What is it?

[boB]

At first glance, it reminds me of something I would see in a pharmacy...

Hmmm....

[onanparts]

boB way off!  In all fairness I showed this latest "what is it" to someone with 35 years in a related field and they were baffled. Time for a hint? OK, it's a "Micrometer" but what is it used for measuring?

[Westbranch]

So how did they use it?  Not like any micrometer I have used...

[RossW]

boB way off!  In all fairness I showed this latest "what is it" to someone with 35 years in a related field and they were baffled. Time for a hint? OK, it's a "Micrometer" but what is it used for measuring?

It's vaguely like a fiber analyzer - take sheep wool, alpaca fleece, cotton fibre etc....

[onanparts]

boB way off!  In all fairness I showed this latest "what is it" to someone with 35 years in a related field and they were baffled. Time for a hint? OK, it's a "Micrometer" but what is it used for measuring?

It's vaguely like a fiber analyzer - take sheep wool, alpaca fleece, cotton fibre etc....

Way off base. Another hint: Everybody reading or seeing this has many of what the current "what is it" is used for. Dozens of them at a minimum. They are used by you every day possibly.......weekly or monthly in some cases. Billions of them in use worldwide. 

[Halfcrazy]

Hm maybe an Egg sizing device? Grasping at straws here

[Rybren]

Sock measuring device 

[Westbranch]

A strapping machine or a 'banding ' device?.

[boB]

OK...  I am going to guess based on its shape AND what YOU might use it for once in a while that WE might use everyday...

A piston ring measurement device.

Or maybe to measure the piston diameter itself .

boB

[onanparts]

OK...  I am going to guess based on its shape AND what YOU might use it for once in a while that WE might use everyday...

A piston ring measurement device.

Or maybe to measure the piston diameter itself .

boB

BINGO on the first guess! boB does it again! 

[boB]

So, is the idea to measure the ring closed and open ?

I've never seen one of these before but never really thought about it much.

That could be handy for all sorts of engine overhaul work for cars AND generators.

boB

[onanparts]

So, is the idea to measure the ring closed and open ?

I've never seen one of these before but never really thought about it much.

That could be handy for all sorts of engine overhaul work for cars AND generators.

boB

A ring mic is used to check the ring gap. Depending on the application there is a minimum and maximum gap spec. .010-.020 for example.

Turn the big knob and the band closes or compress's the ring. Not a very common tool. Any competition engine built correctly will have each and every piston compression ring gapped to a very specific spec and matched for the cylinder it will be installed in. It's also very handy when rebuilding any engine to make sure the gaps are all within specs quickly.

Now I suppose you want to see pics of the "ring grinder" I have that removes small amounts of material from the ends of a ring to increase the gap? Old school is clamp the ring in a vise and carefully file the ends, install in cylinder without the piston and check gap with a feeler gauge. But hey, power tools are always more fun! 

[onanparts]

OK, No hints on this one! 

[Westbranch]

looks like an armature.

[mtdoc]

Definitely a stator of some sort - I think...