Recommeded dial indicator.

[Kalvin]

Looking for a little advice.

I'm looking at buying a dial indicator.

What do you recommend? My first use is to tram my X3 CNC conversion, but will surely need it as I progress farther into this hobby.

It will probably be the only one I buy so my questions are.

1: Brand? I see a previous thread names Asimeto available in Kitchener, Ontario. I'm in Calgary, Alberta. Would prefer to buy in Canada to save shipping , duty, etc.

2: Metric or imperial?
3: Range and graduations?
4: Good idea to get a magnetic base also?
5: Any other things I should be looking out for?
6: Best unit for my money? (I'm flexible on cost. I understand that spending a little more usually gets you better quality that end up saving you in the long run.)

Thank you. Kalvin

[Eurisko]

I use an Interapid indicator. It's Swiss made, and the quality is outstanding. It is technically a thousandths indicator, but each graduation on the dial is half of that, or .0005 inches.

It is very easy to "read between the lines" and increase the resolution to .0001. The indicator's total range is +- .070.

Whatever you decide, don't buy any indicator which has a simple plunger for axial measurements. Get the angled lever type which can be positioned at any angle you need. Great for tramming bores, leveling, etc.

I don't recommend buying a "tenths" (.0001) indicator. I've used them for precision work, but they tend to bounce too much on irregular surfaces. Very difficult to read. Unless you're sweeping a micro-finished surface, the tenths indicators are unusable.

Yes, get a magnetic base. You can get those quite cheap. A good indicator won't be.

[Kalvin]

Thankyou Eurisko for the time to comment.

I looked into the Interapid indicators after reading your post. Is yours a 74.111965 312B-15 model?

It seems to meet your description.

I just missed a used one being sold at a repair shop here in Canada.
http://www.precisiontoolworks.com/sales.html

regards, Kalvin

[vlmarshall]

I use Brown & Sharpe .0001" indicators both at home and work. In the shop I use the tenths indicator so much it has it's own 40taper toolholder. I also have a .001" B&S on a Noga, but a hardly use it... and a like-new Interrapid .0005" in it's case in my toolbox.
One of my old .0001's has come home with me as a hobby indicator.

The tenths indicator is a great tool, I can't imagine working without it.

Anyway, you asked about magnetic bases. Check out the Noga, the best single-knob locking system I've seen on a base. Worth every penny extra if you ask me. ;D

[hkrok]

You can use ours indicator