Rookie with new PM935... questions/recommendations needed

mike240

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Jul 27, 2017
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I got my 3 axis DROPro DRO kit.

My initial needs are some of your experiences and recommendations for a magnetic base mount and dial indicator. I have heard of weak holding power of some Nogas and questions the stability of the multi elbow and flex arm type. Time is not an issue to me so I really don't care about set up times etc. but being new to this like the idea of solid and simple.

The market can get confusing. I am pretty confident I don't need top of the line but don't trust the cheap stuff. Is there anything trustworthy made somewhere other than China? I am an sponge at this point.

Thanks
 
Mike, I personally prefer the Noga's. Their holding power hanging off the side of a thin sheetmetal thing can be iffy but if you lock it down on a solid metal surface, like a milling table, it is very solid. The articulating arm is the best in the business and is vastly superior to the two piece old stuff. In fact, I have the two arm holders from Mitutoyo and Starrett and none of them come close to the Noga's articulating arm.

For indicators, the very best dial indicators and dial test indicators I have are from Compac. Smooth, tough, reliable and very accurate. Interapid and the top of the line Brown & Sharpe and Tesa are essentially the same level of quality. Mituotoyo is pretty good, too, but not at the level of a Swiss indicator. There are many good indicators from Europe - Mahr for one.

Personally, I would not buy an indicator from China but I'm sure you'll hear from happy users soon.
 
I got my 3 axis DROPro DRO kit.

My initial needs are some of your experiences and recommendations for a magnetic base mount and dial indicator. I have heard of weak holding power of some Nogas and questions the stability of the multi elbow and flex arm type. Time is not an issue to me so I really don't care about set up times etc. but being new to this like the idea of solid and simple.

The market can get confusing. I am pretty confident I don't need top of the line but don't trust the cheap stuff. Is there anything trustworthy made somewhere other than China? I am an sponge at this point.

Thanks

Noga is my third magnetic base and there is nothing I have used that is anywhere close to being easy to set up and stable, plus it has the dovetail holder built in so it offers more mounting options. I just got my first interapid .ooo5 test indicator and it beats all the others I own in many respects, smooth, repeatable, accurate. I also have some Starrett, Mititoyo, and Federal indicators but the Interapid for me is the best. Be careful to look at total travel when choosing an indicator because in my experience the smaller the total travel the harder the indicator is to use, especially in a 4 jaw chuck. If you look at comments from most companies that service and calibrate indicators, they consider the Chinese as throw a ways- Just saying -- Jack
 
The advice Mikey gave you is good. I love Noga holders and have disliked everything else I have used. Quick and solid indicator holders, and mine hold to surfaces very well. I like the B & S BesTest indicators (made in Switzerland) mostly because that is what I have found at good prices used. European indicators are generally good, even the off brands, which are often made by the bigger names.
 
I have 3 nogas that i share with a lathe and a mill, also 2 chinese units that are a big larger. The mags on the nogas are not a problem as long as you do not try to put them in places that they probably should not have been in the first place ha!

I have several dti's mitatoya, some dial indicators from mitatoya, Fowler and a couple cheap Chinese units that refuse to die, so I use them in non critical setups.

Rich
 
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