Linear encoders

[Bob Worsley]

On Bob Worsley Said:

As BW Electronics I designed and manufactured a range of draw wire sensors for use on machine tools, I sold thousands all around the world.

Ah well Bob, I always had the feeling that I know this name.
I am one of the thousands owner of your DROs, and am still happy and using it on my Leinen lathe. The only complaint I ever had was with the encoder which used a small and very special battery. This one was never stable, the display was blinking constantly. So I removed the battery and used a cable and a wallwart like on the others. But since then it is sleeping in a drawer, together with another (more standard) model.

As I’m now in the process of reducing my workshop these are redundant now, so if someone is interested, please send a PM.

 

 

Kind regards,
Hans

 

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Another vote for the Bobs pull wire scales.

Just the job for a quill movement sensor on my Bridgeport. Unlike the usual digital caliper style bar and readout systems the wire doesn’t get in the way of using the stops and trips system. Repurposed from another application hence wire coming out of top.

I generally use it in conjunction with the stops for positive setting. If used live during drilling vibration can sometimes upset things.

Clive

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Hans

I have sent you a PM

Phil

[Bob WorsleyParticipant @bobworsley31976]

Thank you for all the words of support, and mostly that you are still using the readouts, getting your money’s worth!

As for +/-2 thou being very poor, looks like the usual users fooling themselves  problem again. At least I checked every sensor’s calibration before shipping, you think that Ortec and the modern cheap sensors get the same? There are resolution, repeatability, accuracy and precision, all four are important, you are just mentioning resolution.

I had endless discussions on the exhibition stands about this, look at the photo. This is a simple piece of turning, but one part is machined towards the headstock, the other away, both using power feed. This twists the saddle, and unless you have a well set up lathe the difference in diameter can be many thou. So where is the poor accuracy of the readout in amoungst your machine?

Only the MPS3 used a battery, a common 1/2AA 3.6V lithium cell. I managed to get a year or so of use from one battery, hence the rapid tuning off of the display, I can’t stand LCDs, LEDs can be read in subdued light. A LCD calliper is fine, you can move it around to get the light, the MPS3 bolted to a machine isn’t quite so easy. If the display turns off too quickly then it can be changed in the software, read the manual!

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