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Thread: The Versatile "Magic Arm" Clamp
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7th Jul 2019, 10:02 AM #1.
- Join Date
- Nov 2008
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- Perth WA
- Age
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The Versatile "Magic Arm" Clamp
Not the real Manfrotto clamp but a far less expensive and probably more useful Chinese version - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Magic-Arm-S...oAAOSwuxFY4GSz
There are a few variations of these little clamps, some come with additional swivelling jaws, different handles and different thread mounts. They are camera accessories and are typically threaded 1/4", 3/8" BSW or a combination of both.
I've had a couple for quite some time and found one of them handy for attaching a simple centring microscope to my Noga base. The first photo below shows a somewhat cumbersome setup using a real Manfrotto Magic Arm and its clamps to support the scope. The second shows the streamlined Israeli/Chinese combination.
024 (Large).JPG 008 (Large).jpg
Not everyone owns or wants to own a centring microscope but I imagine I'm not the only one who benefits from some form of optical enhancement. Most often I wear a Donegal Optivisor but there are times when it is unsafe to be too close to the action so when I saw Swiss toolmaker, William Brem's nifty loupe holder on his Swiss tool Yahoo group site, it all clicked. William 3D prints his holders and offers them for sale with a good quality ASCO loupe for around 40 Euros plus shipping. Not unreasonable given the price of the loupe - https://www.ebay.com.au/i/1534069369...UaAgTUEALw_wcB
William's holder -
1.jpg 2.jpg 3.jpg
I have three loupes, two Bausch and Lombs and a no name (could be Peak ) Japanese. The later I use in the shed. Possessing neither a 3D printer nor the ability to use one along with an unwillingness to part with over a hundred dollars I sought an alternative. My plan had been to use my shed loupe in conjunction with a cheap Chinese indicator arm on an equally cheap magnetic base, shown here performing alignment duties -
IMG_20190626_121551701.jpg
The magnet isn't overly poweful and I was concerned that with the Chinese clamp attached top heaviness would become an issue. I looked for alternatives such as cheap and light fishing rod holders, cue holders and tent pole clips but nothing I found would suit the loupe's body diameter of 28.5mm.
So then I thought about the Starrett "Flex-O-Post" holder I've had for years but never used because I own a Noga. All it needed was an adaptor from 3/8" round to 1/4" BSW. With the clamp attached it is a versatile combination. Apart from loupe support being able to position the Sunnex lamp on the left side of the mill's spindle will be a huge advantage. Will certainly beat using a torch.
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Inexpensive versatility.
BT
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