How a Manfrotto-style magic arm clone works.

[@poopandfartjokes]

Big Clive’s voice is so soothing I could listen to him read my End User License Agreement

[@Tom_YouTube_stole_my_handle]

Thumbs up somehow feels like a risky affirmation.

[@jacobkaplan-davis5150]

I highkey wanna see him do this

[@waluigishazz5100]

Why on earth aren't we funding this?

[@firstmkb]

"And now, here are some soothing tales of the EULA for your bedtime tale. Right... OK..."

[@jethrohetero4990]

Comment censoring puke

[@PaulSteMarie]

Looks like a clone of a Noga indicator mount, with a clamp instead of a mag base.

[@jostouw4366]

It's a screw on the end that can be screwed into a mag base or anything else you fancy

[@firstmkb]

Bonus points for anyone who identifies the original innovator.

[@perolozac01]

This turned out to be one of those things I didn't know I needed.

[@Anvilshock]

In the shopping cart it goes!

[@alyks6312]

Same, off to AliExpress we go.

[@DaftdogUK]

I've had a couple of these for two-three years now. They are so useful! I will admit that, although I often thought "isn't this a clever design, I wonder how it works?", I've never crossed the threshold into "let's take this apart". Thanks Clive for yet another informative and entertaining video.

[@jaaxxone]

Came to YT to find out how my favorite bit of photo kit works. Absolutely delighted to find that Clive had me covered!

[@czechmate741]

Manfrotto: Wouldn't want to rub him up the wrong way.

[@bostedtap8399]

Frottage, very clever. LOL.

[@MyTubeSVp]

VERY deep ! 😉

[@CanizaM]

That name is just far too close to "man frottage"... and as a bonus this video is full of other innuendo.

[@deltab9768]

Yesterday, I asked "is there something wrong with me or with the word man frotto?" Today I know the answer: both.

[@primrosedelfont3941]

If rub him up the wrong way, he might get the hump.

[@mahmudali853]

Clive, I love you man!
Not only do you show and explain cool things to us, you provide us a way of buying it with no financial benefit to yourself.
Keep it up

[@joshonthetube]

In the machinist world, Noga makes a high quality verison of this. I have one of those and it's definitely nicer than the ebay clones (but of course it costs more). There are other versions, like the Swiss-made "Fisso" brand, which might be the originator of the design, i'm not sure.

[@TheAechBomb]

I was gonna say, I've seen these before in a cnc shop

[@macro820]

Abom uses one all the time for indicating

[@TheAechBomb]

@longtreeroad *P A T R E O N*

[@rlsimpso]

I have two Noga and a cheap one of this type. Noga is the best of this type I have used.

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Yes the noga gear is A1 quality ! If you look at Stefan gotteswinter channel he makes his own indicator stand using some noga components and some shop made parts - i think it is the most solid indicator stand i have ever seen !

[@drunkenhobo8020]

Hey Clive, there's a typo in the description of your previous video where you turned the comments off:
"Comments are now disabled on this video because of extreme cult-like behaviour."
It's only one letter off but it makes a big difference.

[@speedzter]

thanks so much for making this! i accidentally took mine apart and your video was the only one that explained how the inside is structured. youre a lifesaver 🙏🙏

[@footrotdog]

If you ever watch machinist channels like Abom79 and ThisOldTony, you'll see that they use these style of arms all the time to hold indicator dials, except instead of a superclamp, the arms mount to their turning machines with an switchable magnet mount. They refer to them as Noga arms or Nogaflex arms.

[@jostouw4366]

We call them a mag base

[@kevinmartin7760]

A mag base may not necessarily have the articulated arms. The term just refers to the switchable magnetic base, regardless of what's mounted on them.
I don't think the machinists' ones have the serrations on the middle elbow but I can't be sure as I haven't worked up the courage to pay for one!

[@MyTubeSVp]

Noga is a brand. They cost an arm AND a leg.
www.noga.com

[@markp5726]

@@kevinmartin7760 Yeah, the ones I used years ago to indicate grinder quills to +- a few microns were far too smooth to have serrations like that. I suspect they used hardened ground steel against tough plastic to get the nice, linear increase in friction as you tighten it.

[@Tzupaack]

Out of curiousity I checked the Noga site ( like a kid in an expensive candyshop...), and funnily enough there is a clamp which is basically the same like the superclamp just the threaded inserts are on the side in the two threaded pivots. And the grabby parts are swiveled as well. www.noga.com/prdPics/CS4550_prd_img.jpg

[@RedFathom]

machinists also use these for dial indicators. great with magnetic bases.

[@chuckphilpot7756]

Haha damn I should have read further. Reminds me of a few of my Nogas just shittier built.

[@enpeemac]

Ha, you beat me to it. I'm no machinist but love to watch Mr Pete & Adam Booth. Noga is the brand of choice apparently.

[@jasonjones7321]

As a machinist I will agree nogas are the best, plus they have a couple variants for adjustment, Fine at tip, and fine at base

[@gabest4]

I just noticed it in ABom79's latest video, he uses it all the time.

[@enpeemac]

@@gabest4 Funny how people tend to subscribe to the same unrelated TH-camrs. Big Clive, Abomb79, Tubslcain, Roadking, Hubnut, Marty.... Must be something intangible that links many of us.

[@josuelservin]

I always wondered how those arms work, I saw them first in a dial indicator and never seen the camera ones, definitely going to get one. Thanks for the explanation!

[@Muskoheim]

I can't think of why I would need one of these. I'll order 3.

[@Palerider1942]

I have been in the Theatre/broadcast industry for about 8 years now as one of the logistical support for a Hires company, untill i watched your vids about the products like this and the smoke machines and other equipment i couldnt understand how they worked. so thank you, a lot. when you take them apart and explain them all the tech seems so simple :)

[@robertclark8351]

Reminds me of those 'collapsing monkey' toys that were around when I was a kid.

[@eltekto824]

Clive discovered a dial indicator stand... wait when he finds out abut the switchable mag base :-)

[@railgap]

Yeah, I saw the key frame and thought, "hand on, didn't Noga invent that?"

[@kosir1234]

@@railgap arent noga ones hydraulic?

[@vinny142]

"wait when he finds out abut the switchable mag base"
Imagine if he ever sees a tit!

[@irfp460]

@@kosir1234 No, they also just mechanical. The Hörger & Gässler ones are hydraulic.

[@kosir1234]

@@irfp460 funny, our at workplace are hydraulic, but not sure how old they are...

[@gromett]

I bought a couple of those years ago and used them briefly before they went in the drawer. I never even considered how they worked. Wow, That is simple but elegantly engineered. Very impressed.
Thanks for sharing Clive.

[@sparkyprojects]

I also have one of those, i use it on the end of a heavy duty anglepoise lamp arm, it supports my canon camcorder just fine.
The clamp has a left and right hand thread btw, that's why it moves so quick.

[@BedsitBob]

0:21 "In its relaxed state, the thing is just all wobbly and loose." 😁

[@MattBrunton1965]

6:47 "pushes the balls up to lock the rod at the end"

[@BedsitBob]

@@MattBrunton1965 That sounds very painful.

[@SittingDuc]

7:55 Clive's rod goes rigid as he presses on the end

[@jonrpearce]

Top innuendo bingo from Clive as usual.

[@DjRavine]

The Manfrotto comes in a knob version like this as well. However both lever and knob Manfrottos are significantly bigger and also take a much heavier load. The clamp is also a completely different design. It’d be great if you could get an actual Manfrotto unit to compare.

[@messylaura]

the manfrotto one has a ball bearing in the part that has the shamfer in this one,i have both the manfrotto magic arms and the 11 inch small rig 'magic arms', both are great, the manfrotto one being for the heavier stuff and the small rig i use on small lights for macro

[@nerdydev]

Send him one ravine!

[@Savagetechie]

I'd never even thought of looking for knockoff magic arms. Definitely need to get a couple of them... well when we have gigs again.

[@chuckphilpot7756]

Andrew Savage Noga

[@Savagetechie]

@@chuckphilpot7756 oh yeah, like an indicator base.. admittedly my only indicator base was about as cheap as the product being discussed in the video.

[@tlarrart]

Brillant ! One of my kids disassemble it. This video has been very helpfull to put the right pieces at the right places. Thanks for that !

[@stefantrethan]

These Noga arms make great positioners for soldering and probing and stuff, with a weighted base as a foot.
If you do not like the toothed joint in the middle you can assemble it with the tothed side out and have a smooth action for fine positioning at lighter loads.

[@jply87]

Well that is now going to be my new phone holder for the car!

[@plunder1956]

I never got a Manfrotto one for stills or video work when I first saw them. But these cheap ones look useful. Good idea - thanks.

[@BruceBoschek]

I have one of these kicking around and was not aware of how useful it can be. Thanks!

[@unh0lyav3ng3r8]

Purchased immediately before watching the video..

[@TheAngryAstronomer]

Been meaning to get one of these for years. Last time I check they we're in the 20 quid range. Thanks to this video I have one on the way for a tenner coming via slow boat.

[@darylcheshire1618]

I hope you got it now

[@TheAngryAstronomer]

@@darylcheshire1618 I do. I've had it for a fair while now. It's had a good few jobs. Not the greatest quality and complete with penned in scratches but for what it costs it's handy to have about.

[@darylcheshire1618]

@@TheAngryAstronomer I have to convert pounds to AUD, so a 13 pound clamp is about $26.

[@TheDreamHazard]

Watched this video when it was first uploaded, forgot these existed, built a lighting and camera rig for livestreaming, and here I am again... Just bought two of these to see if they'll suit my needs :D

[@phaberest_]

The mechanics behind this are pure genius!

[@Blowcrafter]

the original superclamps are really incredibly well built. I used to work at a hotel by the seaside (the disco terrasse was literally on the beach) and as you would expect we had insane problems with rusting of everything (including some low quality aluminium trussing suprisingly) and the only thing that was still there from the opening in 2004 (at least i was told so) were the superclamps, the outdoor trussing, and the outdoor par cans

[@arthurgarthur]

It's like the goose neck from an older bicycle. How handlebars and forks lock together.

[@Ralphs-House]

Top tip Clive. Always been a problem for me on my channel finding a suitable clamp. Ordered one!! Thanks :)

[@Black3ternity]

Nice. I own one of these and got them off amazon because I needed a way to hold my drop-kit for photography.
First thing I immediately did after receiving it: Being puzzled on how it worked. Tore it down and learned how it works. This is a genius piece of kit.

[@cobralyoner]

Hey Clive, Superclamps from Manfrotto generally are the 035 Superclamp for 5/8 or 16mm Pins, also the Magic Arm with the locking leaver are the big ones with 5/8 Pins (143N) but the better ones also have the Knob for tightening (244N). The small „Superclamp“ from Manfrotto is called the Nanoclamp (386B-1). When it comes to the Small Clamps an Magicarms I think Manfrotto doesn’t have anything going for them anymore, they just don’t get you that much more for the price compared to what SmallRig or other companies get you. Thanks for the great video (:

[@RustyTube]

Very informative. I have the one from Manfrotto and was puzzled how the one knob can lock/unlock everything, Now, thanks to you, I know. 🍸📷👍

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

I'm pretty certain this design came from dial indicator clamps as used by machinists for mill and lathe work. Very cool stuff! Stay healthy, Clive!

[@leonardodutra8787]

Noga arms. They have a line for photography also.

[@PIXscotland]

I bought a few of these from eBay a long time ago. They're all still good and well worth the money when mounting small led lights and cameras. If you're careful with the weight they're safe enough for me.

[@themerrigans2734]

So glad you took that apart. Would have lost sleep trying to figure that out.

[@lets-find-out]

this video really helped me to re-assemble the magic arm i am using after at came apart by mistake,,,, thank you

[@licensetodrive9930]

I've not seen these before, but when you showed all the parts being loose and free and then tightened the center screw which locked everything into place I pretty much instantly 'got it' before you showed the diagram of the chamfers & rods inside to press the ball joints against the ends.
Genius design. I'll remember this for if I ever need really flexible camera mounts.

[@beefchicken]

The handle on the clamp started spinning on the shaft on mine, it was basically glued on, I drilled a hole and pinned it.
Also I made a small cylindrical bushing for inside the clamp joint that keeps the two halves in alignment when they’re being moved around. I thought mine was missing it, but I see yours doesn’t have it either. It’s much less sloppy feeling with the bushing (or ‘bush’ for the British, apparently).

[@faumnamara5181]

Clive - I just watched this vid and it auto played your solder v lead solder vid from 2016. Your voice has changed a lot, Just like you have gone through puberty ! I actually thought was someone else the voice was so different. Very cool clampy frottage super clamp.

[@FranklyPeetoons]

I was not aware there were cheap-but-dandy knockoffs of these expensive things. Now I know about them. THANKS!

[@wallmartkiller]

What a great video explaining the inner workings

[@nitehawk86]

I have a few of these clamps, they are pretty handy. I call the heads "t-rex" clamps, because they kind of remind me of them. I like to use one to clamp on to the leg of a tripod for an extra camera.

[@jimmomary]

Hi BigClive, you have a most interesting channel. I realize I am responding to an older video. In your comment about this articulating arm you mention that the Manfrotto has a lever rather than a knob. Actually, they have both a lever version and a knob version. The lever version is called a 244 Variable Friction Clamp whereas their knob version is called the 244 Micro Friction Clamp. B&H's website will be able to show both. The former is twice the size of the latter, so they are not the same. I guess it depends upon what you need to support. I have two of these off-branded one I found on bay and they do work quite well. All the best from the US, Jim.

[@MarpleSteve]

Hi Big Clive. I’m a 5G sceptic and really appreciated the content and clarity of your recent video - thank you! Comments were disabled so I’m really hoping you might pick up this comment followed by separate comments to ask you some specific questions which may help me spread truth as I certainly deplore any attack on hardware or engineers.....

[@shrikedecil]

You haven't realized just how rigid these Noga/Manfrotto higher tier ones can be until you've locked one down with a 1/10,000" indicator.

[@chuckphilpot7756]

Shrike DeCil ummm who writes .0001" as 1/10,000" lol. New in machining? Don't use fractions. Unless You are converting them from a drawing to decimal.

[@chuckphilpot7756]

Dusty 99 The ASME as well as ANSI and ISO. Dumb fuck. Clearly you aren't a machinist or You would have just shut the fuck up and agreed.

[@chuckphilpot7756]

Dusty 99 Why not take the dumbassery one step further and say it is
8000/80,000,000?
Or 90/900,000?
I think I can speak for every intelligent machinist when I say that we collectively hate fractions.
Machines do not input fractions, and neither do the tools we measure with. So you are converting to fraction just to convert back.
What an asinine idea.
Who died and let such an un-intelligent human into this world?
Funny how even the indicator says 1 division equals .0001. But I'm sure you two r3tards are saying it correctly and the whole machining community as well as mitutoyo and starrett are the one s who are wrong.
Kill yourself dumb cunt.
Stick to what you are good at, sticking macaroni to paper and making bead necklaces.
Leave the inportant tasks to those of us capable of critical thinking.

[@july8xx]

​@@chuckphilpot7756 Boy you are one pedantic nasty A-Hole, and when he wrote 1/10000 which is what every machinist I have worked with would SAY and as a mater of fact most of them would SAY one tenth when working with ten thousands. These are just you tube comments and the majority of viewers knew exactly what he was SAYING this is not a Doctorial thesis being written here.

[@tubeDude48]

Thanks Clive...I bought a set before Ebay runs out of them!

[@joaojotta64]

Here I was wondering how those ends would tighten. Great video! Thanks!

[@UpcycleElectronics]

I had no idea these are a thing. Thanks!

[@robroysyd]

These are clones of a Noga product as many have pointed out. The Manfrotto product is designed more for holding a small camera.
Have a few of these clones in my kit bag and I prefer them to the Noga product as the Chinese offering is powder coated whereas the Noga has little to no rust protection.
I also keep a few Manfrotto "Superclamps" in the kit for when I need to clamp onto handrails and such. The Superclamp has 1/4" and 3/8" tapped holes as well as a socket for a Baby Pin. Uber handy. :)

[@STONEDay]

Drilled a hole in my desk and used the hotshoe foot as a low profile bolt to mount it to my desk. Very handy tool that tucks out of way when not needed. The ones I've taken to bits were all slightly different. You get a bit more clamping force on the ones that have needle bearings & washer on the nut instead of just a couple of washers. Good to make sure the serrations are aligned/seated before clamping down it's been my common fail point.

[@geirendre]

I bought one of this on Ebay yesterday, cheapest I could find at 5 GBP + shipping, today the order was canceled by the seller and the price of one unit is now 12.50 GBP.
Guess that's the "BigCliveDotCom-effect" :-)

[@AJB2K3]

I used one to hold a studio light above a desk.
amazing for its price.

[@Diehard4077]

Work/project light?

[@AJB2K3]

@@Diehard4077 lighting the area for filming

[@jaylittleton1]

Ooh, I like that. I'd used expensive versions decades ago for machining applications, but had forgotten about them, and this makes it nicely affordable for the hobbyist.
The wedge-cylinder pushing a pin does go back hundreds, perhaps thousands of years in China.

[@databanks]

Thank you, I know several people who really could do with these. Fascinating to see how deceivingly simple they are inside

[@greaser5691]

I always thought the threads were 1/4" or 3/8" whitworth, because that's what I could get easily and it fitted in my cameras (Australia is 46 years into metrication and we're only now starting to see metric get similar shelf space to imperial size fasteners at the big-box shops). I recently read that the Royal Photographic Society originally specified tripod screw threads as 3/16", 1/4", and 3/8" whitworth, but the current ISO standards (1222 - yes, there is an ISO standard for tripod threads!!!!) specify the US 1/4" or 3/8" UNC (unified national coarse = 1/4-20 and 3/8-16 respectively). The UNC 60deg and whitworth 55deg threadforms are close enough to fit and, as the UNC standard was originally derived from whitworth, the pitches are the same. I have a surveyor's tripod, the screw is 5/8" -11.

[@lawrencegsobczak2077]

5/8-11 is to make sure you buy an OEM tripod.

[@greaser5691]

5/8"-11 is the general standard for surveying instruments like dumpy levels and theodolites (and 5/8" whitworth fits on this also - I welded a 3/8BSW bolt head onto a 5/8" BSW nut to adapt it to a Manfrotto 3way head) :)

[@lawrencegsobczak2077]

@@greaser5691 That is very interesting. I wonder why a third standard never caught on for film and TV. Large broadcast lenses would have benefitted from this.

[@RealUnimportant]

The "superclamp" is just a wider footprint test tube clamp... Clever piece of repurposing, I had that idea ages ago and actually use a laboratory surplus clamp as a phone holder in my car.

[@GlennHamblin]

That's awesome! Thanks Clive.

[@kernedahusky]

Also similar to RAM mounts we've been using in public safetly for years.

[@hamjudo]

Based on googling RAM Mount...
The RAM Mount product line started with a straight arm that clamps onto balls at each end. They don't seem to have any mounts with the floppy hinge in the middle that stiffens when the balls tighten.
They have several catalogs depending on the target market. Key locks are options for much of the factory floor products. I suspect stuff designed to be mounted on a wheelchair is designed to be easily cleaned. Hopefully, the motor cycle mounts can handle a lot of vibration.
It is an impressive product line.

[@roberthorwat6747]

Just the very thing I didn't know I needed. Thanks for including the search link Clive. To ebay with all speed!👍

[@jabelsjabels]

I love these and I've always wondered how they worked, thanks for showing us!

[@mywindow9929]

Everyone else is spending thousands on a recording studio but, I prefer your setup of $1 LED's, $15 camera mount and an old $200 phone with a $10 particle board background. Thanks BigGuy for showing another way with a respectable return on investment.

[@bigclivedotcom]

Hey 20W floodlights and the finest MDF.

[@pjm999]

Hi bigclive....it is a pity we will not get to see your amazing work at Edinburgh this year, but we will be optimistic that next years will be even more amazing.....

[@bigclivedotcom]

It was going to be the Platinum anniversary too. Going by the extra days on the load in they had something special planned.

[@pjm999]

@@bigclivedotcom next year hopefully. Thanks for the interesting videos. 👏

[@Kezat]

Just last week I setup a cheap test Indicator holder as a helping hand. It is very similar to this, I added a clothespin with one side of the jaw cut shorter. It been my best "helping hand" for electronics yet!
Lets you actually apply some pressure to what your working on unlike the useless ones with alligator clips and a magnifying glass.

[@TATICMOOR]

Wow, that is very clever indeed and if attached to a shelf overhead it will make a great multi-angle video camera rack. That item should help to record your workbench footage with ease. So I am going to have to get one of these if I want to start a video channel myself. Cheers Big Clive and I am now heading off on to go and try and get one... Jay.

[@fluffycritter]

These look pretty great. I've been doing a bit more video production lately and this would be a lot easier to deal with than my traditional tripod. Definitely going to pick up a couple of these!

[@richardwathen7627]

Don't.. buy a Manfrotto Magic Arm

[@escwire7755]

Manfrotto also has models with a knob like that for tightening. But then they call it a "variable friction arm" (there's nothing magic about it anymore). The models with the lever has more clear "locked or unlocked"-characteristic while the models with the knob can be left in a position that is high friction but not quite locked. That allows for a slight bit of adjustability without having to loosen and tighten the knob.

[@jwatkins5155]

We've got hundreds of magic arms at work, outside broadcasting, we have some very old ones that have a knob instead of the lever, much better sometimes there just isn't enough room for the lever to move in confined spaces.

[@johnmorgan1629]

Thanks for the showing us this Clive, it will work great as a camera/phone mount for my wheelchair when I'm out and about so I can take some steadier shots, but still fit in pocket so it's not in way when not needed. Looks like bank accounts going to take a hit.
Already looked online for one, Manfrotto have both styles now, the quick lever style lock and the style of lock shown here.

[@iryssteel]

something I've done to all my non-branded Noga arms is file flats just behind the screw head. Preferably those flats are 10mm apart like on actual Noga arms which makes tightening and loosening the attachment to objects much easier and more secure.
I'm not personally a fan of the arms with rosettes in the middle like your's. The moment those are overcome a tooth or 10 rounds and they don't tighten down as strongly. Designs that accommodate a washer for clamping force last much longer and are way easier to repair.

[@briansrcadventures1316]

The double entendre is strong in this video! "In it's relaxed state the thing is all wobbly and loose" :-o oo-err!

[@catfish552]

So many nuts, shafts, and balls on this device...

[@RyeOnHam]

Got one on order. Much better than what I'm using now.

[@thankfuly]

Very nice video. Was looking to buy one of these but was wondering how these wobbly joint would hold together with only one screw in the middle. Just enjoyed watching this video. Such a soothing voice ^_^

[@MikkoRantalainen]

Manfrotto sells magic arms with both the clamp action and the screw action. I believe pro usage is to use the clamp for lights and screw for camera.

[@whirled_peas]

Never had the balls to take mine apart so, thanks.

[@percival23]

Love the channel. Every now & then he says something and sounds like Ser Davos Seaworth.

[@pileofstuff]

I'd been meaning to get one of these. Hopefully the "Big Clive effect" hasn't buggered up the prices on ebay yet...

[@bigclivedotcom]

The search link in the description lists from the cheapest including shipping first, so any seller who puts their price up slips further down the pile.

[@pileofstuff]

@@bigclivedotcom Thank you, sir!

[@unh0lyav3ng3r8]

Yeah, this happened last time. Ordered one from the description link as soon as the notification arrived..

[@jasonjones7321]

If the photo versions are too pricy look up the noga versions for holding indicators for machining, I have several in my box I use at work almost daily

[@jimthesoundman8641]

Very clever. I do a lot of woodworking and can think of a million ways to use this in that realm also, most notably using it to hold a vacuum/dust extraction port on a sander or drill press, or using it to hold a light on a bandsaw, etc. I think I'll buy one right now, in fact.

[@wbfaulk]

I watched one of your videos recently where you were struggling with your alligator-clip third hand for soldering some small components. Have you ever considered equipping a couple of these with alligator clips to use as a third and fourth hand? They do a good job of holding things exactly where they were when you tightened the handle. Seems like it'd be pretty easy to use these to hold fiddly components while soldering.

[@creatorgenerator1998]

Thanks. Just ordered one from an eBay seller while watching your review.

[@theturtlemoves3014]

Manfrotto do both the handle and knob versions. The manfrotto versions use a bearing ball in a shaped recess rather than the chamfer described here. It's all very clever.

[@timothystevenhoward]

love it, very clever mechanical design

[@supercritical5582]

I love it when he show us his doodle

[@mysock351C]

It's a circular spring clip. Popular since they can just be pressed into place provided the bore has a chamfer, but its usually a one-way trip unless a suitable slot has been put in. Really annoying to get out if you have to take one out of something and the slot isn't there.

[@jsirianni7]

I really appreciated you taking the time to explain this. I just purchased one of these for my mic and was extremely impressed with the versatility and articulation. Then, curiosity got the better of me and I wondered how, by just adjusting the turn knob, did the rest of the arms and end-points tighten like that? I really appreciate the drawing and the video!

[@this_time_imperfect]

I have a couple of those, for a knock off they are very good but the original Manfrotto ones are a work of art and worth the money if you work professionally.

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Nice thanks Clive, just what I need. That type of clamp is called kant clamp.

[@FabriDragon]

They also make a hydraulic version, it basically replaces the rods with oil and locking “plugs” at both ends. GoPro bought a couple mounts off me that I made using 3 of the swivel arms attached to the GoPro housing with suction cup feet mainly for using on racecars for very stable high speed video.

[@Diehard4077]

I use this same style clone with a "photography" light like one Adam Savage showcased as his shop lights
For my desk/working light because of the brightness/temperature control

[@randomrud]

Looks like a really useful thing when making videos.

[@StreuB1]

I believe that Noga were the original patent holders for the single adjustment point articulated arm.

[@Alan_AB]

......sold. Thanks for sharing

[@muffenme]

thanks Clive, I just order 1.

[@SomeMorganSomewhere]

Jesus clip. They call them that when you're removing them they're pretty much guaranteed to go flying across the shop, usually into a pile of swarf that looks exactly the same as the clip but is razor sharp, which generally precipitates great deals of profanity (it's a rather old fashioned name admittedly)
Not sure whether it was Manfrotto or Noga who came up with it first, can't really be bothered digging for patents ;)

[@mysock351C]

Actually looks to be non-removable spring clip. Real bastard to get out. Had to rebuild automotive lifters and they used these to hold the cross-pin in for the roller followers, but the ring was recessed into place. Had to use a diamond burr to make my own slot to be able to pry it out.

[@markfergerson2145]

I thought that was the name helicopter pilots gave the fictional clip that holds the blades on. (When it comes loose you have just about enough time to say "Jesus!" before your unplanned landing.)

[@emilychb6621]

@@markfergerson2145 It doesn't look like calling it a Jesus pin is made up:
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_nut
Unless that whole article and it's sources were posted on April the first.
And Jesus clips are called circlips or snap ring.
Those are different things though, but they have in common that they are a single point of failure.
If the main rotor retaining nut fails, you are going to fall.
If a snap ring fails, whatever they are holding on will move, like a sprocket, which will typically cause it to work itself apart very fast and destroy the sprockets etc it's holding on.
If it fails on a pin and tumbler lock, the key would pull out the core, and the pins would go flying.

[@czechmate741]

Well, if you lost one on Friday, it should turn up again today.

[@markfergerson2145]

@@czechmate741 I C wut U did there.
BOOOOOOOOO!