DRO kit for Myford S7 from Machine DRO

[Die HardenedbedwayParticipant @diehardenedbedway41166]

Hi chaps

Im thinking of buying the DRO set from Machine DRO for my super 7.

Does anyone have any experiences with fitting this kit specific to the 7 ?

I would be looking at the 'no drill' version as clearance at the back of my lathe is minimal. Ive had a quick shufty over Youtube and it looks quite straightforward.

I did the tail stock yesterday doing the much used set of old calipers method. It works very well ! 

 

Carl

 

 

 

Edited By Die Hardenedbedway on 11/06/2020 06:46:55

Edited By Die Hardenedbedway on 11/06/2020 06:47:39

Edited By Die Hardenedbedway on 11/06/2020 06:49:04

[Die HardenedbedwayParticipant @diehardenedbedway41166]

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I think there was an article about fitting the kit featured in MEW or maybe ME about a year ago

[colin branniganParticipant @colinbrannigan54160]

I fitted a bolt on kit to my 7 two years ago and it was plain sailing and it has worked perfectly ever since.

Colin

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Hi Carl

I fitted one two years back had no problems at all the included instructions were stop on, I choose to go with the embedded mag strip on the cross slide which a friend machined for me .More than happy with setup

H

[Die HardenedbedwayParticipant @diehardenedbedway41166]

Cheers folks. I just took the plunge and purchased one, should be here tomoz .

Edited By Die Hardenedbedway on 11/06/2020 10:07:06

[Fowlers FuryParticipant @fowlersfury]

As Jason recollects above, there were articles describing in full the installation of the M-DRO kit on a S7.

The first article appeared in MEW No. 267, May 2018.
The whole process is quite straightforward but the articles do point out a few potential problems.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

There's one or two decent youtube videos on the installing

H

[Die HardenedbedwayParticipant @diehardenedbedway41166]

So the DRO came and was installed without any problems.

The DRO when first turned on fluctuated wildly on the X until i realised it was the coolant stalk vibrating and transfering those vibrations to the reader. I had set the coolant on the DRO frame as it put it right out of the way. Once moved, bingo.

Only thing I added was a simple swarf shield to the X reader

So far so good

Carl

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Hmm … interesting. Different folks, different strokes!

I'm in the process of fitting a 2 axis M-Dro set (bought nearly 2 years ago!) to a D-W mill. Getting there, gradually, but had it not been for the Youtube videos published by ProDro, I would have given up before starting! The supplied 'instructions'- 5 booklets are printed at a print size suitable for magnifying glasses. The specific items feature at the very end of one general description booklet with nothing to guide you there. The only video Allendale publish is less than helpful.

The ProDro videos, while produced in a form suitable for children, cover all the basics in a way that makes sense and are tranlatable to any equivalent product. It would appear, also, that their kits are provided with accessories which are actually of use, as against the bright, shiny, 'don't fit anything here' bits which are included with the M Dro package.

If, and it's a big 'if', the kit is fitted and (more importantly) works, I shall be relieved, surprised and grateful to other than the kit providers.

rgds

Bill

PS – I should add, in fairness, that I have no engineering skills background, so the above is from the perspective of a complete beginner.

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

I have recently fitted my RF 45 milling machine with a Z axis DRO, having previously fitted the X & Y axis using components supplied by Machine DRO including the 3 axis console. The X & Y axis was fitted using the cast alloy brackets and other fixings and adaptors.

The Z axis was fitted to the front of the gearbox using two alloy brackets I made and fitted to the top and bottom of the gearbox. Two 8mm linear bearings were fitted to the brackets to support an 8mm guide rod to which the encoder was fitted using an alloy bracket I made. The magnetic strip was fitted to the profiled strip supplied by Machine DRO and secured between the top and bottom brackets using alloy angle. The 8mm support rod was attached to the quill shoe using a folded steel and alloy bracket I machined to fit. Provision for minor adjustment and alignment was provided and everything fitted together nicely and the quill returns sharply when in drill mode.

It looks workman like and not cobbled together and works.

One has to bear in mind we are fitting DRO's to machines which were not designed with this in mind and for Machine DRO to supply custom brackets to allow fitment to the massive range of machines we use (lathes or mills) would be out on price grounds. Before purchase it is a good idea to look see how someone else has done it and usually with the supplied brackets. Robert Butler

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Robert – your points are well made – certainly regarding not catering for specific machines. However, the bits provided in my set do not fit each other, never mind the intended machine. Allendale are at liberty to make their own decisions as to what they include in their offerings. I would suggest, however that they could learn valuable lessons from viewing their American competitors.

rgds

Bill

[Robert ButlerParticipant @robertbutler92161]

Dear Bill, I'm not sure the brackets are supposed to fit together, the commonality is restricted to hole centres for the encoder, the rest is an intelligence test to enable the DRO to be fitted. I spent ages on the web and posted enquiries on this forum before designing my own fitment. I think the way forward is to see how someone else has done it and work around that. I have a positive surplus of unused brackets supplied with the X, Y and Z axis.

Regards

Robert

[Machine-DROParticipant @machine-dro]

Hi Bill,

Thank you for buying one of our systems, you mentioned you purchased the system around 2 years ago, A lot has changed in that time we have invested in multiple Alu extrusion tool's over the last couple of years and continually adding to our hardware selection to try and cater for as many different machines as possible.

If you have any specific questions please send me images of where you are at on your install to my email below and I will discuss with our engineers – please include your postcode of where we shipped the system to so we can look up what DRO system you have

Carl – your Myford install looks great! Would love to use those images (and any others you can send me) on our social media?

Regards

Alan Ward
[email protected]

[Die HardenedbedwayParticipant @diehardenedbedway41166]

I cant vouch for other machines but the kit supplied for my Myford went together easy enough. I also found the instructions well presented and easy to follow

Alan, pinged over an email

[Machine-DROParticipant @machine-dro]

"Alan, pinged over an email "

Received – much appreciated!

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Alan – thank you for your kind offer of assistance and the reassuring news that things have changed. The item is, after all, a D-I-Y kit, so one shouild expect problems. My main gripe is the lack of useful, publicly available, general advice vis-a-vis your American competitors. I would think that the web would be the prospective installer's first port of call for guidance and your present offering explains the principles but little else. It is proving to be a good exercise in ingenuity but, at 85, simplicity rules! I shall continue the battle and, if successful, will post (carefully edited) photos

If no success, I shall retreat to basket weaving or other country pursuits

rgds

Bill

[egaParticipant @ega]

Cornish Jack:

Shortly before a relative of mine retired from industry his employers sent him on a basket weaving course; you seem to be doing rather better!

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

There is a video somewhere on youtube where the guy fitted one of the readers inside the cross slide on the Super 7 . Instead of on the outside which caused problems of covering the Gib adjusters. I have the M-Dro fitted to the Tom Senior & they are superb. I will at some point do the S7 too. A job for later. Good luck with the project.

Steve.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Cornish Jack on 16/06/2020 09:38:31:

[…]

I'm in the process of fitting a 2 axis M-Dro set (bought nearly 2 years ago!) to a D-W mill. Getting there, gradually, but had it not been for the Youtube videos published by ProDro, I would have given up before starting!

[…]

.

I see that you have been offered direct support by Alan Ward

… which is very impressive ‘after sales’ service.

But I must thank you for mention of the American videos, which I have bookmarked [*] for future reference:

**LINK**

https://www.dropros.com/Digital_Readout_DRO_Installation.htm

MichaelG.

.

[*] assuming DRO PROS to be the supplier

[SteviegtrParticipant @steviegtr]

This is the video of jan sverre fitting the DRO reader within the cross slide.

Super 7 DRO

Steve.

[Cornish JackParticipant @cornishjack]

Michael – You have the correct video link in spite of my inverting the Company title !!

Allendales offer of assistance may well be called on.

In spite of my lack of expertise, I have actually managed to attach the required bits to the D-W in positions which offer working outputs. The astonishment which this generated caused me to break the habit of a lifetime and, before operating the console, I read the 'manual'!!!! Following the instructions (another first!) Step 1 was accomplished as was Step 2. However, Step 3 , and normal service was resumed …book says press up/down arrows to sequence through to SETUP. Pressed the up and down arrows and irrespective of direction of travel, the result remained a 3 output sequence SDM/INC/ABS with the finger shortening requirement to scroll through 200 (!!!) increments of SDM before moving to the next in sequence. Pressing Enter at various points in the process had little effect, save for producing the ubiquitous digital equipment 'beep'! Trouble-shooting section has no mention of this behaviour and, thus, no cure. Resorting to my deep technical skills in these matters, I switched the console on and off (several times!) and have now retired hurt.

Should any members have useful knowledge (or inspired guesses) as to the cause and (preferably) the cure, I would be most grateful for such offerings. (otherwise basket-weaving beckons)

rgds

Bill

Edited By Cornish Jack on 19/06/2020 17:52:17

Edited By Cornish Jack on 19/06/2020 17:54:56

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Fitted the M-Dro kit to my S7 had no issues what so ever I went for the embedded cross slide version which I got a friend to mill it for me, glad I fitted the kit found it very useful

H

[Author]

Posts