Big Shed
6th August 2012, 07:15 PM
Have been procrastinating for some time on what DRO to get for my DM45 mill.
Had some trouble justifying $500-600 dollars for a 3 axis glass scale DRO for the sort of work I do, don't really need all the fancy features. At the same time I am so used to having a DRO on the lathe that I feel handicapped when I use the handwheels on the mill.
So the other day I bit the bullet and bought a 40" and a 24" LCD digital DRO scale from ozmestore on Ebay, I already have a DRO on the quill (Z axis). For $100 I was willing to give these a go and see how they perform.
Next I had to work out how to mount these on the mill.
Started with X axis and decided to use the existing dovetail track on the front of the table, already used for mounting the limit stops.
Made up a mounting bracket that used the dovetail nut from the limit stop and recessed it to accept the mounting bracket that came with the DRO scale.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4657.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4661.jpg
Two of these will take the actual scale, the sensor unit was then mounted on the existing pointer.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4659.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4662.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4663.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4664.jpg
Next the Y axis.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4665.jpg
This made use of the 2 mounting bolts in the base of the mill, using some brackets made up.
After making sure the scale was level, using a DI, it was on to the displays.
Looked at several different options for mounting these, including some of the smaller LCD monitor brackets.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4666.jpg
In the end I decided to use the existing mounting arrangement for the safety guard, never used since I got the mill.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4667.jpg
This had the advantage that it can be swung out of the way when I need to raise the or lower the mill head.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4670.jpg
Decided to make space for a Z axis readout as well, as I may replace the existing one if these work out OK.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4671.jpg
Finally, a guard for the X axis
All I need to do now is tidy up the wiring and work out how to put a guard over the Y axis scale.
Had some trouble justifying $500-600 dollars for a 3 axis glass scale DRO for the sort of work I do, don't really need all the fancy features. At the same time I am so used to having a DRO on the lathe that I feel handicapped when I use the handwheels on the mill.
So the other day I bit the bullet and bought a 40" and a 24" LCD digital DRO scale from ozmestore on Ebay, I already have a DRO on the quill (Z axis). For $100 I was willing to give these a go and see how they perform.
Next I had to work out how to mount these on the mill.
Started with X axis and decided to use the existing dovetail track on the front of the table, already used for mounting the limit stops.
Made up a mounting bracket that used the dovetail nut from the limit stop and recessed it to accept the mounting bracket that came with the DRO scale.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4657.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4661.jpg
Two of these will take the actual scale, the sensor unit was then mounted on the existing pointer.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4659.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4662.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4663.jpg
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4664.jpg
Next the Y axis.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4665.jpg
This made use of the 2 mounting bolts in the base of the mill, using some brackets made up.
After making sure the scale was level, using a DI, it was on to the displays.
Looked at several different options for mounting these, including some of the smaller LCD monitor brackets.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4666.jpg
In the end I decided to use the existing mounting arrangement for the safety guard, never used since I got the mill.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4667.jpg
This had the advantage that it can be swung out of the way when I need to raise the or lower the mill head.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4670.jpg
Decided to make space for a Z axis readout as well, as I may replace the existing one if these work out OK.
http://i606.photobucket.com/albums/tt145/peregrinefred/Metal%20Lathe%20and%20Mill/Mill%20DRO/IMG_4671.jpg
Finally, a guard for the X axis
All I need to do now is tidy up the wiring and work out how to put a guard over the Y axis scale.