Dude.. I am not a machinist I don't have a lathe or anything even remotely related to machine shops yet I love watching your content. I appreciate your pure honesty. There isnt a false sense in anything you do. I wish all the success in the world for you.
“I’m just going through trying to show you something cool” 🤣🤣🤣 That’s more tooling than I have ever owned in my life Adam... you basically could set up another machine shop with that haul, that’s pretty cool. Thanks for making me jealous.
Wow, some great tools Adam Please make some covers for the Optical Comparator to protect both glass screens. We had wooden covers that stayed on with magnets. Cheers from Australia.
There is nothing more satisfying than coming back from something like that and looking through all the loot. The second most satisfying thing is watching you do it.
Hey, Adam, just wanted to say thanks for all you do and all you share. Learning a lot from your easy to understand and intelligent style. Keep 'em coming!
Congrats on the huge score. It's always fun hitting auctions and digging through the spoils after and find the stuff you missed. Gives ya butterflies in the stomach when you pull out a well known branded box and find a gem of a tool. Thanks for sharing Adam.
Adam, I have a super spacer similar to those. To change your number of divisions you loosen the Allen bolt on the circle piece with the pin and line up the number of spaces to the index line. Then this determines how far the handle throw is. I use mine a lot. Much faster for simple spacing than an indexing head in my opinion. I think a worthy piece in the shop! You got some great stuff, and so cheap! Tom
I’m just a lowly metal fabricator aka “weldor”. But I love watching your videos and wish I had UA-cam 30 years ago when I was graduating HS and wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up. Keep inspiring the new generations Adam! You’re the man! 💪🏻👍🏻
Hi Adam, Definitely a great bargain on the optical comparator! As we have some very tight tolerance proprietary threading inserts custom ground for us, the comparator is our 'go to tool' for inspection of the inserts to qualify them for production. Using a CAD system, printable transparency film & a laser printer, we print the profile out at 100x size. This is placed on the view screen and the insert 'adjusted' to best fit of the profile. If it fits within the limit lines of the transparency, it is 'good'. If it does not, that tip is scrap and is ground off of the insert. Obviously, one must print at the scale of the magnification level of the lens used. Take care & be safe, Ken
You can use the optical comparator to precisely measure lengths, diameters, and angles of small objects. We use it in the calibration profession to measure radius gages and insertion and extraction tools.
I have been a prototype machinist for 50 years. Lots of cool stuff that really works. In the hands of skilled people that stuff is invaluable. Good luck and congratulations
well, the EASY part was buying...now the HARD part is sorting, cleaning, storing, selling, trashing....ATB....you will find the optical comparator handy for checking angles and measurements
Adam, Don't let anyone tell you an optical comparator is obsolete. I work in the lab of a major auto parts maker and we still use a comparator everyday. So there are 2019 Vehicles that have parts checked by a comparator. They are so useful they are absolutely a necessity. We have a new digital comparator made by Starrett that uses a video camera instead of mirrors and it is touch screen, it is pretty sweet stuff.
@@sparkplug1018 You can do a lot with a comparator. It is really useful for small measurements like you said, but I've checked parts over a foot wide on one before. You can measure diameters, heights, angles, radii, true position, etc. I've even used a comparator to check a polished weld sample for penetration. They are extremely versatile. A comparator with a DRO and a scientific calculator can be used to measure a lot of things.
@@warcube91 That does sound like an incredibly versatile piece of equipment, and not surprising that a company like Starrett are making digital ones. Thanks for the reply.
great score for new business. have home shop here in Cullman Al. once you get sorted, i will be interested in a visit or however you finally decide. my best wishes. i remember 1st shop with missing ceiling. i have a project for you, lathe fix, when u ready also. very happy for you and im sure dad and grandad proud.
Adam back in the day when I worked at Brubaker Tool Co. I used one of them daily...we had patterns that we clipped under those four clips in the big screen then under the light we had a set if centers that we spun the end mill on to check that we ground the tangent arc (radius) from the front cutting edge to the side cutting edge...
Mr. Booth, while other people have certainly discussed use of the optical comparator I would be interested in your take on it after getting familiar with the tool. I appreciate your enthusiasm for learning and the joy you express with sharing what you've learned with others.
Optical comparators are still a useful thing for shops, especially those making precision threads, gear teeth, or other parts with small features. Where I work, there's a unit made by Optical Gauging Products in the metrology room, and we use it to measure rubber components that would deflect if you try to use a touch-probe CMM. That one is a bit fancier than yours, with motor-driven stage and DRO on the axes, but it's the same concept. It's also a good way to look at nose radius on a tool.
Optical comparator keyword compare. U take a scale drawing , put it on the glass under the clips and you compare your part to your drawing using the dials to dial it in and focus on the blueprint. Mostly used on Gears and radius
Good catch! Based on your video I've been looking at local auctions, but since I'm not registered as a company I can only attend public auctions. There prices are unrealistic. After taxes and handling fees some items are more expensive than they would be to buy them brand new!
I know it's a lot to work through but I'm glad you were able to get everything. Not just wanting to see things to not get wasted but seeing it go to a good guy is a big plus. Hope you can sell the stuff you don't need for a big profit. We want you to be taken care of. Congrats!
I have two identical looking super spacers to your three, mine being Bison brand with three jaw Bison chucks. These are incredibly handy and remain at each end of my 60" mill table. One has the jaws reversed for larger items. As "Okie-Tom" states in his comment below, very easy and quick to change index angle. NO plates to change but unit has indents at common angles. Check pricing on these, it will scare you! What a great score on all the stuff you bought!
At work we put carbide tipped annular cutters right in to the 3/4" R8 collet on the Bridgeport clone. We don't get the spring loaded center ejector, but the slug don't fight too hard when we use the kool mist and peck drill.
That's an awesome haul. I might be interested in an indexer or two, a couple of jacobs chucks, some lathe tooling, carbide end mills, silver and demming bits, and some reamers.
Abom, Quite a score! For someone who has a grand total of eight end mills and a few other odds and ends and little money this is somewhat overwhelming to me. Lol No need to disclaim on the ego bit. Most viewers are delighted to see a haul like this. Mr. Pete always makes a no bragging claim but it’s unnecessary. I, for one, revel in your good fortune and find the sorting through process fascinating.
Abomb, I envy your Craftsmanship and appreciation of the tools for professional results!!.. Youre a Hard, Intelligent worker and my friend you are part of a Group of Mens Men!!!..
very nice haul i would have love to have gotten that Sheldon for the price it went for even the mazak was a buy been looking for a lathe that size wish i new ahead of time
If only "My Mechanics" was in Florida. (He is in Switzerland). The things that young man could do, for example, to that rotary table. It would be like brand new. You got great deals at this auction Adam. It is like a huge, second Christmas. I can tell you are stoked. Congratulations.
Great deal on the Comparator. We had curtains on all of ours to we could block out the light around it and make it easier to see. You may or may not want to do this to yours.
Congrats Adam- some great additions for the shop, and showing all the viewers the great world of Abom79- I'd be interested in a couple of the Super Chucks- 8N to 14N- Looks great- - Paul
That is a wonderful collection of tools that you've acquired. I need to go to the auctions that you go to. And get the stuff that you want to throw away.
Adam one of your subscribers said that the bolts in the rock well hardness tester is for the feet to level it with. I did not know if you saw that. About your gloves the last of my 17 years with ford. The young guys would were them and I would joke with them calling them panzies. at the end of the day they would strip there gloves off and rinse there hands and go home. sure enough I started wearing them and I was called old man panzie. but it was well worth it. thanks young guys. sorry for dragging this own
Adan it would be a good idea to make covers for the optical comparator and hardness tester to help keep the dust and dirt off them. It looked like there is space to the right of the cabinet under your clock for the hardness tester. Trane has an optical comparator in the sharpening room.
To my knowledge, the Optical comparator has other viewing plates for different types of measurements. (Like measuring angles, distances, and other fancy stuff) Though, one could also put some transparency "paper" into the printer, and print one's own "reference films" for the optical comparator. After all, it is just magnifying stuff X amount. So by that point it is all down to how accurate one's printer is. (unless the actual plates for the machine are cheap.) Though, soon you will likely need to expand the work shop a bit, get some more room for all the tools you are collecting.
That Comparator looks to be a "Scherr-Tumico 22-1500 14” Vertical Profile Projection Optical Beam Comparator". I've seen others use them. You can actually measure, with a high degree of accuracy with them.
I just took a first try at building an adapter to run an annular cutter in a mill. It worked, but I didn't get the depth just right for the ejector so I only cuts about 1/2" deep... instead of an inch or two. Going to make another and try to get the depth right this time.
Well done. You really went to town at that auction bud. You could keep Steve Summers busy for a good long time sharpening all these for ya. $ 75 for that comparator is an insane price. Great buy.
Adam, I was wondering what your plans were for future content in videos? I really enjoyed the content in the past of common job shop work. Just curious on what you are planning in the future for the channel. Not being negative, just curious, thanks John
Good to have all the tools when needed. The only comment I have is Where is all the shop work you need to keep busy and profitable? Can't pay the bills with stocking the shop.
Hi Adam, or should i say MrPete-jr, 😊 some nice finds there. Here people do that sort of thing for a living, they buy lots, keep the best and sell the rest to try to cover the cost of furnishing thier shop or even just buy the whole shop and slowly sell everything off and make big profit. youtube is full of videos of people buying lots from all over, amazon returns, deseased house contents etc. so don't feel bad about it. looking forward to your next auction 😉
Nice gloves! Have been watching over on your adventure channel and have become intrigued about the multi use of the gloves, they have been coined 'meat gloves' in our house :) looking forward to some new adventure uploads with you and Abby. Best wishes from Ireland.
Another name for the optical device machine, is a shadow graph machine.be sure to use a ball that will rest on cone.rotate ball to get a even plain. Use reproduction rubber to make molds of radius, threads forms ,etc.can see very detailed images of machine work.
I get the feeling that it would be a disaster for a beginner, like myself, that is interested in starting to set up a small machine shop to go to a sale like that.
Did you get any other etched glass scales for the comparator ? I used to use the one with all the radiuses on, made measuring rads really easy and accurate, either direct on the part, or cutter, or a wax impression of the machined part if easier to see.
The normal way of making measurements with the optical comparator is to align the part to cross lines on viewing screen and then move it to the next feature. You get the dimension from the table micrometers, not from the view. Except if you want to not measure, but to compare multiple parts.
Dude.. I am not a machinist I don't have a lathe or anything even remotely related to machine shops yet I love watching your content. I appreciate your pure honesty. There isnt a false sense in anything you do. I wish all the success in the world for you.
“I’m just going through trying to show you something cool” 🤣🤣🤣
That’s more tooling than I have ever owned in my life Adam... you basically could set up another machine shop with that haul, that’s pretty cool. Thanks for making me jealous.
Wow, some great tools Adam
Please make some covers for the Optical Comparator to protect both glass screens. We had wooden covers that stayed on with magnets. Cheers from Australia.
There is nothing more satisfying than coming back from something like that and looking through all the loot. The second most satisfying thing is watching you do it.
Hey, Adam, just wanted to say thanks for all you do and all you share. Learning a lot from your easy to understand and intelligent style. Keep 'em coming!
Congrats on the huge score. It's always fun hitting auctions and digging through the spoils after and find the stuff you missed. Gives ya butterflies in the stomach when you pull out a well known branded box and find a gem of a tool. Thanks for sharing Adam.
Adam, I have a super spacer similar to those. To change your number of divisions you loosen the Allen bolt on the circle piece with the pin and line up the number of spaces to the index line. Then this determines how far the handle throw is. I use mine a lot. Much faster for simple spacing than an indexing head in my opinion. I think a worthy piece in the shop! You got some great stuff, and so cheap! Tom
Your old lady is AWSOME!!!!!!!!! Give her a storage been for putting up with you lol
I’m just a lowly metal fabricator aka “weldor”. But I love watching your videos and wish I had UA-cam 30 years ago when I was graduating HS and wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up. Keep inspiring the new generations Adam! You’re the man! 💪🏻👍🏻
Love that..."cheap money"...Now it's time to build a big box to put is all in! What a haul!
Thanks for the video.
Hi Adam, Definitely a great bargain on the optical comparator! As we have some very tight tolerance proprietary threading inserts custom ground for us, the comparator is our 'go to tool' for inspection of the inserts to qualify them for production. Using a CAD system, printable transparency film & a laser printer, we print the profile out at 100x size. This is placed on the view screen and the insert 'adjusted' to best fit of the profile. If it fits within the limit lines of the transparency, it is 'good'. If it does not, that tip is scrap and is ground off of the insert. Obviously, one must print at the scale of the magnification level of the lens used.
Take care & be safe,
Ken
You can use the optical comparator to precisely measure lengths, diameters, and angles of small objects. We use it in the calibration profession to measure radius gages and insertion and extraction tools.
Prerty sure she called dibs on that storage rack fair and square, looks like you gotta move all them taps out to make room for the markers!
Awesome plunder! Mr. Pete will be proud. It's a shame I wasn't there to pick one of those Bridgeport's that went super cheap!
When Adam said "I don't have anything like that" in this vid how many of you said out loud "You do now!" :) Nice haul Adam!
I have been a prototype machinist for 50 years. Lots of cool stuff that really works. In the hands of skilled people that stuff is invaluable. Good luck and congratulations
If you have any carbide items that are no good, they can be sold for $8/lb as scrap.
well, the EASY part was buying...now the HARD part is sorting, cleaning, storing, selling, trashing....ATB....you will find the optical comparator handy for checking angles and measurements
Adam, Don't let anyone tell you an optical comparator is obsolete. I work in the lab of a major auto parts maker and we still use a comparator everyday. So there are 2019 Vehicles that have parts checked by a comparator. They are so useful they are absolutely a necessity. We have a new digital comparator made by Starrett that uses a video camera instead of mirrors and it is touch screen, it is pretty sweet stuff.
Curious what the function is though, is its main function to more easily make precise measurements of small parts?
@@sparkplug1018 You can do a lot with a comparator. It is really useful for small measurements like you said, but I've checked parts over a foot wide on one before. You can measure diameters, heights, angles, radii, true position, etc. I've even used a comparator to check a polished weld sample for penetration. They are extremely versatile. A comparator with a DRO and a scientific calculator can be used to measure a lot of things.
@@warcube91 That does sound like an incredibly versatile piece of equipment, and not surprising that a company like Starrett are making digital ones. Thanks for the reply.
great score for new business. have home shop here in Cullman Al. once you get sorted, i will be interested in a visit or however you finally decide. my best wishes. i remember 1st shop with missing ceiling. i have a project for you, lathe fix, when u ready also. very happy for you and im sure dad and grandad proud.
And all this time I thought ACME only made devices for Wiley Coyote
Adam back in the day when I worked at Brubaker Tool Co. I used one of them daily...we had patterns that we clipped under those four clips in the big screen then under the light we had a set if centers that we spun the end mill on to check that we ground the tangent arc (radius) from the front cutting edge to the side cutting edge...
Mr. Booth, while other people have certainly discussed use of the optical comparator I would be interested in your take on it after getting familiar with the tool. I appreciate your enthusiasm for learning and the joy you express with sharing what you've learned with others.
Your going to be cleaning and organizing for weeks. Thanks for sharing.
Part 2 starts at 2:56 (there's some overlap)
Thanks mate
Optical comparators are still a useful thing for shops, especially those making precision threads, gear teeth, or other parts with small features. Where I work, there's a unit made by Optical Gauging Products in the metrology room, and we use it to measure rubber components that would deflect if you try to use a touch-probe CMM. That one is a bit fancier than yours, with motor-driven stage and DRO on the axes, but it's the same concept. It's also a good way to look at nose radius on a tool.
Great stuff Adam! Your new adventures have me on the edge of my seat.
Holy crap Adam, were you the only one at that auction? LOL. You bought an entire machine shop full of tooling.
Optical comparator keyword compare. U take a scale drawing , put it on the glass under the clips and you compare your part to your drawing using the dials to dial it in and focus on the blueprint. Mostly used on Gears and radius
Good catch! Based on your video I've been looking at local auctions, but since I'm not registered as a company I can only attend public auctions. There prices are unrealistic. After taxes and handling fees some items are more expensive than they would be to buy them brand new!
The comparitor can be used for measuring things that micrometers won't work on if my memory serves me correctly.
Neat, you could print out a super accurate template and check parts against it on the comparator. Very cool tool.
Cant wait to watch the Troyke rotary table restoration video! ;)
I know it's a lot to work through but I'm glad you were able to get everything. Not just wanting to see things to not get wasted but seeing it go to a good guy is a big plus. Hope you can sell the stuff you don't need for a big profit. We want you to be taken care of. Congrats!
Lots of good stuff. Hope you can find a use for most of it, or at least a home that can use it.
I would like to see you do a video on the tear down and repair of that rotary table. I think it make for interesting watching. :-)
I have two identical looking super spacers to your three, mine being Bison brand with three jaw Bison chucks. These are incredibly handy and remain at each end of my 60" mill table. One has the jaws reversed for larger items. As "Okie-Tom" states in his comment below, very easy and quick to change index angle. NO plates to change but unit has indents at common angles. Check pricing on these, it will scare you! What a great score on all the stuff you bought!
Good things still happen to good people, you don't run in to bargains like that every day, enjoy watching your videos. Thanks
At work we put carbide tipped annular cutters right in to the 3/4" R8 collet on the Bridgeport clone. We don't get the spring loaded center ejector, but the slug don't fight too hard when we use the kool mist and peck drill.
That's an awesome haul. I might be interested in an indexer or two, a couple of jacobs chucks, some lathe tooling, carbide end mills, silver and demming bits, and some reamers.
Abom,
Quite a score! For someone who has a grand total of eight end mills and a few other odds and ends and little money this is somewhat overwhelming to me. Lol
No need to disclaim on the ego bit. Most viewers are delighted to see a haul like this. Mr. Pete always makes a no bragging claim but it’s unnecessary. I, for one, revel in your good fortune and find the sorting through process fascinating.
I expect that you will get lots of requests for this tooling. . I am looking for smaller carbide bits too. Thanks, Lee
It's nice getting more videos from you Adam. Look forward to the future of the channel
Abomb, I envy your Craftsmanship and appreciation of the tools for professional results!!.. Youre a Hard, Intelligent worker and my friend you are part of a Group of Mens Men!!!..
very nice haul i would have love to have gotten that Sheldon for the price it went for even the mazak was a buy been looking for a lathe that size wish i new ahead of time
Hey Adam considering that you now work for yourself it would be a good time to create a sales website or page and thus avoid e-bay fees. Good video.
If only "My Mechanics" was in Florida. (He is in Switzerland). The things that young man could do, for example, to that rotary table. It would be like brand new. You got great deals at this auction Adam. It is like a huge, second Christmas. I can tell you are stoked. Congratulations.
Great deal on the Comparator. We had curtains on all of ours to we could block out the light around it and make it easier to see. You may or may not want to do this to yours.
Congrats Adam- some great additions for the shop, and showing all the viewers the great world of Abom79- I'd be interested in a couple of the Super Chucks- 8N to 14N- Looks great-
- Paul
a couple of tap/die handles as well- No5 to No14 (approx) - Lemme know what you want for the chucks or tap/die wrenches
Good tools you are campian is latheh machine 👍👍👍👍👍
So when you decide to sell some of these things, how will we be able to buy them?
I use an optical comparator for adding a small radius to endmills with a diamond file.
I foresee a dedicated parts room being built soon! Good auction finds there...
I want all of that stuff. No! I need all of that stuff. There's a fine line between a well-equipped shop and a hoarder's midden.
I am still drooling over the small end mills and the locked up live centers ..I can fix them .. AWESOME ..ENJOYED !
Another great video Adom. Good haul you made there. Keep the vids coming !
That is a wonderful collection of tools that you've acquired. I need to go to the auctions that you go to. And get the stuff that you want to throw away.
Adam one of your subscribers said that the bolts in the rock well hardness tester is for the feet to level it with. I did not know if you saw that. About your gloves the last of my 17 years with ford. The young guys would were them and I would joke with them calling them panzies. at the end of the day they would strip there gloves off and rinse there hands and go home. sure enough I started wearing them and I was called old man panzie. but it was well worth it. thanks young guys. sorry for dragging this own
The comparator can use precision drawings on clear film to compare the part to the drawing.
Adam your gonna need another shop expansion here soon lol
And one or two employees
Fully employed to just sort that lot out!
Adan it would be a good idea to make covers for the optical comparator and hardness tester to help keep the dust and dirt off them. It looked like there is space to the right of the cabinet under your clock for the hardness tester. Trane has an optical comparator in the sharpening room.
Seeing mutt dog reminds me that I think you need a replacement for sweet Stella. Especially now that you are full time at Booth Machine Shop.
Looks like you could use a pot of wax to dip those in to protect the edges.
To my knowledge, the Optical comparator has other viewing plates for different types of measurements. (Like measuring angles, distances, and other fancy stuff) Though, one could also put some transparency "paper" into the printer, and print one's own "reference films" for the optical comparator. After all, it is just magnifying stuff X amount. So by that point it is all down to how accurate one's printer is. (unless the actual plates for the machine are cheap.)
Though, soon you will likely need to expand the work shop a bit, get some more room for all the tools you are collecting.
I would really like to hear the story behind this shop. Very curious.
This video has to be one of the best you have done in regards to auction tools. Loved it
You are going to have one heck of a yard sale!!!!!!!
That Comparator looks to be a "Scherr-Tumico 22-1500 14” Vertical Profile Projection Optical Beam Comparator".
I've seen others use them. You can actually measure, with a high degree of accuracy with them.
Do an online auction like Mr. Pete on your excess stuff
I just took a first try at building an adapter to run an annular cutter in a mill. It worked, but I didn't get the depth just right for the ejector so I only cuts about 1/2" deep... instead of an inch or two. Going to make another and try to get the depth right this time.
So I assume you aren't doing onsey-twosey on drill bits and what not? I look forward to the announcement that you store is up and running.
I'm working on making some sprocket on a old horizontal mill and don't know what cutters to use. Will be for a 50 change.
I really enjoy sorting that kind of stuff.
I hope you get the kind of jobs that make good use of this treasure trove of great tools.
Well done. You really went to town at that auction bud. You could keep Steve Summers busy for a good long time sharpening all these for ya. $ 75 for that comparator is an insane price. Great buy.
On the comparitor the fine X-Y platform is referred to as a "Stage".
comparAtor
Adam, I was wondering what your plans were for future content in videos? I really enjoyed the content in the past of common job shop work. Just curious on what you are planning in the future for the channel. Not being negative, just curious, thanks John
Mate , that's the tool procurement of a life time , ABom79 - Purveyor of fine tools !!! Cheers .
A good eye, for a good buy ! Looking good Adam, keep up the good work!
looking forward to seeing you fix up some of those tools Abomb
Hauling metal to make a shop better and saving tools for others great videos.
Mr Pete did a multi-part video, on restoring a Rotary Table.
Now all you need is a bigger shop. Ask me how I know about this LOL!
Good to have all the tools when needed. The only comment I have is Where is all the shop work you need to keep busy and profitable? Can't pay the bills with stocking the shop.
His main income would probably be youtube money...
Not 100% sure since I couldn't see it quite clearly but at 5:28 ish those aren't indexable mills but U-drills.
Hi Adam, or should i say MrPete-jr, 😊 some nice finds there. Here people do that sort of thing for a living, they buy lots, keep the best and sell the rest to try to cover the cost of furnishing thier shop or even just buy the whole shop and slowly sell everything off and make big profit. youtube is full of videos of people buying lots from all over, amazon returns, deseased house contents etc. so don't feel bad about it. looking forward to your next auction 😉
The old Greenfield tap wrenches are nearly impossible to find here in southern Indiana.
I would be interested in some of the smaller tooling since I have a 9 x 20 lathe and a mini lathe
Thanks
That's not dirt on that rotary table ... that was rust prevention :o)
By sound alone, the super spacers sound good, once you clean them up, maybe something will shop or someone will recognize them.
Real good plunder, extra goodies. I like metal storage bins.
Nice gloves! Have been watching over on your adventure channel and have become intrigued about the multi use of the gloves, they have been coined 'meat gloves' in our house :) looking forward to some new adventure uploads with you and Abby. Best wishes from Ireland.
Another name for the optical device machine, is a shadow graph machine.be sure to use a ball that will rest on cone.rotate ball to get a even plain. Use reproduction rubber to make molds of radius, threads forms ,etc.can see very detailed images of machine work.
I get the feeling that it would be a disaster for a beginner, like myself, that is interested in starting to set up a small machine shop to go to a sale like that.
Great buy, looks like there is heck of a sale from you
I would love to buy a Bunch of larger taper shank drill bits. Good score.
Adam, I might have missed it but do you know the history of the machine shop and why they are closing up? They seemed like a big busy shop
I’m really late to this video; but I would really like to see you restore that 12 in rotary table. I enjoyed these two videos.
Did you get any other etched glass scales for the comparator ?
I used to use the one with all the radiuses on, made measuring rads really easy and accurate, either direct on the part, or cutter, or a wax impression of the machined part if easier to see.
19:00 lol, this thing would hold thousands of markers!
The normal way of making measurements with the optical comparator is to align the part to cross lines on viewing screen and then move it to the next feature. You get the dimension from the table micrometers, not from the view. Except if you want to not measure, but to compare multiple parts.