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Equipment => Bats => Bat Making => Topic started by: mad_abt_cricket on May 28, 2012, 08:21:28 PM

Title: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on May 28, 2012, 08:21:28 PM
 While making a bat, I always have hard time to make sure the spine is centered and the edges on both sides of the bat are identical. I use elementary techniques to do that.

Can anyone suggests any precision instrument or technique with which this can be accomplished?

Thank you!
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Johnny on May 28, 2012, 08:22:24 PM
Well GM use a CNC machine! :D
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on May 28, 2012, 08:23:28 PM
Well GM use a CNC machine! :D

Like! :)

For home bat makers any smaller machine ?
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: swamidude on May 28, 2012, 09:07:41 PM
You could use some digital callipers perhaps?
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Beachcricket on May 28, 2012, 09:29:10 PM
I use a ruler for both. Just keep measuring. Usually if your eye says something's wrong, there is. It may sound strange but look at it in the mirror, sometimes that helps highlight where the problem is.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Cover_Drive on May 28, 2012, 09:30:15 PM
Don't remember this apparatus but I remember we would have one in Chemistry lab, it is cheapest option and perhaps precise too!

Will try to look for its name if not a picture at least!
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on May 29, 2012, 04:05:34 AM
Thank you all.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Number4 on May 29, 2012, 07:24:51 AM
Experience
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Blazer on May 29, 2012, 08:00:27 AM
Don't remember this apparatus but I remember we would have one in Chemistry lab, it is cheapest option and perhaps precise too!

Will try to look for its name if not a picture at least!
Vernier Caliper ?
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Simmy on May 29, 2012, 08:23:50 AM
ryan uses some sort of tool

this thing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ku-VYYRk7T0#t=28s
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Fezballoh on June 09, 2012, 08:00:30 AM
Ryans compass idea is good as he can check the profile at stages the same way a boat builder would do. I've been using a combi square set to 2 1/8" to find middle. I'm thinking of making a jig similar to a bat gauge with either a pin or some kind of port to house a pencil in the centre so I can just trace down when I need to.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Beachcricket on June 09, 2012, 08:37:22 AM
Ryans compass idea is good as he can check the profile at stages the same way a boat builder would do. I've been using a combi square set to 2 1/8" to find middle. I'm thinking of making a jig similar to a bat gauge with either a pin or some kind of port to house a pencil in the centre so I can just trace down when I need to.

I'm making something very similar right now but the idea is based more on a marking gauge. I go sick of measuring the spine and finding I was way off.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on June 09, 2012, 06:57:16 PM
Sounds interesting. I have a design in mind, something which can slide along the width of the bat ( assuming that the bat width is not variable), and the center of the instrument possess  a marker which can draw the line.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: GarrettJ on June 09, 2012, 07:44:13 PM
I'm making something very similar right now but the idea is based more on a marking gauge. I go sick of measuring the spine and finding I was way off.

nice bat you have just posted up on your blog.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Beachcricket on June 10, 2012, 08:15:55 AM
nice bat you have just posted up on your blog.

Thanks. It's for a good friend who's having a bad run of form so I hope it helps turn his season around.

I've got to get a bat repaired but I should hopefully get the gauge built this week.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Beachcricket on June 16, 2012, 04:28:47 PM
I've made something that hopefully addresses the straight/centred spine problem. More info on my blog. Let me know what you think.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6pg9cATUJU/T9yxLXSQc9I/AAAAAAAAAt8/YrjUaOxepGA/s640/CIMG2295.JPG)
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Bez013 on June 16, 2012, 04:47:23 PM
Thanks for posting that David.

Good idea you've had there, I know you mention in the blog that it is quite difficult to hold the jig against the face, edge and mark the pencil but I wonder how else you might get around the problem without spending a lot of time developing something - perhaps like a width guage that runs up both edges as was suggested earlier in the post.

Short of rigging up something with adjustable legs and wheels, like a clamp that can be secured tightly to the edges, or some sort of overhead frame that you place the bat under and secure and use the frame to guide the marking implement I'm not sure how else you can easily do this.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Beachcricket on June 16, 2012, 05:44:13 PM
I had thought of having the gauge hold both edges but decided against it for the prototype but now I can't remember what it was that made me decide against it. There's was a good reason I'm sure.

I wanted a threaded insert and a nut to hold the pencil but it was too complicated for something that does a simple job. The joinery isn't perfect and it needs improving as you say. Wheels are a good idea, I want it to be small and simple so it can fit in a tool box easily.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Bez013 on June 16, 2012, 06:10:31 PM
It might be possible to screw a pair of fixed caster wheels on a bar attached to each leg with but you would almost need something like a quick release from a bicycle wheel that could apply enough pressure to make a firm contact point with the edge of the bat with an overhead gantry to hold the pencil. 

I'm no good at drawing but might do a bit of a back of a fag packed example of what I mean once I've thought about it some more but what I am thinking of would be a bit like a gantry crane in style but the casters would run parralell and would be at right angles to the upright rather than vertically.

(http://www.electric-hoist.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Gantry-crane-manufacturers10.jpg)

Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: Beachcricket on June 16, 2012, 06:21:20 PM
I like that. Prototype 2 is firmly in the R&D phase now.
Title: Re: Spine and edge measurement
Post by: mad_abt_cricket on June 16, 2012, 07:40:12 PM
Nice effort!

Looking forward to the prototype 2.