MS-272-100 Digital Linear Scale direction of reading

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

I have just acquired a MS-272-100 Digital Linear Scale from M-DRO to fit to my little lathe. Having tested it, it reads inverted to the way I would prefer, i.e I would like the readings to go positive where now they are negative.

Does anyone know if switching the slider round relative to the read head  will alter the direction of reading?

I have asked M-DRO and they don’t know but will ask the factory.

The other way is just to try it, but I thought I would ask here first.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I fitted one of those to the Z on my mill a few months ago after the old MDRO one failed and yes you are right it only reads pos in one direction whereas the old failed one you could tell it what direction to read. (This is progress!).

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

To answer my own question.

M-DRO came back to me and said “we can confirm that this feature is not currently supported by this series. Your feedback has been noted and will be considered during the next
product design review.”

So I guess I get used to seeing negative numbers.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Must be worth trying reversing the scale?

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Thanks, I tried anyway despite what M-DRO said.

It made no difference. I think the direction of motion is a function of the conductors(?) on the circuit board, rather than the marks(?) on the slide. Some sort of quadrature system I would imagine.

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Unless I’ve misunderstood the problem, can’t you just cover the “offending” minus sign with gaffer tape or something a little more aesthetically pleasing?

John

 

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

It’s a very small lathe, and the new scale is intended to replace this one

which is a five year old lash up based on the inners of a set of very cheap callipers and some 3D printing. It’s getting tired and a bit cranky, and it reads sideways. However it does read positive values as the tool moves into the work, and negative if the tool moves out.

For size reasons I need to mount the head of the device behind the carriage (as the existing one) and have the cross slide move the slider.

Unfortunately, with the head mounted so that the display is correct, moving the cross slide into the work makes for negative readings while moving it away produces positive ones.

But I am sure I will get used to it.

With hindsight I could have bought one of the kind with a separate display, and simply turned the scale round, but that would have meant wires and more hassle to mount the display. So I will prersevere.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I have a ‘half-baked’ idea, Peter

Tell me if this is daft!

If you swapped the status of the fixed and moving components, I think it would read the way you want.

MichaelG.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Not daft it would work, but attaching the head to the cross slide and fixing the slide to the carriage causes other complications – in particular access to the cross slide lock.

[HuubParticipant @huub]

When I reverse the ruler of my DRO, it gets unstable. It is however a different type/brand (HBM) but if I recall it right, reversing the ruler of my previous iGaging DRO was also not possible.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Interesting to see that Allendale Metrology also carries this product.

M-SURE MS-272-100 Digital Linear Scale Metric/Imperial Measuring Micrometer 100mm (4 inch) MS-272 Series

I currently have no specific  need for one, but am tempted to buy anyway !

MichaelG.

.

Edit: … and I have just grabbed the M-SURE brochure

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

M-sure, Allendale, Machine DRO etc are in effect all the same being part of the Allendale Group. M-Sure is their own brand name

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks, Jason

… I wasn’t aware of that

< blush >

MichaelG.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Peter

I would just like to say thank you for alerting me to this scale

…. I dithered for a while [having no immediate need for it] but eventually bought one, and am very pleased that I did.

MichaelG.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Thank you Michael for the kind words. All installed after making suitable new brackets, complete with custom scale wiper!!

Probably going to have to cut a bit off the scale to stop it catching on the display – but that can wait until I have to.

[Author]

Posts