MAGNETIC BASES & MAGNET STANDS
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR "Dial Indicator" PAGE
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR "Dial Test Indicator" PAGE
A magnetic base is a magnetic fixture based on a magnet that can effectively be turned "on" and "off" at will; they are often used in optics and metalworking, e.g., to hold a dial indicator.
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The MAGNETIC BASE OR MAGNETIC STAND has a vertical post, side arm and the dial indicator are connected by two swivelling connectors. These connectors allow free movement of the arms so that the indicator can be presented to the work in a suitable orientation. The magnetic base may have a "V" cut into the bottom of the base or the back. This "V" on the magnet base allows the magnet base to be attached to a round bar such as the column of a drill press.
The magnetic base is made from two blocks of iron, with a round cavity bored through the centre. The halves are joined together with a non-ferrous material such as brass or aluminium. A round permanent magnet is inserted into the bored hole and a handle is attached to allow easy rotation of the magnet. This act of rotation changes the position of the magnetic field on the magnet base so that poles are in the two iron halves, where the iron blocks act as keepers (on position), or completely in the non-ferrous core (off position).
In this on position the field is effectively passing across an air gap (at the base and top). If this gap is bridged with another piece of iron (or steel in our case) it becomes part of the magnetic field's circuit and will be attracted with the full strength of the magnet.
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The most popular magnet base that Miller’s Tooling offers is the flexible magnet base, mainly Noga brand. Ideally the smaller magnet base for a dial test indicator can be used upside down in a milling machine to clock up spindle bores, etc. ( Noga NF1030 - mini magnet base). Experience has proven that the cheap magnet bases basically fall to pieces & have too much movement to remain accurate.
We advise to spend a bit extra here and purchase a good quality magnetic base to last you a lifetime.
