DRO recommendation

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

Hello all,

I'm thinking about fitting a DRO to my Harrison M250. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a good make and model? I'm thinking primarily of value for money versus functionality, as are most who post here. Ideally it'd be nice to hear from those who have an M250 and have fitted one to their machine.

Thanks in advance.

Carl.

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

DRO recommendations please

[Jim CParticipant @jimc]

Hi Carl,

We fitted a DRO to an M250 at college from Goodwin Technology Ltd. It was fitted by the workshop technician with no issues and had a very comprehensive fitting kit. Two years on and with student use, its still working fine. I have no connection with the company just a satisfied customer.

Jim.

[Andrew EvansParticipant @andrewevans67134]

Another recommendation for Goodwin, I fitted one to my Denford Viceroy 280. Takes care and patience to fit correctly but very happy with the results. I mainly used existing tapped holes. The kit contained various brackets and shims for fitting.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

Most have far more functions on them by default than 'most' people will ever need.

The Eaason ones sold by M DRO (advert on RHS of this site) are IMHO very good value middle of the road DRO systems that are a blend of reasonable quality and price.

As the M250 is quite a small machine (about the same size as mine) I opted for magnetic scales due to them having quite a bit smaller profile and so not loosing much of the machines capacity.

Nick

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Carl,

​If your purse will stand it the Newall systems can't be beaten for quality and the excellent versatility available with the fitting kit—they are after all industrial standard gear. My personal first class experience is now over 12 years use.

Regards
​Brian

[JAParticipant @ja]

I have a couple of Newall systems. The lathe came with one fitted and I fitted the other to the milling machine. I followed the instructions and made guards against swarf. It took time but was not difficult.

I am very happy with them. If I was to fit DROs now I would still use Newall but I have to admit I know nothing about other manufacturers' products.

JA

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Like Brian and JA I have Newall on all my machines, was 4, now 5. The microsyn scales are under 6mm in diameter, naturally the read head is larger., Biggest lathe M300 and Mill, Bridgeport. Myford S7 etc.

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

Thanks to all who replied. I have some good food for thought now. Was looking at doubleboost's youtube channel where he fits a DRO to his Harrison which also helped me.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

The Sino system on my Bridgeport got from Allendale, now M-DRO, around 10 years ago is still working just fine.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 29/04/2017 13:58:36

[JonParticipant @jon]

I don't think there are any poor scales the last few years even budget ones from Easson, Goodwin to Sino. The Indian made ones are ok too available from a place over Leicester way.
Most installers just throw on for ease rather than look at whats wanted and work around it. Some shows been to seen horrendous hashes on display as a demo, notably the Y axis and display position.
Admittedly I did have to mill the carriage to set down the magnetic Y axis so the 55 degree angle above to could be used and only losing think 6mm where tailstock butts up to.

Have the Sino made C type from Allendale 3 axis on mill and X axis on M300, no need to shim on quality lathes off the hydraulic taper lugs, theres more flex in the extrusion. Just need the rare clean on some axis, my case vertical on mill every 8 months.
Not applicable Allendale have stopped doing the budget readouts I have on both mill and lathe 3 axis. One holds zero when switched off the other don't. Lathe cant 1/2 Y axis without halving X and tail stock. Next cheapest now £50 dearer.
I cant recommend the magnetic in 5 micron, its just not repeatable enough for fine threading and tolerances, can easily be 0.18mm out. If do opt for magnetic pay the extra for 1 micron.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

I fitted a DRO to my M250 using a Sino display bought secondhand and scales from Machine-DRO (above).

The carriage scale is an optical one as is size in no problem at the back of the bed but I used a slim magnetic scale for the cross-slide as adds only about 10mm to the saddle width so has virtually no effect on the tailstock to saddle distance.

I opted tor 5 micron scales but cannot say I have seen any repeatability problems mentioned by Jon. I think there are other factors (like Dickson toolholder registration) that probably has more variability than the scale/DRO.

Ian P

[JonParticipant @jon]

Ian its noticeable when sending down a tool ie threading to friction fit tolerance, not altering anything it will either take a spring cut or need up to 0.08mm feed in to take a slither off. Next time send down loads come off.
Not a problem if just doing a thread, idea above is friction fit thread tolerance ie nil, by time its anodised its sloppy and not the sort of thing want on 0.75mm pitch holding 300bar back.

Its a physical movement of the Y axis magnetic 5 micron scale. Some years back did a test of cheap vernier type, C type Sino glass and the magnetic all in situ with remarkable results which lead to errors. Worst was using the supplied bracket with the vernier type think was up to 0.3mm out by time it started to move.

I can only treat the magnetic as some where near to within 0.15mm on diameter. If take off 0.075 it may well be still oversize +0.06 to well under by 0.1+ well out of synch to the stated measuring accuracy.
Glass Sino are ok to 0.05 repeatability about 3 times better.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Ian Phillips on 29/04/2017 21:47:03:

I opted tor 5 micron scales but cannot say I have seen any repeatability problems mentioned by Jon. I think there are other factors (like Dickson toolholder registration) that probably has more variability than the scale/DRO.

Ian P

.

Ditto.!

I was also puzzled by his point of view as I have had no issues either.

Nick

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Jon on 01/05/2017 15:28:02:

Some years back did a test of cheap vernier type,

.

Well there you go then. Think you answered your own issue.

Nick

[Raymond AndersonParticipant @raymondanderson34407]

Without a doubt [ if funds allow it ] Newall or Heidenhain.

[John McNamaraParticipant @johnmcnamara74883]

Hi

I just read the post re Warco linear scales on the forum today

I thought that maybe the unit was similar to one I had seen on a lot of the turret mills sold by machinery house in Australia, Made by a company called Carmar in Taiwan. the colours are different but the styling was similar. The scales they sell are maybe a bit more industrial?

**LINK**

I guess it is about time i fitted my mill with a DRO and had been considering these units, Is anyone in the forum familiar with them?

Regards
John

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

When I added a DRO to my South Bend 10K lathe I used DRO Pros. I looked at other Asia sourced DRO's but decided on DRO Pros because of the customer service they provided. I don't know if they ship to the UK. Even if you are mounting someone else's DRO it is worth looking at their site because of all the instructional videos.

Those who recommended Newall products are absolutely right they are probably the best of all. Unfortunately they did not fit my budget.

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