Bringing something into alignment by watching an indicator while the machine moves or the part turns, and tapping or adjusting until the needle stops moving. Typical jobs are indicating a vise jaw parallel to X, indicating a part edge, or indicating a bore so it runs true in a four-jaw chuck. Indicate it in means bring it into line within the needed tolerance.
Indicate the vise in before you run anything, I want the fixed jaw within two tenths end to end.
Also heard as
- indicate in
- dial in
- clock it
Related terms
Test indicator
A lever-type dial indicator with a swiveling stylus, used to align setups and compare surfaces.
Tram
To square a mill head or spindle to the table so the spindle axis is truly perpendicular.
Sweep
To rotate an indicator in the spindle around a bore, boss or circle to find its center or check alignment.
Four-jaw
Shop name for an independent four-jaw lathe chuck, each jaw adjusted separately to center or offset work.