Poor man's DRO

**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.

Two of these will take the actual scale, the sensor unit was then mounted on the existing pointer.

Next the Y axis.

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.

In the end I decided to use the existing mounting arrangement for the safety guard, never used since I got the mill.

This had the advantage that it can be swung out of the way when I need to raise the or lower the mill head.

Decided to make space for a Z axis readout as well, as I may replace the existing one if these work out OK.

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.

**Ueee** · 6th August 2012, 07:39 PM

Nice job Fred

I bet it will make work a lot easier. Be interested to hear what you think of the accuracy of these scales.

**snowyskiesau** · 6th August 2012, 07:43 PM

You must have got the last scales as ozmestore1 no longer list them

The look much better that the ones with LCD, buttons etc. Do they use the 'standard' scale protocols so you could hook them up to something like the Shumatech DRO at some point in the future?

**Big Shed** · 6th August 2012, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by snowyskiesau

You must have got the last scales as ozmestore1 no longer list them

The look much better that the ones with LCD, buttons etc. Do they use the 'standard' scale protocols so you could hook them up to something like the Shumatech DRO at some point in the future?

Well, I hope they get them again as I wouldn't mind buying one for the Z axis (I did leave a space for that

)

No idea what protocol they use Geoff.

Left one final pic out of the first post, an overall view.

**morrisman** · 6th August 2012, 07:50 PM

I am following this with interest as I have the same DM 45 machine .... let us know how it all turns out . BTW the other guy who has a Standaco DM 45 will no doubt be glued to this thread MIKE

**jatt** · 6th August 2012, 07:51 PM

Good to see that you have a found a good use for the guard. Mines sitting around somewhere collecting dust.

**Big Shed** · 6th August 2012, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by jatt

Good to see that you have a found a good use for the guard. Mines sitting around somewhere collecting dust.

So was mine

**Big Shed** · 7th August 2012, 11:39 AM

Just had a reply from ozmestore on Ebay to my question about future availability

"Sorry mate sold out"

B*gger

**toolman49** · 7th August 2012, 11:41 AM

G'Day Fellas,
I fitted the same scales to my RF31 a couple of months ago and consider it the best $100 I have spent, from what I can see the scales are unbranded OEM versions of the Igaging units and can be interfaced with the Shumatec DROs. To tidy up and protect the rather flimsy cables I ran them through 10mm split conduit from Jaycar, and as I found the cables a bit short to run them where I wanted them I had to add a couple of mini USB extension cables. To date I have found the accuracy more than adequate for the work I do. The only anomaly I have noticed is a shift in the zero position of about .01mm overnight on very cold Melbourne nights, I don't know whether this due to expansion and contraction or variations in battery voltage. I had concerns about battery life, but so far,the supplied batteries are holding up OK. The only irritation is the display shutting down every 4 minutes, but for the price I can live with it.
Regards,
Martin

**Stustoys** · 7th August 2012, 01:05 PM

Nice one big shed.
Did you lose any travel?
I just thought of something you guys would already know, if these are like the digital verniers you dont loose 0. With glass scale DRO you do(ok technically I think they do have a ref point but I've never tried that I just make sure I turn the DRO on before I move the axis if I left a job on the mill over night)

Stuart

**welder** · 7th August 2012, 01:27 PM

I fitted one to my mill but the y axis is not very accurate if I give it. abit of a nudge it reads right do you think I leveling it will help the accuracy.

**Big Shed** · 7th August 2012, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by toolman49

To tidy up and protect the rather flimsy cables I ran them through 10mm split conduit from Jaycar, and as I found the cables a bit short to run them where I wanted them I had to add a couple of mini USB extension cables.

What length extension cables did you get? Looking at getting some from Ebay.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Did you lose any travel?

No, the mounting points sit outside the travel limits of the mill.

Originally Posted by welder

I fitted one to my mill but the y axis is not very accurate if I give it. abit of a nudge it reads right do you think I leveling it will help the accuracy.

When you say "not very accurate", how is it inaccurate?

If you can "give it a nudge" perhaps the mounting points aren't all that stable?

Both my X and Y axis are accurate and repeatable. I made sure that both the scales were in line with the travel and level, using a dial indicator as shown. Did the same with my glass scales on the lathe.

**toolman49** · 7th August 2012, 01:49 PM

G'Day,
The extension cables I bought were 500mm, the Ebay seller was 2buy2u, price was about $7.00 for 2 posted, delivery took about 10 days, the only local seller I could find who stocked them wanted about $30.00 each (and they wonder why we buy overseas).
Regards,
Martin

**Ueee** · 7th August 2012, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Just had a reply from ozmestore on Ebay to my question about future availability

"Sorry mate sold out"

B*gger

I was going to buy his 6" RT, chuck and indexing plates a while back. Same reply, sorry mate sold out, but i have seen he has got more since, so i would keep your eye out.
Arc euro have them too, not sure how much you paid Fred, a 12" is 31 quid, plus you can get 1, 2 or 3 axis display units but the 3 axis is 85 quid.

**Big Shed** · 7th August 2012, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by toolman49

G'Day,
The extension cables I bought were 500mm, the Ebay seller was 2buy2u, price was about $7.00 for 2 posted, delivery took about 10 days, the only local seller I could find who stocked them wanted about $30.00 each (and they wonder why we buy overseas).
Regards,
Martin

Thanks for that, I'll have a look for that seller.

Originally Posted by Ueee

I was going to buy his 6" RT, chuck and indexing plates a while back. Same reply, sorry mate sold out, but i have seen he has got more since, so i would keep your eye out.
Arc euro have them too, not sure how much you paid Fred, a 12" is 31 quid, plus you can get 1, 2 or 3 axis display units but the 3 axis is 85 quid.

I paid $40 inc postage for the 24" and $60 inc postage for the 40".

There are some on Ebay from the US, a 12" would run to about $54 delivered.

I'll hang off and see whether he gets any more.

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