Magnetic base for dial indicator

[Cuttings]

A little while ago I went to use the magnetic base which I have had for a lot of years and it felt quit rough when rotating it from the off to on position and back again. There didn't appear to be any way to get it apart. No obvious screws. I was about to order a new one thinking this old thing had reached the end of its life. I removed the rod from the top to see if the threaded hole went right in and found that it did. I could see the magnet move inside when rotating the handle and it didn't feel quite as rough. I must have tightened the rod a little more than usual or the washer was getting worn a little thinner. Anyway by filing a little off the end of the threads on the rod the contact with the magnet went away. It was still feeling a little rough so i thought some lube might help. A few shots of oil down the hole and work it back and forth a few times, she feels like new again and I saved myself a few dollars.

[Dave C]

You learned something and saved a few bucks in the process. Gotta love it,, right?

[Bented]

I have been buying these Noga stands for the last several years, the magnetic bases have excellent power and the joint locking mechanism is the best that I have ever used.
The last segment that actually holds the indicators is weak at best however, they need to step up and build a holder for industrial use.

[nickel-city-fab]

I have been buying these Noga stands for the last several years, the magnetic bases have excellent power and the joint locking mechanism is the best that I have ever used.
The last segment that actually holds the indicators is weak at best however, they need to step up and build a holder for industrial use.

Bented -- I have been looking for an indicator holder for a long, long time which would work on my little SB 9A. I know Noga makes a "mini" model -- do you think that would work on my lathe? It's such an amazing PITA to get the indicator where you want it, given the cramped space and no flat surfaces. Lately I've been trying to get something that I could just stick on the toolpost and then adjust the arm. I use the old Federal indicators and also the dovetailed Compac DTI's.

[rickyb]

+1 on Noga. Unbelievably easy to set your indicator from anywhere to anywhere in one or two easy movements. Notice the fine adjust feature in the pic. You need that for sure also. Think about a couple sizes. You will use them.

[Galaxie]

Bented -- I have been looking for an indicator holder for a long, long time which would work on my little SB 9A. I know Noga makes a "mini" model -- do you think that would work on my lathe? It's such an amazing PITA to get the indicator where you want it, given the cramped space and no flat surfaces. Lately I've been trying to get something that I could just stick on the toolpost and then adjust the arm. I use the old Federal indicators and also the dovetailed Compac DTI's.

Nickel-city-fab,
I have a SB 9" as well and I find the "mini" Noga arm is just right for 99% of what I do. The base is small enough that I can clamp it to the front "wing" of the carriage or on the bed's one flat way. I also have the next size up Noga arm but I find it's usually too big to fit on the lathe. I prefer the adjust-at-base version over the adjust-at-tip.

[Bented]

The small one is about 15" tall straight up, the large one is maybe 30" tall straight up.
The magnets are very strong and would hold well enough on small surfaces.

They are however far more expensive then the typical <$20.00 imports

https://www.amazon.com/Noga-Dial-Gage-Holder-Magnetic/dp/B00C6ARLFE/ref=sr_1_16?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuoG87rSU7gIV2sDICh3VNwiWEAAYAyAAEgLUxfD_BwE&hvadid=176319981250&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9003833&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11437445256123608098&hvtargid=kwd-14439066821&hydadcr=12957_9589500&keywords=noga+indicator+base&qid=1610386547&sr=8-16&tag=googhydr-20

[old mart]

My Mitutoyo mag base was on the 25 ton press when the piece of steel I was straightening broke. It had been case hardened much too deeply. The vibration cracked the ceramic magnet inside the base. I peeled off the label surrounding the rotary lever switch and exposed the 4 screws holding the works in place. After removing the works, I was able to remove the bit of magnet that had cracked off the main body of the magnet and the mag base has been working ever since. This type of mag base is a very common design, I have a Draper labeled one that looks identical to the Mitutoyo, badge engineering, I suspect.

[BCRider]

I opted for the cheap imports based on a few YT videos on how well they work and the instructions on how to tune them for when they don't work that well.

I got two, one is the bigger size and the second is mini. The bigger badly needed and greatly benefited by following the YT tuning up tricks. The mini worked fine out of the box.

But both come with absolutely horrid junky tips on the ends of the arms. Yes they do hold my DTI gauges but they aren't pretty by any stretch. I thought that's where Noga would have it all over the cheap ones. But watching a couple of Noga specific videos seemed to show the same thing mentioned by Bented above. So a future project is to design and make a better quality end. Stefan G has a video on making such an end . My plan is to steal some of his ideas but see if I can do something simpler while keeping most of the features.

[old mart]

I have an Indian copy of the Noga, not as good, but cheaper, the fine adjustment mechanism adjacent to the dti leaves a lot to be desired, reengineering, probably when I can get round to doing it.

[Bented]

I opted for the cheap imports based on a few YT videos on how well they work and the instructions on how to tune them for when they don't work that well.

I got two, one is the bigger size and the second is mini. The bigger badly needed and greatly benefited by following the YT tuning up tricks. The mini worked fine out of the box.

But both come with absolutely horrid junky tips on the ends of the arms. Yes they do hold my DTI gauges but they aren't pretty by any stretch. I thought that's where Noga would have it all over the cheap ones. But watching a couple of Noga specific videos seemed to show the same thing mentioned by Bented above. So a future project is to design and make a better quality end. Stefan G has a video on making such an end . My plan is to steal some of his ideas but see if I can do something simpler while keeping most of the features.

The end parts normally last me about 3 months, even when new the spring loaded fine adjustment is barely strong enough to support a 3" diameter drop indicator. Just remove the thumb screw and install a set screw that locks the pivot. The one in the picture is a brand new end and Mitutoyo indicator, I left it atop a steel table next to a lathe when the boss came in on a Saturday and decided to move the furniture around and knocked it onto the floor, nice guy that he is he replaced them promptly (-:

[rdfeil]

You have a boss worth appreciating!!!

[rickyb]

The small one is about 15" tall straight up, the large one is maybe 30" tall straight up.
The magnets are very strong and would hold well enough on small surfaces.

They are however far more expensive then the typical <$20.00 imports
https://www.amazon.com/Noga-Dial-Gag...ag=googhydr-20

My small one is 9” and works for my 10” Logan. Never use the 15” there since I got the 9”. 15” was too large, hence the 9”.

[Bented]

The large one is very heavy, it also did not look quite so big in the pictures when I bought it but is an excellent size for a 25" lathe. I quickly grow weary of moving it off and onto the machine many times per day. I believe that the tube arms are steel rather then aluminum.

[nickel-city-fab]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll be keeping it in mind for a future purchase, probably the 9" mini Noga. I've been holding out for years, but they do seem very easy to use.