Remote display sources for DRO Chinese calipers

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Robin

There are explanations and details of how these common types of 'Capacitive' scales work, just google 'Chinese, digital, vernier, scale, capacitive, DRO', etc.

In the end I bought iGaging scales and they have been fine, the batteries last a long time and I never bother switching them off.

You need to arrange some protection against swarf and oil, just think 'umbrella'! Some of the expensive glass scales only remain clean because the housings are variation on a basic upturned 'U' shape.

Ian P

[Robin teslarParticipant @robinteslar]

Hi Ian

after googling a bit, I think I cant guess the mechanism. I think its an electronic copy of the way a mechanical vernier works, but the important bit of gen is that the system relies on capacitive proximity sensing which I can understand. It helps me understand what can interfere with the operation

I am going to get a cheap digital vernier to play with. I will stick it on an arm and maybe get a remote display with a digicam, cheap and nasty but simple – ha ha. Ive got a few of these little cams lying around and a spliutter to display them on a small lcd screen. Will post pix soonest

KISS

as they say

Cheers Robin

[robert mortParticipant @robertmort83504]

Surely this is what you need – remote displays and cheaper than most solutions mentioned before:

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Measurement/Digital-Readouts-with-Dedicated-Remote-Display

[David Robson 2Participant @davidrobson2]

How about the caliper2pc interface, this allows up to 6 separate calipers. Enough for lathe and milling machine, working from one pc display. Also connections to connect spindle speed reader, for machines without a display!

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi All,
This is an option I would consider if I had not already fitted DRO350s to my mill and lathe. There is very little hardware to build from scratch. It uses a cheap Android tablet, a bluetooth module and an Arduino board. (Plus the linear scales.)

Les.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Les Jones 1 on 18/11/2013 08:45:39:

Hi All,
This is an option I would consider if I had not already fitted DRO350s to my mill and lathe. There is very little hardware to build from scratch. It uses a cheap Android tablet, a bluetooth module and an Arduino board. (Plus the linear scales.)

Les.

.

Les,

That looks very interesting indeed

Especially as Tesco's "Voucher Exchange" means that a Huddl effectively costs £60

MichaelG.

.

Edit: Tesco ClubCard Boost

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 18/11/2013 09:22:29

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Michael,
I did try sending data to an early version of Yuriy's Android software running on my Nexus 7 using a bluetooth module connected to the serial port on a PC. It seemed to work without any problem.

Les.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks for that, Les

MichaelG.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Les,

Thanks for the Yuriy link.

Just what I've been looking for.

IanP,

Where did you get your iGaging scales?

UK 'agent' doesn't show them on their site.

Geoff – SkyHook Monopod needs a haircut, it's far too long for my low garage ceiling, even with all sections up the spout.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Geoff

I got mine in Jan 2012 from igaging-uk which was the sellers name on eBay. I just checked but they have no items for sale at the moment so that's a dead end for now.

I'm tempted with the Android route, just need a bit more time to do anything about it.

I am very happy with them and on my Emco mill they were a doddle to fit. Batteries last months and I never bother to switch them off. Only one tiny gripe is the little rubber buttons let swarf into the display but its only a problems with one of the axis because I chose to position the (magnetically mounted) display next to the edge of the table.

Might be worth checking with woodworking machinery suppliers as its what they were originally promoted for.

Ian P

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Geoff,
I believe that these scales that Arc Euro sell are the same as iGaging scales. If you contact Lester Caine at Model Engineers Digital Workshop he should be able to confirm this.I believed he used these to test a converter I designed for him to enable iGaging scales to be used with the Shumatech DRO350 DRO.

Les

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Ian, Les,

Thanks.

Geoff – SkyHook photos uploaded. Thread to follow.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I've just looked on the igaging website, and they only list one UK distributor.

… is this just outdated information, or are they not the manufacturer?

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 20/11/2013 16:56:23

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

For what it's worth … the manufacturer appears to be SHAHE

MichaelG.

[Paul BarrettParticipant @paulbarrett57424]

Steve.

If it is of any interest I have just bought a 3 axis readout (D60-3M) with 3 scales (2x DC-10 & 1x DC-10F) brackets, mounts, covers etc direct from Ditron in China for $402 (£250). It arrived this morning.

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Paul Barrett on 21/11/2013 19:49:56:

If it is of any interest I have just bought a 3 axis readout (D60-3M) with 3 scales (2x DC-10 & 1x DC-10F) brackets, mounts, covers etc direct from Ditron in China for $402 (£250). It arrived this morning.

… and those are glass scales, correct?

[Paul BarrettParticipant @paulbarrett57424]

OMG

What do you mean?

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi OMG,
Ditron scales are glass scales. They are popular with users of the Shumatech DRO350 an DRO550 People on the Shumatech forum tend to group buy them in the USA to save on postage. From reports on that forum the scales are very good and Ditron are good to deal with. When any of my capacitive scales fail I will probably buy some glass scales from them to use with my DRO350s

Paul,
OMG is asking the type of scales that Ditron supply. There are glass and magnetic scales which have quadrature output and and capacitive scales which use several different protocols. For example 2 x 24 bit (The original Chinese calipers), 21 bit (Used on iGaging / Shahe scales) there are a few other less common protocols also used.

Les.

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Les,

Lester is working on a PCB for the MPS430 version. My names down for them.

Paul,

Hope you will be doing a follow-up post once you have fitted the system.

Sausage making day today, and yes, that includes Boerewors. Skins have been soaking overnight.

Geoff – Multi talented am I.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Geoff,
I am not planning on either fitting glass scales to my DRO350s or changing over to Yuriy's Android DRO at the moment. I have bought an Arduino UNO board so I can play round with Yuriy's DRO using the old 2 x 24 bit Chinese scales. I will have to write code for the Arduino to read the old Chinese scales as Yuriy's code for the Arduino only reads the iGaging scale (21 bit) protocol.

Les.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi Les,

I have some AVR code for the 24-bit chinese scales I wrote, also some stuff on the data & button protocols.

PM me with your email if this would be useful for you.

Neil

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Les Jones 1 on 22/11/2013 08:53:18:

Hi OMG,
Ditron scales are glass scales. They are popular with users of the Shumatech DRO350 an DRO550 People on the Shumatech forum tend to group buy them in the USA to save on postage. From reports on that forum the scales are very good and Ditron are good to deal with. When any of my capacitive scales fail I will probably buy some glass scales from them to use with my DRO350s

Hi Les,

Yes, I know. I have a bunch purchased a while ago via the Ditron contact in the Shumatech group (direct purchase not a group buy) for my DRO550. My comment was just to put Paul's statement and costs into perspective for anyone here who didn't realise they were glass scales rather than the cheaper capacitive ones.

Yes, the Ditron rep (Echo)  is very good to deal with and the scales are great. (AFAIK you need the adapters to use them with the DRO350)

Edited By OMG on 22/11/2013 18:36:11

[Paul BarrettParticipant @paulbarrett57424]

OMG/Les.

Yes they are glass scales. 5 um. I bought 2 of the DC10 which are the standard size and 1 DC10F which has a smaller cross section and a slighly higher spec. I delt with the sales lady (Grace) direct and she was very helpful. The total DRO package was around 275 dollars plus 115 dollars for shipping and 17 dollars paypal charge.

Paul

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Oops, sorry Les, that post was meant for Paul.

 

Geoff – Well I am an old you know what.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Neil,
Thanks for you offer of the information on your Atmel code for reading scales. I have sent you a PM with my email address.

Les.

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