DRO fitting

This topic has 8 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 16 August 2022 at 21:07 by Ian P.

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13 August 2022 at 13:53 #609437
Nick Wakefield
Participant
@nickwakefield46140
Posting on behalf of Father in law:

Hi everyone,

Chris Cruse retired eng Stroud Glos looking to fit a DRO to my Optimum BF20 mini mill anyone out there able to suggest a modest cost type with a good track record and straight forward fit?

Chris
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13 August 2022 at 13:53 #28801
Nick Wakefield
Participant
@nickwakefield46140
Question
13 August 2022 at 14:34 #609441
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Most straight forward would be a kit specifically meant for the machine with custom brackets and fitting instructions rather than a universal it and standard hardware.

I think the chester machine is the same as the optimum so this kit should do the trick
13 August 2022 at 14:55 #609443
SillyOldDuffer
Moderator
@sillyoldduffer
Hi Nick and Chris, welcome to the forum.

I see Nick has already found out where the best search box is (hidden halfway down the home page). The search box top right is mostly useless because it only searches post titles and does so in a simplistic way.

The other mystery is how to post photos, which may be useful if fitting the DRO hits trouble. Asking questions, a picture is often most helpful. Done by following this link.

Dave
14 August 2022 at 23:29 #609610
Jacques Van Damme
Participant
@jacquesvandamme27160
For a modest cost and acceptable precision: consider to install wire encoders combined with TouchDRO.

Wire encoders are easy to install and less traumatic to your machine.

TouchDRO is freeware software that does not need a DRO readout but uses a simple tablet (or smartphone) working under android. Probably, you already have a tablet.

See MEW No 305 (July 2021).

Jacques
15 August 2022 at 07:36 #609627
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
Jason already linked to mdro site, though I had to do the braketry myself largely using their supplied components on my VMB it was straightforward and the system works very well. I wouldn't be without it now.
15 August 2022 at 11:32 #609670
Jon Lawes
Participant
@jonlawes51698
The price you see there is the cost of a straightforward fit. I used Optical encoders found on a chinese auction site with excellent results, but obviously I had to make my own brackets etc. The cost was 1/3 of that quoted above. The question is, do you want modest cost or straightforward fit? I think thats where choices need to be made.

Whichever you choose, the very best of luck. I found it to be a very worthwhile improvement to my mill. Transformed it.
16 August 2022 at 20:52 #609949
old mart
Participant
@oldmart
With a smaller mill, you may loose some Y axis travel if the X axis encoder is at the rear of the bed. At the front, it might interfere with the X axis stops.
16 August 2022 at 21:07 #609950
Ian P
Participant
@ianp
Posted by old mart on 16/08/2022 20:52:13:

With a smaller mill, you may loose some Y axis travel if the X axis encoder is at the rear of the bed. At the front, it might interfere with the X axis stops.

The 'may' and 'might' can be eliminated with a thoughtful installation (or at least the travel loss can be minimised).

The link in Jason's reply shows an installation which does not lose any Y travel because it mounts the scale on the front of the table, however I would find that setup unsatisfactory because it has eliminated the use of the front edge of the table as a reference face and it also prevents machining work that overhangs the table edge. (I made brackets so that I could mount my Y scale below the table surface.

Ian P
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