hole is round, clean and smooth for the best result. I believe it is a quite reliable method and saves lots of time. Try it yourself and see.

Stefan, I was thinking about the 20 micron discrepancy and I remembered your discussion from a year or so ago when you showed how the indicator holder could be a source of the problem ( from slop in the joints ). The holder mounts to the spindle and has two pivot points prior to the dovetail mount of the indicator.

Yet again exceptional clarity and accuracy thanks mate!

The indicator method is new to me. Thanks a lot for the demo !

This was very helpful and interesting. Thank you Stefan.

I very much enjoyed the edge finding, and radius setting technique. You stimulate the mind as you teach, Spellbinding. Only complaint, You only post so often. I can never get enough. Take Care and Stay Safe. Bob

I have a camera on my mill, with highish zoom and interchangeable reticules, it's surprisingly useful

Thanks! I find a lower speed works best for the spring-type edge finder. At 1000 rpm I can see it snap away, but at 500 rpm I can see when it just starts to move.

Excellent video on the pros and cons of the various methods. Like you,I prefer the rotating edge finder for edge locations and the finger indicator on a 'C' type spindle holder for centering on round features. As you say, the coaxial indicators are very good but take up a lot of headroom due to the length of the body. All good stuff,Stefan.👍

Nice to have you back! Getting worried you might have gotten the virus or something:-) I like the wobbly edge finders that kick off to the side, too, but maybe I'll buy a nicer one like yours now. I often just use a dowel pin and cigarette paper though. Most of my work isn't too critical of tiny errors. I usually make parts for my own use and I know which dimensions are fussy and which aren't.

Stefan welcome back. I was looking forward to seeing a video from you. I hope your doing well.

Thanks so much Stefan. You are an excellent, patient teacher. I watched every second and learned quite a few things. 👍👍😎👍👍

Hello Mr. Gotteswinter, Thank you for taking the time to make this video... It was very useful... Take care. Paul,,

Excellent video Stefan.

Awesome! I’ll be making your indicator holder. 👊

Excellent run-through Stefan, thanks for going into detail on the dti methods1👍👍

Excellent information/instructions for edge finding. Thanks for sharing and keep up your great work!

this is actually so interesting. i really regret not getting into something like this instead of my current line of work. oh well

Brilliantly clear and very helpful. Great video. Thanks for posting.

THE BEST VIDEO YOU CAN WATCH ON THIS SUBJECT!!

You are a great teacher Stefan

Gday Stefan, very well explained, lots of useful tips that always come in handy, thanks for taking the time to do this, throughly enjoyed, cheers Matty

Very good video. So many ways to find the edge. I like your third choice best.

Thanks Stefan, that was incredibly interesting and practical. Cheers Matt 🇦🇺

Thank you for making this video. Lots of good stuff here.

Thank you very much Stefan. Your videos are excellent and very much appreciated.

Seems that buch has all the answers! Thanks for such a great tip!

Another interesting and valuable video, thanks Stefan.

You are like Nick Muller one of a kind...! ! The best Deutscher around in terms of Meterology.... Geometrical Master would be the title. Learned by and farmed by metals. Stahl und Eisen ( Like the Villa Hügel book upstairs in Essen ) ...!! :-) Keep rolling . . The new title is called Metals and Love

Excellent: Most Happy New Year. Great to see you back

Great video, Stefan! During the past year, having a little more time on my hands, frustrated with a cheapie spindle indicator holder, I made an indicator holder a little like yours, and one feature I found I really like is a fine adjust.. not an essential but makes things even more convenient.. I also worked out a way for none of the thumbscrews to loosen from pivoting the joints.

Excellent teaching.You would make a fine professional teacher.Thank's for sharin

Very good! I generally use the 'wobbler' but from time to time use rice paper (cig paper).

Ah Stefan, absolutely brilliant as always. Love your work,. Thank you!

Hi Stefan. Another masterclass effortless delivered - well, it seems like that! Really helpful for me. I've just started using screw shank end mills as I had too much trouble with plain shanks moving in ER collets. Being able to use an indicator on the new mill chuck saves a lot of agro. Simple when you know! I think as a result of this I'll bring forward fitting a DRO. BobUK.

7:30 "You run it at about 500000 RPM" Eh, we don't all have made-in-germany equipment...

Thanks for sharing!

Great video, thanks for posting!

Thanks for sharing. It is very interesting the explanation of the different techniques.

Thanks Stefan. Good content once again.

Thank you for your overview of edge findings. As you pointed out, these methods are useful for more than just edges. I missed the example of using a “chair” as an edge finding tool. Didn’t you offer an explanation of their use several years ago? This is MY go to method if I really want to know where an edge is on a milling machine and I really thought you were the person who was introduced the practice to me. Thanks again for all your lessons; the are fun and enjoyable

Very useful video. I would like to see a video on the more "expensive" edge finders.

Excellent explanations. I richly enjoyed the content.

Thanks Stefan I didn't know you could use test indicator that way.

I am surprised you didn't include the optical option. Has your centering microspcope you built fallen out of favor?

I would like to share my technique of egdefinding using V-bit blank (like Mikro100 RSM-100-1). Approach the edge with the flat surface of blank, rocking/turning it in the spindle. As you getting closer and closer, you will feel that you have less rotation. At the point when you don't feel any rotation, you're done, the spindle centerline is on edge. These blanks are pretty accurate ground (within 0.01mm or less) and after a bit of practice it can get you around 0.02mm accuracy of egdefinding

Maybe I missed it but after using the dial test indicator (d.t.i.), you could move directly over the edge and set your d.t.i. to zero. It's a bit tedious, but explained better than I can in Moore's book,Holes Contours and Surfaces in the chapter Jig Boring Practices. The benefit is that you are directly over a edge , no radii to account for, no radii to forget about. another question, what's your feeling on using a slip type edge finder horizontally?I've always tried to have the live end of the edge finder climb a vertical surface, meaning the spindle direction will run counterclockwise or clockwise depending upon the approach direction. I've grown to favor the d.t.i. but sometimes an edge finder is the quick & dirty way to go. Excellent video, well explained and presented.

A variation of the Renzetti fine adjust would make a nice addition to the Indicol indicator clamp.

Welcome back good sir...missed you👍🏻

zero dti either side of stock and halving on the dro for centre.......brilliant, thanks

Excellent content!

That was very interesting for me. Thanks!

Hi Stephen, I design and develop 3D datum finder probe in India. Its a manual probe and it will save about 70-90% time with repeatability of 2 micron. And also you can adjust the concentricity within 2 mins. I would be glad to send you a piece for your review.

Stefan, you have convinced me that I really need to buy a DRO! Thanks Paul

Another book is "Precision Hole Location" also by another of the Moore clan. Very good video and comparison. I like the Haimer 3d taster, but it has the same problem as the coax indicator in that it takes up a ton of Z. I was surprised you didn't include the old chair type edge finder, but I guess the gage block method is pretty similar, as long as you have a good DRO.

How about making a simple electrical continuity tester, similar to how Z-axis tool setting on some simpler mills are set up? Basically if there's connection you get a beep, or an LED or whatever, if there is not you don't. It should be, I assume, similar to the light gap technique if you use a pin of a known dimension.

I never considered using the bearing method. I always used a dowel with a .001 feeler gage. Edge finder is another easy method for quick setups.

I am confused about the last section of this video or how to use a indicator to measure a radius. I watched it two times and I am sitting here thinking and just do not understand. Mental challenges like this are why I love machining. Thanks I will update this comment if I figure out what you are explaining. Thanks for the video. Love from USA.

Seit einem halben Jahr bin ich interessiert an Videos die mechanische Themen behandeln. Nach diesen Themen durchstöbere ich auch YT. Meiner Meinung nach gibt es viele Kanäle die diese Themen aufgreifen aber nur weinig gute. 1. Ihr Kanal 2. This old Tony, scheinbar ein Freund von ihnen. 3. Uni Bayreuth mit Prof. Rieg 4. La Cem Thailand für Restoration.. Diese sind mir besonders positiv aufgefallen. This Old Tony bringt auch noch einiges an Humor mit, sehenswert. Werde die Szene weiter mit Interesse beobachten.