Digital readout for mill/lathe

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Digital readout for mill/lathe

This topic has 27 replies, 20 voices, and was last updated 10 December 2016 at 22:13 by John Rudd.

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8 December 2016 at 20:24 #270718
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
I'm looking to adding a dro to my mill/lathe.

I'd like opinion on what the membership have fitted to theirs, make/supplier…please
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8 December 2016 at 20:24 #24928
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
8 December 2016 at 21:35 #270731
Andy Holdaway
Participant
@andyholdaway
I fitted a second-hand (but little used) Sino DRO to my lathe last year, and once you find a decent manual that's not totally Chinglish it's excellent.

I've also just bought one of these **LINK** to fit to my mill. Cheap as chips with three glass scales, and bound to be more accurate than me! It hasn't arrived yet (tracking tells me it'll be here in 5 days) so we'll see how it looks when it arrives. I'm sure it will be fine for my purposes, and at the price it was too good to refuse!

Andy
8 December 2016 at 21:43 #270734
garrygun
Participant
@garrygun
hello john, ive fitted DRO 2axis with glass scales to my m300 lathe & 3 axis to my chester mill, works a treat very reliable, bought these of DROstore on dreaded bay cant fault them, took some time to fit cant fault them, allendale engnr do them virtualy same type (more expensive) but you do get tech back up.

regs Garry.
8 December 2016 at 21:48 #270735
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
Andy, one of my considerations was after sales support…..there are many suppliers on ebay that are comparatively priced….and then there are those that are double the price!

I guess buy the lower cost one ?

Edited By John Rudd on 08/12/2016 21:48:50
8 December 2016 at 21:55 #270738
Paul Lousick
Participant
@paullousick59116
Hi John,

I originally fitted cheap digital scales to my mill. One of the scales failed after a couple of months use which was replaced under waranty. It failed again when out of warranty and I paid full price for a replacement. It too gave wrong readings after some use.

I finally bit the bullet and purchased an Easson ES 14, 3 axis readout and glass scales which has been extremely reliable. Well worth the cost.

Lots of useful videos on Youtube at: **LINK**

Paul
8 December 2016 at 22:08 #270746
Andy Holdaway
Participant
@andyholdaway
John, I agree with Paul that cheap isn't always the best way to go, and I'm guessing that despite the assurances of the seller that aftersales will be scant at best. That said, it's a risk I'm prepared to take, and only time will tell.

If I was using this in a semi-production environment, I would be no doubt looking at mid to top range gear, but I'm not. This is a very part-time hobby, and I view the DRO as a nice convenience to have. If it fails, it won't stop me doing anything, it will just be inconvenient. You pays your money etc……

Andy
8 December 2016 at 22:40 #270749
Jon
Participant
@jon
Originally 3 axis cheapies on old mill from Ketan lasted a few months covered up, 3 axis readout from Warco approx. £320 and drained batteries daily.

Current mill Sino glass scales with Machine Dro older budget type mill readout on offer at time all in £430. Works superb with the odd cleaning twice a year used daily.

M300 Machine Dro older budget readout 3 axis lathe, 1 glass for X axis and magnetic for cross and tail stock. Magnetic I would opt for the 1 micron, 5 micron not repeatable enough and will show up for repeat close fit tolerances, Sino glass fine at 5 micron. Approx £650 on offer 6 yrs ago.
However this one loses last memory powered off whereas mill above holds zero powered off. Also wont have it halving Y axis only without halving the other two scales.
8 December 2016 at 22:47 #270750
mechman48
Participant
@mechman48
Hi John,
See my mail & pics…

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=86997

link for the dro's…

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/imagecache/41506808-8cf6-4276-b96e-a595010637fe_700x581.jpg

George.
8 December 2016 at 23:17 #270755
Shed Happens
Participant
@shedhappens
Hi John, I have one of these …. caliper2pc units….. http://www.caliper2pc.de/produkte/caliper2pc/digitalreadout.html

It's a USB device that has 6 inputs so I have scales on both my lathe and mill connected to it. I have a touch screen monitor on an arm so I can move between the 2 and then just open the appropriate configuration file. The software is really good, has tool offset library, and loads of functions.

I've been really pleased with it.

John
8 December 2016 at 23:36 #270759
John Hinkley
Participant
@johnhinkley26699
At the risk of repeating myself from other, similar, threads, when I moved back to the UK a couple of years ago, I purchased a Warco VMC mill and added 3-axis glass scales and DRO to the order. At the time they had just introduced a "reduced-cost" – as opposed to cheap – system. Took me a while to fit and get it right – see some pics in an album – but it has performed faultlessly and as far as I can tell, accurately.

On a previous mini mill, I fitted caliper-type scales and found them to be battery-eating and unreliable. I wouldn't use them again.

John

P.S. Just checked the Warco web site and they are still doing the same system that I bought. I think the prices have gone up a bit, but still good value for the spec, in my opinion.
8 December 2016 at 23:53 #270760
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
Remember if you are using the caliper type scales on a lathe then the cross slide is half the reading and if you use the usual Chinese scales with a rough tolerance of 1 thou [ possibly more ? ] it will be doubled on the diameter to 2+ thou.

Hardly conductive to accurate bearing fits etc.

TBH I feel that the quality of the glass scales and read head has improved vastly and the price has now come down to the point that the cheaper scales don't make economic sense when compared to accuracy and repeatability.
9 December 2016 at 07:35 #270769
Dave Smith 14
Participant
@davesmith14
Just replaced my caliper style scales with the Warco System. The calipers eat batteries, 15 mins sometimes, would reset mid cut etc. The Warco system is mains powered so no batteries to worry about. I paid a bit more than the equivalent on Ebay but went for the customer support. Very pleased so far.

Dave
9 December 2016 at 08:25 #270773
MalcB
Participant
@malcb52554
Both me and a friend now have M300 lathes.

I put out enquiries for two complete sets, one for each lathe.

After a recommendation from my local machine tool dealers I also included Goodwin Technology who they spoke highly of. Also went to Machine DRO and ems-i.

Considering all factors, we opted to go with Goodwin Technology. They also advertise some kits on the Bay. I ordered two machine specific kits for the M300.

We have both just finished our home installs. I have to say that their kits went on very well, just the usual hassle of some leaning over and body stretching to fit. The backing beams they supply with the scales really do facilitate fitting and the brackets supplied are substantial and more than ample. We opted for 5 micron on the saddle axis and 1 micron on the cross slide axis, both optical scales.

Just added a couple of photos in my album. Do not know why they get rotated as they are uploaded but heyho.

Perhaps somebody can let me know at some time how to rotate them once in the album.

Edited By MalcB on 09/12/2016 08:29:12
9 December 2016 at 08:58 #270780
Les Jones 1
Participant
@lesjones1
Hi John,
I have Shumatech DRO350's on my lathe and mill with Chinese scales. I would suggest that whichever display unit you go for that you choose one of the quadrature type of scales. (Glass, magnetic etc.) It seems that they are far more reliable than any of the Chinese type scales. When any of mine fail I will change them to quadrature scales. I also have a display on the mill that shows the main "Z" axis position, the quill position and the sum of these two values. I find this very useful. I think some DROs have this function. (By the way Thanks for your comments on the Drum switch thread. My view was that if it was too much trouble for the OP to post a picture from his album then why should I or anyone giving advice have to search though 56 pictures to find the right one.)

Les.
9 December 2016 at 10:32 #270794
John Rudd
Participant
@johnrudd16576
I think with the run up to Xmas, I might just put this in hold until after the NY…….just got too much to do…

Thanks for all of your suggestions/recommendations, all appreciated.

Les, its a shame that the Shumatech dro is no longer available, would have been a great build….
9 December 2016 at 10:57 #270801
Muzzer
Participant
@muzzer
Posted by MalcB on 09/12/2016 08:25:30:

Perhaps somebody can let me know at some time how to rotate them once in the album.

I got heartily sick of rotated pics. Talking about it on this forum just created a self-inflicted sh** storm about Windows, Apple etc. I take pics with my iPhone and by default they upload here the way they were taken which may even be upside down.

My solution is actually very quick and easy. Just open your JPG file in Paint (assuming Windows), make a tiny edit – any edit (eg literally just add a single pixel of colour somewhere or crop it if you like) – then exit/save. It will then upload and display as you saved it. If not Windows, I assume a similar procedure would work for iOS, OSX, Linux etc.
9 December 2016 at 11:15 #270807
duncan webster 1
Participant
@duncanwebster1
I have Machine DRO system on both lathe and milling machine. Easy to fit, worked first time, excellent after sales on the few queries I had. Friend of mine has several fitted in his production shop, same story.
9 December 2016 at 11:39 #270817
MalcB
Participant
@malcb52554
Posted by Muzzer on 09/12/2016 10:57:05:

Posted by MalcB on 09/12/2016 08:25:30:

Perhaps somebody can let me know at some time how to rotate them once in the album.

I got heartily sick of rotated pics. Talking about it on this forum just created a self-inflicted sh** storm about Windows, Apple etc. I take pics with my iPhone and by default they upload here the way they were taken which may even be upside down.

My solution is actually very quick and easy. Just open your JPG file in Paint (assuming Windows), make a tiny edit – any edit (eg literally just add a single pixel of colour somewhere or crop it if you like) – then exit/save. It will then upload and display as you saved it. If not Windows, I assume a similar procedure would work for iOS, OSX, Linux etc.

Thanks, will have a go when back home.
9 December 2016 at 11:52 #270821
Raymond Anderson
Participant
@raymondanderson34407
I'm an all Newall guy, they are bombproof.
9 December 2016 at 12:17 #270822
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Posted by MalcB on 09/12/2016 11:39:19:

Posted by Muzzer on 09/12/2016 10:57:05:

Posted by MalcB on 09/12/2016 08:25:30:

Perhaps somebody can let me know at some time how to rotate them once in the album.

I got heartily sick of rotated pics. Talking about it on this forum just created a self-inflicted sh** storm about Windows, Apple etc. I take pics with my iPhone and by default they upload here the way they were taken which may even be upside down.

My solution is actually very quick and easy. Just open your JPG file in Paint (assuming Windows), make a tiny edit – any edit (eg literally just add a single pixel of colour somewhere or crop it if you like) – then exit/save. It will then upload and display as you saved it. If not Windows, I assume a similar procedure would work for iOS, OSX, Linux etc.

Thanks, will have a go when back home.

I looked into this recently – it's so annoying.

I don't think the forum provides any way of changing orientation once a picture is in the album.

The problem is to do with how software deals with rotation data provided by the camera. This chap provides an explanation and lots of examples. Rather worryingly, his article concludes "If Google can’t handle images consistently across their own sites, on a browser that they built, what hope do the rest of us have?"

The best way I've found of dealing with it is gimp. When a picture that's mis-rotated by this forum is loaded into gimp, it automatically pops up this dialogue:

Pressing Rotate and then overwriting the jpg fixes it. I usually use gimp to reduce the resolution of pictures before uploading them on the web, so this is no trouble. Unfortunately, gimp is not aimed at the casual user and it's easy to get lost in the works! I shall try and find something easier to use: muzzer's suggestion is promising.

Dave
9 December 2016 at 12:56 #270823
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by MalcB on 09/12/2016 11:39:19:

Posted by Muzzer on 09/12/2016 10:57:05:

Posted by MalcB on 09/12/2016 08:25:30:

Perhaps somebody can let me know at some time how to rotate them once in the album.

I got heartily sick of rotated pics. Talking about it on this forum just created a self-inflicted sh** storm about Windows, Apple etc. I take pics with my iPhone and by default they upload here the way they were taken which may even be upside down.

My solution is actually very quick and easy. … < etc. >

.

Another [please note I have not said 'a better'] way, for iOS users is to use the Photogene4 App, which is quick and powerful for rotating, cropping, and re-sizing.

MichaelG.
9 December 2016 at 20:55 #270904
Piero Franchi
Participant
@pierofranchi37209
I cant help but think that some of the so called better DROs come from the far east anyways.

only thing your getting is comeback should anything go wrong,

I am not talking top DROs here.

that said, I dont actully own a DRO as yet, have been looing at buying Three !!!!!!!!!! two mills and a lathe LOL

the mid range priced uk sold DRO look a lot like the cheaper priced far east DROs
9 December 2016 at 21:31 #270906
ChrisH
Participant
@chrish
A vote for the cheap end of the scale, no pun intended!

I bought Arc's cheapest for X and Y travel on the mill, and a stand alone battery powered jobbie for the Z axis previously from Warco.

OK, Arc's cheapest doesn't do all the more expensive glass scales do, need protecting from swarf/coolant, and sometimes the read-out trips when the mill motor switches on or off despite having an anti-surge plug-in fitted, but I couldn't justify spending more for a better/higher quality spec for the amount of work I do.

Having said that, they all work well, do what I need, have made things so much easier to do, and were well worth the very modest cost, wouldn't want to be without them, and would recommend them to all on a very limited budget. Not only that, but when the read-out went down Arc were very prompt with a no quibble replacement, can't fault them.

Hope this helps other engineers on a limited budget!!

Chris
9 December 2016 at 21:44 #270909
Enough!
Participant
@enough
Posted by John Rudd on 09/12/2016 10:32:07:

Les, its a shame that the Shumatech dro is no longer available, would have been a great build….

There's a guy on the Shumatech Yahoo group right now who has two unassembled DRO-550 kits that he wants to sell.

Link (if it works …. you may need to join the group).
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