Digital Read Out Optical scales (cheap ones on Ebay

This topic has 15 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 18 February 2018 at 16:54 by I.M. OUTAHERE.

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15 February 2018 at 18:06 #341668
jimmy b
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@jimmyb
I'm giving some thought to fitting a set of the cheap Optical scales off Ebay **LINK** to put on my Sieg SC4

Has anyone tried a set of these??

I've been making do with a calipers on magnets up till now…

JIm
Advert

15 February 2018 at 18:06 #18849
jimmy b
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@jimmyb
15 February 2018 at 18:13 #341669
Samsaranda
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@samsaranda
Be Aware the item you refer to is despatched from an address in China.

Dave W
15 February 2018 at 18:28 #341672
Andy Holdaway
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@andyholdaway
I have the same make (although 3 axis) on my milling machine, and have had no problems at all. The manual isn't the best but it's virtually the same as the Sino DRO's of which there are a couple of English re-writes if you Google it.

Andy
15 February 2018 at 19:00 #341673
jimmy b
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@jimmyb
Buying from China is safe enough for me. Even with duty etc, it’s not a bad price.

Jim
15 February 2018 at 19:04 #341674
David Colwill
Participant
@davidcolwill19261
No experience of that particular item but I have had a Sino DRO fitted to my lathe for 10 years or so and another supplied by the DRO Store ( China based eBay supplier ) on my mill for 6 years. The only problem I have had is dirt in the Z axis scale on the lathe. This was cleaned and it has worked ever since.

Regards.

David.
15 February 2018 at 19:47 #341679
jimmy b
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@jimmyb
I’ve got a Sino on my other lathe. I wouldn’t be without it now.

Can’t justify too much cash on the second lathe.

Jim
15 February 2018 at 19:58 #341682
Oldiron
Participant
@oldiron
Hi Jim. There is an install by thecogwheel on what I believe is the same item here. :- **LINK** Might be of some help.

regards
15 February 2018 at 20:14 #341684
jimmy b
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@jimmyb
I heard the podcast and watched the video on it!

Cogwheel is on of my favourite podcasts. Proper mix of stuff

Jim
15 February 2018 at 20:31 #341688
Brian Rutherford
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@brianrutherford79058
I bought a 2 axis set from china off the bay. The supplier was very good and will use the same when i do my mill.

Ended up paying £20 extra on duty and paperwork by fedex. Instruction manual is appalling but fitting on my warco was straightforward. No problems with quality and reliability and lets face if just about every computer motherboard is made in china.
15 February 2018 at 22:06 #341703
colin brannigan
Participant
@colinbrannigan54160
I bought a 3 axis DRO from China in 2016, seller was cncmotor on the bay cost was about £220, arrived on time and has proved to be faultless. Need a two axis now for the Myford super 7.
16 February 2018 at 07:48 #341735
jimmy b
Participant
@jimmyb
Just about to order the Ebay kit, went in the shed to double check sizes and realised I'd over looked the gib screws! The Crusader has wedge gibs, so I'd not even given the gibs a thought!

Now, do I just stand off from the gibs and remove the DRO to adjust them (although I honestly can't remember the last time I adjusted them) or do i mount it above????

Jim
16 February 2018 at 08:22 #341747
David George 1
Participant
@davidgeorge1
Hi Jimmy have you thought of fitting the scale to the base casting and the smaller reader head to the moving casting.

David
17 February 2018 at 06:23 #341868
I.M. OUTAHERE
Participant
@i-m-outahere
I have ordered 3 sets from China , all off ebay and i think all are mtech units .

One came from dro pros or the dro store or something like that and it had better quality mounting hardware like brackets machined from alloy extrusions and the others had cast brackets – other than that they are identicle and have given no problems . Just beware of free shipping as it won't have tracking or insurance so check to see who is carting your prized possetion to you , mine were via Toll transport and arrived inside 3 days to Australia but cost me $30 au postage – well worth it i thought .

Get ready to learn a new language so you can read the manual though !

Ian
18 February 2018 at 13:39 #342097
jimmy b
Participant
@jimmyb
Well its tuned into a non starter!

I have been forced to abandon this plan! I mocked up some cardboard dummy reader bars. The problems kept coming! Every time I found a solution to a problem another one popped up.

The gib screws and the saddle clamp have ended the project. The gains are not worth the losses. I was moving the reader higher and further out.

I will carry on with what I have, clock on cross slide and 6" caliper on bed.

Thank you for the input.

Jim
18 February 2018 at 16:54 #342122
I.M. OUTAHERE
Participant
@i-m-outahere
On one of my lathes i had to mount the scale on some custom brackets off the end of the cross slide , the scale body is mounted on a piece of 30 mm sq tube that is bolted to the cross slide and the reader head iis mounted to the saddle with a solid angle bracket . It doesn't look pretty but it works , i have found some super slim scales (easson I believe ) jjust not sure it will work with my display though .
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