Tester Parts Reference
This page provides photographs and descriptions of parts used in our projects that you may not be familiar
with. Unless otherwise noted, all of these parts should be available at your local hardware store, lumber yard
or home center. In general, there are links from the plan pages to each part as it is discussed.
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Carriage Bolts have round, smooth heads, and threaded their entire length (other bolts are often
only threaded at the end). They are useful to the ATM as adjustable feet or as a lead screw to push
against a sliding stage.
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The Dial Indicator show has a 1" strokes and indicates 0.100" inch-per-revolution. With 100 dial
graduations, this unit measures to 0.001". High quality, name brand units are in the $100 (U.S.) range,
but this imported unit cost about $10 (one vendor has had this item on "permanent" sale for the last
5 years, marked down from a $15 list price) and can be used for light duty service in Foucault testers.
Mail order companies such as MSC Direct,
Enco, Harbor Freight
Tools or Grizzly Industrial carry these items in the
stated price range.
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Drywall Screws are made to attach sheet rock to studs, but they are great as a flat-head wood screw
also. They come in coarse (left) or fine (right) thread, in a variety of sizes. 1", 1-1/4" and 1-5/8"
sizes were used in these projects.
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Many Radio Knobs accept 1/4" diameter shafts and attach using one or two set screws. They are ideal
for adding an easy grip to 1/4" bolts. They can be found at electronics parts retailers, such as Radio
Shack.
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Tee-Nuts are used to easily put threads in wood. The threaded shank slips into a hole, and the four
sharp prongs are hammered into the wood. Shown are three 1/4-20 Tee-Nuts (They take a 1/4" bolt with
20 Threads-per-Inch). They fit into a 5/16" hole in the wood. Other bolt sizes are available, as well
as ones with longer shanks.
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Teflon Furniture Sliders are now widely available at retail locations, and provide any easy source
for Teflon pads. The heavily promoted Magic Sliders brand is shown, but many alternative brands are
available at home centers, hardware stores and discount retailers such as Wal-Mart. Most come with double-sided
foam tape to attach the sliders.
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This miniature toggle switch mounts in a 1/4-inch mounting hole.
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Van Clamps (sometimes called Bell Clamps) are copper plumbing parts used to support
copper pipe. The 1/2-inch units shown are securely screwed onto a wood support through the central hole
in the bell. The pipe is then clamped between the straps, hiding the screw head.
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