Touch DRO Kit

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Took some time off decorating and finished building my new Touch DRO kit this afternoon.

Very happy with it thus far. As far as I can tell, the “kit” version has most of the features of the pre-built version (although there’s no probes, limit switches or reference track support) but is quite a bit cheaper (and under the UK’s £135 duty-free threshold). It’s a fairly simple build provided you have basic soldering skills and not too time consuming. The finished unit seems robust and everything worked as expected.

As a simple test this evening, I hooked up one of my new optical scales to each axis in turn and just made sure everything looked OK. I still have to install the scales on the Seig and test/calibrate everything. I will only be using the X/Y axis to begin with but the TouchDRO kit has four inputs and can ‘sum’ the Z & W ones I believe. So my basic DRO requirement is met but I have options for the future if I decide I need them.

I had an Android tablet but if you do not (and funds are tight) I did download the Touch DRO ‘app’ onto my phone (just to see) and the readout is quite ledgible, although the phone’s touch screen will be more fiddly (at least for my fingers). The whole set-up (TouchDRO + Scales) has cost a bit less then I was originally expecting for a ‘packaged’ DRO and I’ve been able to put the difference towards another item I’ve been wanting for while – a VFD/Motor set for my old Myford S7. The box arrived last week but I’m trying to be good (for a change) and get the DRO fitted first.  My manager is also wanting her decorating finished of course…  🙁

Regards,

 

IanT

 

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