Description
Riken 200mm Machinist Frame Level — Overview
A precision frame level from Riken, Japan — hand scraped and calibrated to a 0.02mm/m sensitivity. This is the kind of level you reach for when you need to know the truth about a surface, not just a rough approximation. Whether you’re levelling a machine tool base, checking a surface plate, or aligning a lathe bed, the Riken frame level gives you a reliable, repeatable reference you can trust on the shop floor.
- 0.02mm/m (4″) sensitivity per division — At 0.02mm per metre per division, this level is sensitive enough to detect the kind of twist and tilt that will absolutely show up in your finished work. This is toolroom-grade sensitivity, not a builder’s level. One division of bubble movement represents a real, measurable error that matters when you’re aligning a lathe bed or tramming a precision surface.
- Hand scraped base and reference surfaces — The seller confirms this level has been hand scraped and calibrated. Hand scraping removes high spots with far greater precision than grinding alone, producing a reference surface with superior contact and flatness. This isn’t cosmetic — it directly affects the accuracy of every reading the level produces.
- 200mm cast body with wooden handle — The robust cast frame with its classic ribbed timber handle provides thermal stability and a secure, comfortable grip during use. The mass of the casting helps damp out vibration, which matters when you’re trying to settle a sensitive bubble accurately on a machine in a working environment.
- Graduated vial with clear division markings — The vial is calibrated in divisions of 0.02mm/m (marked as 1 DIV = 0.02mm / 1M), giving you a direct, unambiguous reading without conversion. Clarity of graduation matters when you’re making fine alignment corrections and re-checking after each adjustment.
- Ideal for precision machine alignment — Specifically suited to levelling lathe beds and checking for twist, aligning surface grinders and surface plates, tramming mill columns, setting up machinery bases prior to grouting, and verifying the flatness of reference surfaces and marking-off tables.
Condition
Used (Good Condition / Hand Scraped and Calibrated)
The level presents in good used condition consistent with careful workshop storage and use. The cast frame retains its original sage-green paint finish with the expected patina of age — minor marks and light surface wear are present on the body, which is entirely normal for a precision instrument of this vintage and type. Critically, the seller confirms the base and reference surfaces have been hand scraped and calibrated, which means the working surfaces have been actively restored to a high standard rather than simply cleaned up. The vial appears intact with no visible damage, and the bubble action should be checked by the buyer against a known reference surface or a calibrated master level prior to putting it into production use — standard practice with any pre-owned precision level. The wooden handle is in good shape with no cracks or loose fixings visible. There is no indication of impact damage to the frame or vial housing. Any cosmetic marks on the paint are surface-level only and do not affect the mechanical function or calibration of the instrument. The original packaging is included, providing secure storage between uses.
Included:
- 1 x Riken 200mm Precision Frame Level (0.02mm/m graduation)
- 1 x Original wooden storage box / packaging
Not included: Calibration certificate (recommend verification against a known master level or calibrated surface plate on receipt).
Brand Information
Riken is a well-regarded Japanese precision instrument manufacturer with a long history of producing toolroom and industrial metrology equipment. Japanese-made precision levels of this type sit in the same respected tier as RSK and Kanetomo — instruments that are taken seriously in professional toolrooms, machine shops, and metrology labs across the Asia-Pacific region. Japanese manufacturing heritage in this category means consistent vial sensitivity, quality cast bodies, and careful calibration — characteristics that have made these instruments enduringly useful well beyond their original production dates.
Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | Riken |
| Type | Precision Machinist Frame Level |
| Body Size | 200mm |
| Sensitivity / Graduation | 0.02mm / 1M per division (1 DIV = 0.02mm/m) |
| Vial Type | Barrel vial, graduated |
| Base / Reference Surface | Hand scraped and calibrated cast iron |
| Handle | Ribbed wooden handle, screwed fixing |
| Body Finish | Painted cast iron, sage green |
| Country of Origin | Japan |
| Condition | Used (Good Condition / Hand Scraped and Calibrated) |
| Included Items | Level, original wooden box / packaging |
| Not Included | Calibration certificate |
Keywords
Riken frame level, Riken precision level, machinist frame level 200mm, precision level 0.02mm per metre, Japanese toolroom level, machine alignment level, lathe bed levelling, surface plate level, engineer’s level Australia, hand scraped level, precision spirit level workshop, toolroom metrology level
