Dial indicator stand

Measuring stands and tripods hold an instrument in a fixed, repeatable position, for quality inspectors and technicians who measure hardness, surface roughness or temperature without hand movement creeping into the reading. They are part of the measuring accessories, including test leads, sensors and gauge blocks.

A stand is always made for a particular device or series. There are stands for Shore A and Shore D hardness testers, granite tripods for Surftest roughness testers, tripods with a ceramic base and mounting stands for thermal imaging cameras. Check the type number or series of your instrument in the product name before you choose: a Shore A hardness tester needs a different stand from a Shore D one, and a roughness tester only fits the tripod of its own series.

Why a stand? Contact force and angle stay the same, so readings from different operators and on different days remain comparable. A granite or ceramic base is heavy, dimensionally stable and damps vibration. With a thermal imaging camera, a fixed setup lets you inspect the same installation at regular intervals from the same position. The brands in this category are Mitutoyo and Fluke.