Comparison between
TS-Aligner Jr. and
Infinitii
Introduced in 1995, TS-Aligner Jr. was specifically designed for homeshop woodworking machinery. To this day it remains the premiere alignment tool for the homeshop woodworker.
Pricing
Infinitii TS-Aligner Jr. Base Model $unknown $133.46 Spindle Rod Not available Included Offset Bar Not available Included Instructional Video Not available Included Angle Attachment Gage Not available Included Dial Indicator
Included $13.60 - $169.38 Total: $unknown $147.06 - $302.84 I could not find Infinitii on the BC Ames web site and it's been many years since I purchased my Infinitii. It could very well be that I now own a collector's item! The accessories that I've listed provide parity in features and functionality between the two products.
What is included
I own the Infinitii and will use my own photos for this review.
Infinitii consists of two brass bars connected at right angles. A custom dial indicator is mounted on the longer bar which is called the "Alignment Bar". The mounting is unique and the dial indicator is not intended to be removed. It's also not possible to substitute a standard dial indicator. The shorter bar is called the "Miter Bar" and is available in two sizes: 3/4" and an optional 5/8". It is used for miter slot guidance. The brass is bare and has no protective finish.
Small adjustments can be made to the width of the Miter Bar to provide a tight fit in the miter slot. The ends of the bar are slotted and set screws are arranged to spread the gap as they are tightened.
Infinitii comes with a 16 page printed manual illustrated with line drawings. Also included is a separate card with a tangent table and a chart for converting fractions to decimal.
This is the box that my Infinitii came in. It contains a die cut foam insert for the Infinitii.
The stylus tip on Infinitii is designed to be exactly one inch from the table surface. The position of the dial indicator on the Alignment Bar is fixed so that angles can be measured using simple one inch trigonometry. The bottom front edge of the Alignment bar is used as the reference for these measurements. There are no calibration instructions and no adjustments for the position or tilt of the dial indicator. I tested the accuracy of these angle measurements on my unit and found them to be off by six thousandths of an inch (about 1/3 of a degree).
Comparison of standard features:
This section compares the features and functionality of Infinitii with the TS-Aligner Jr.
Miter slot guidance and Base
TS-Aligner Jr. uses a unique three bearing system for miter slot guidance. It can be adjusted to fit any slot from 5/8" to 7/8", providing a play free fit that is extremely accurate and smooth. The Miter Bar on Infinitii is designed to fit only one size of miter slot (3/4" or the optional 5/8"). The soft brass wears easily against the cast iron side of the miter slot.The base on TS-Aligner Jr. provides a great deal of stability. Infinitii's Alignment Bar is only 3/4" wide and must be held carefully to prevent rocking.
Dial Indicator
TS-Aligner Jr. uses a standard AGD Group 2 dial indicator with a 1/4" lug back. You can use your own or choose from a very wide variety of brands and models. The dial indicator on Infinitii is custom made. It is not designed to be removed and cannot be used with standard dial indicator accessories. It cannot be replaced.
Angle measurement
TS-Aligner uses the dial indicator in conjunction with the Angle Attachment Gage in two methods for measuring angles. It takes advantage of basic trigonometry to achieve remarkable accuracy. A tangent table is included to translate dial indicator readings to angular measurements. Optional angle blocks and can be used to further increase accuracy and ease of use. This degree of accuracy is necessary for cutting precise, tight fitting miter joints without the need for test cuts.Infinitii uses a similar technique to measure angles. It depends on the accuracy of the factory mounting of the dial indicator and the machining of the front bottom edge of the Alignment Bar. There are no user adjustments for dial indicator position or tilt. Angle blocks could be used to increase accuracy and ease of use but the manual contains no instructions for doing this.
User's Manual
TS-Aligner Jr. comes with an extensive 44 page printed manual full of photos and illustrations. Infinitii comes with 16 page printed manual illustrated with line drawings.Features included with TS-Aligner Jr. but not available for Infinitii
Offset Bar
This feature allows measurements to be made very close to the table surface (about 1/4"), enhancing the accuracy of blade alignment and making precise adjustments to the miter gauge much easier. The position of the dial indicator on Infinitti is fixed. The stylus is designed to be one inch from the table surface. It cannot be changed. An offset bar is not available.
Spindle Rod and Upright Bar
The Spindle Rod is used to make measurements on machines with spindles. The Upright Bar converts TS-Aligner Jr. into a height gage. Neither function is available for Infinitii.
Height gage functions
Using the Upright Bar, TS-Aligner Jr. can be easily configured as a height gage. The dial indicator can easily positioned anywhere along it's five inch length. This allows the dial indicator to be used to measure objects with a height of more than one inch (full travel of the dial indicator). Infinitii cannot be configured in this manner.
Angle Attachment Gage
The Angle Attachment Gage utilizes basic one inch trigonometry to measure angles with remarkable accuracy. It's a unique feature only found on TS-Aligner Jr (both Deluxe and Lite versions).
Custom Storage Case
A durable plastic storage case with a custom foam insert is available as an option for TS-Aligner Jr. A storage case is not available for Infinitii.Video
The video helps to give you a quick understanding of TS-Aligner Jr. and how it is used to align machinery. There is no video available for Infinitii.Last revised: January 29, 2008.
