I'm looking at getting a co-axial centering indicator for work. They range from $100 to $900. I'm not interested in spending a lot since it's my money and the place I work won't buy one. I found those 2 around $250-280ish. They look identical too. Any thoughts are welcome.
SPI or Fowler... Discuss amongst yourselfs
- Thread starter LarryFahn
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seber
Well-known member
Both companies are resellers and often sell the same tool with their own name. In most cases that will be made in China.
RoninB4
Well-known member
-Never owned or cared to own a co-ax. They take up too much of the "Z" space most of the time. Unless this is for a spindle that's ALWAYS perpendicular (Bridgeport types are not) then any deviation from perpendicular is location error. Further more, cranking up/down the knee to get the tooling closer/farther from the work results in locational error too. If you have a bed mill or a jig borer then spindle sine error is either there or it isn't.
I have about a dozen indicators but almost always used either vertical or horizontal Interapid models at the machine or on the surface plate with an appropriate holder.
Don't care for those dual indicator tramming tools either, doesn't seem enough of a time saver to warrant the price.
As for your original question, they do look about the same and are probably from the same COO (Chi-Wan) company. Decades ago SPC and Fowler used to be different companies. The sourcing changed, along with the QC, and they aren't very highly regarded now as they once were. I have plenty of other useless opinions regarding machine shop topics that are guaranteed to bore any audience. JMO
I have about a dozen indicators but almost always used either vertical or horizontal Interapid models at the machine or on the surface plate with an appropriate holder.
Don't care for those dual indicator tramming tools either, doesn't seem enough of a time saver to warrant the price.
As for your original question, they do look about the same and are probably from the same COO (Chi-Wan) company. Decades ago SPC and Fowler used to be different companies. The sourcing changed, along with the QC, and they aren't very highly regarded now as they once were. I have plenty of other useless opinions regarding machine shop topics that are guaranteed to bore any audience. JMO
I have a Shars co-axial indicator and I have been pleased with it except when the locking screw stripped out. I just tapped it for a bigger hole and used an Allen screw bolt. It's looks just like the Fowler one but the dial is completely white.
vanapplebomb
Well-known member
Depending on the operation, I quite like them. Sometimes they don’t quite cut it for absolute precision, but when I only care about centering up on features within a few thou, coax indicators are awesome.
The numbers on that style of coax don’t mean anything, it’s just a relative gauge, and you shoot for the minimum needle movement.
I would say get the fowler, just because the service is better than SPI, in my experience. I have used less expensive ones with pretty much the same result.
The numbers on that style of coax don’t mean anything, it’s just a relative gauge, and you shoot for the minimum needle movement.
I would say get the fowler, just because the service is better than SPI, in my experience. I have used less expensive ones with pretty much the same result.
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As said Fowler & SPI mostly just rebrands stuff these days. As far as I know SPI was bought by MSC & is considered one of their house brands now. I don't think Folwer is but you'll find much of the same exact products from Fowler & SPI.
Their co-ax indicators are just rebranded generics, made in China. Buy from whatever vendor you can find that is the cheapest. If you buy one with a known popular name brand you'll just be paying more but they might offer you some kind of warranty or support if needed.
I personally just waited patiently & searched ebay until I found a Blake for a great deal. Mine was practically brand new & I paid $140, at the time was cheaper than a Fowler or SPI. I think you can find generics ones these days for about $100. I hear the arm on generics can break pretty easy though so be sure not to bottom it out or hit it by accident.
Their co-ax indicators are just rebranded generics, made in China. Buy from whatever vendor you can find that is the cheapest. If you buy one with a known popular name brand you'll just be paying more but they might offer you some kind of warranty or support if needed.
I personally just waited patiently & searched ebay until I found a Blake for a great deal. Mine was practically brand new & I paid $140, at the time was cheaper than a Fowler or SPI. I think you can find generics ones these days for about $100. I hear the arm on generics can break pretty easy though so be sure not to bottom it out or hit it by accident.
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vanapplebomb
Well-known member
Fowler is their own thing, and has a massive range of metrology products. I get their catalogs and flyers in the mail. They have everything from cheap import products, to state of the art top of the line equipment. It’s a little odd they have such a wide spread of products. Good support though. I like dealing with them.