DRO advice

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

My wife wants to buy me something for our anniversary.

I am looking at a DRO for my MW280V lathe, which according to Warco needs a 450mm and 200mm scale.

I am looking for advice on where you brought yours from, as Warco and other well known brands seem to be expensive compared to other options.

I am looking for cheapish and not necessarily the cheapest but reliable options.

Your thought please

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

I’ve used Machine DRO and been very happy with their products. My Lux milling machine has their magnetic scales and readout, which replaced the glass scales originally supplied by Chester. When that began to be unreliable I went to Machine DRO for the replacement.

The lathe originally had a Newall Microsyn setup but the readout began to do strange things. Machine DRO supplied a Microsyn-compatible readout unit which has give uniform satisfaction.

https://www.machine-dro.co.uk/

Usual disclaimer!

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Sample size of one, so not conclusive. I ordered three glass scales and a head unit from Ali Express for my micro mill. No problems at all. Arrived as four separate parcels (3 Evri, one Royal Mail). Worked as advertised out of the box once I had engineered suitable mounting hardware.

One thing to be aware of, glass scales are quite a lot longer than their nominal travel, so you may need to think about how to mount the cross slide one in particular.

[NealebParticipant @nealeb]

I have also used M-DRO for magnetic scales to replace failed glass scales on my lathe. I also bought an Easson(sp?) readout to go with it to avoid having to source replacement connectors to suit old readout as well as add extra features. Magnetic scales working well, can be cut to length, and it all came with a big box of assorted plates, angle plates, etc to help mounting. Haven’t looked but they might even do a custom kit for your machine.

[Wink HackmanParticipant @winkhackman25989]

Another vote for M-DRO magnetic scales, I have them on both lathe & mill.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

+1 for M-DRO.  One of the best workshop investments I have made.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

Thank you guys. Is there a difference between the optical and magnetic scales size wise.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

I couldn’t comment as I only have the mag ones, but surely the supplier specs will tell you?  The mag scales are very easy to cut to length and of course not fragile.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Optical are quite a bit bigger than magnetic ones.

Jimb

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

+2 for M-DRO no problems so far

H

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I concur!

3-axis M-Machine DRO on my Myford mill.

The most difficult bit was making brackets to secure the magnetic strips to a machine not designed for such things.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Another vote for MDRO, if nothing else they are on the end of a phone and very helpful

[andy198712Participant @andy198712]

I’ve just started using a 3 axis Ali Express 1 micron kit on my mill.
I think it’s great tool to have! Cost me something like £160

loads of features I need to learn, reasonable manual loads of position memory which is handy

 

I’m going to put scales on my lathe and share the screen maybe next!

hardest bit is fitting it so it functions and looks neat and doesn’t get in the way, through use of various brackets and mounts

 

alot of bolts and washers are provided but you end up making bits

[andy198712Participant @andy198712]

I just found this on AliExpress: ￡98.86 | High Accuracy 3 Axis LCD Dro Big Screen Display Digital Readout GCS909-3 and 3 Pcs Linear Scale Encoder Sensor For Milling Lathe
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EGyXn8G

seller was really helpful and checked measurements with me a few times.

the box was damaged slightly from courier service and a splash shield had for scratched, I was immediately offered a replacement or a  small refund for the item so took that.

[southernchapParticipant @southernchap]

One note of caution here.

If you go for Chinese scales, stick with optical (glass) scales.  Magnetic scales that are reliable are expensive.  Glass scales are a fair bit cheaper to make well enough.

Ditron and Sino offer generally the better Chinese scales and you can order from them direct through their websites rather than through AliExpress (where counterfeits are common).

Both Ditron and Sino do offer slim variants of their scales.

Finally, it’s worth noting that there’s a difference between magnetic scales and capacitive scales (such as those found on, for example iGaging scales).

There’s a fair bit of good information and advice about scales on the TouchDRO website (Yuriy knows his stuff).

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

My magnetic scales originated in China and so far (touch Wood) they seem ok. Mill been running 10 years,Lathe for 8 years!

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

This thread has prompted me to get a cheap optical set of ebay (£150) for my SC4……

 

Jimb

[WearyParticipant @weary]

Yes. A good thread with some practical experienced-based suggestions, so, thanks to the contributors. This thread has also prompted me to take another look at fitting a DRO to my lathe; I already have one on my mill.

Matters are complicated with the lathe DRO fitting (Chester Craftsman, same as Warco GH600 etc.) as I would ideally like an absolute minimal size fitting on the top-slide (an exposed and awkward location) and some kind of additive fitting to the carriage travel along the lathe-bed.

Anyway …. ponderings and investigations continue, spurred-on by this thread.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Do you need a DRO on the top slide if you have one on the carriage?  I eliminated the top slide to make a much more rigid tool post when I did my CNC conversion as it had no function except flexing and making it hard to use tool offsets.  How often do you need to do an accurate increment to a set-over top slide?  If you really need something better than the thimble arrange a DTI for the occasion.  If you buy a DRO with the ability to store and apply tool offsets it’s a boon.

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Well, I fitted the DRO that I was inspired to buy from reading this thread.

 

I really wish I’d done this years ago!! nearly 20 years of wanting/needing one and now done!!

 

Jimb

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I’ve now bought another for my mill!

 

This is one of those things I really wish I’d done years ago!

 

Jimb

[andy198712Participant @andy198712]

It’s a bit like cheating isn’t it?

[andy198712]

On andy198712 Said:

It’s a bit like cheating isn’t it?

Well I’m sure you and maybe a few others are happy with your treadle lathes and firm leg callipers but most other people have moved on to electric motors and digital callipers so are happy to cheat and the real big cheats use DROs and even CNC.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Just in passing as it is an appropriate thread… A few years ago before current style DROs became affordable there was a  version with a spring loaded wire that pulled out of a block. Less accurate but easy to fit. Anyone using one?

[andy198712]

On andy198712 Said:

It’s a bit like cheating isn’t it?

I really don’t see how!

Jimb

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