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24th January 2020, 12:14 PM #1GOLD MEMBER
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Wixey vs iGaging for table saw DRO
I've read a fair bit about Wixey DRO installs on the table saw, but can't find much on iGaging's offering. Does anyone here have experience of either/both to compare?
I change my TS blades reasonably often, and between the general cutting to flat kerf to dado, there's a lot of variation in blade thickness. I'm ready for an easy 'zero' option and an accurate fence from then on. At the moment I test cut, adjust the little screws on the analogue readout, and go. Minor, but get's a little tedious when you're as disorganised as I am and can't seem to line up all the cuts with one blade, before swapping!
About to grab a Wixey, which has good reviews, and seems to have good customer service in the US, but I like iGaging's stuff too...
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24th January 2020 12:14 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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24th January 2020, 12:46 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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Alternative: adjust your current scale so it's approx. 15mm out. Leave it. Adjust all cuts as needed using relative distance, not absolute.
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24th January 2020, 06:03 PM #3GOLD MEMBER
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I have wixey on carbatec, best thing since slice bread. Accuracy is always spot on in combination with a good fence. With the two items, I have turned an average ts into a precision machine. Dont know anything about imaging dro. But have other of their products. Good quality as well
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24th January 2020, 07:06 PM #4
I have the Wixley and find it quite good when working.
Not particularly impressed with the zeroing process and find it difficult to zero. If I recall correctly the same button is used for on, off and zero. I’m having trouble zeroing mine so haven’t been using it lately.Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.
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24th January 2020, 08:05 PM #5
I installed the Wixey. I looked at the igaging at the time but can't recall why I decided on the Wixey.
YouTube
Had it for 2 years now and I love it. Install process was pain free, and it's VERY accurate/repeatable.
Zero process is simple from memory. A handy feature is its incremental measurement. ie: you've got it set at 225mm to cut a board, if you need to cut another board 72mm wider, press a button which temporarily rezeroes it, and move it until it says 72mm. If you then press a button to take it back to absolute mode it then reads 297mm.
Someone said the same button is used for on/off and zero. I'm not exactly sure what they're referring to but I don't think that applies to mine.
Overall, I love it. One of the best things I've bought for the workshop. Makes setting the fence super quick, and if you need to repeat a cut, you know that the cut piece's width will be spot on.
I forget where I ordered mine from. It may have been from Infinity Tools, cheaper than buying locally however the $ was prob better then.
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24th January 2020, 08:59 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
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This won't help me because I will still have to commit Maths. The distance between the fence and blade will be different for a 3.4mm kerf blade and a 3.6mm kerf... and the dado is variable in 0.1mm increments. No way my tiny brain is dealing with that. I need to register the fence as zero against any blade, and then have accurate cuts from then on.
A bit more research:
-iGaging appears to have an absolute/relative set too, so you can do the same incremental measurement as the Wixey - I really like the sound of this feature in both.
-Wixey hardware looks more substantial
-iGaging Ezi-view is around $90, compared to Wixey's $180 for a 36" version. iGaging Absolute is more expensive than the Wixey, but not as easy to get hold of here I think - 24" is $188. Seems more geared to metalwork lathes and milling machines.
-iGaging display is wired to the sensor. Means you can put it wherever you want, but potentially have have to deal with wires moving around. Wixey display module mounts directly to the rail - no wires to mess with, but limited position options.
Screenshot 2020-01-24 20.22.26.jpg Screenshot 2020-01-24 20.23.13.jpg
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24th January 2020, 09:11 PM #7
Mine is the same as the one in the picture above. The same button is used for on/off/cal, from memory you need to hold this down to calibrate, which is possibly a good thing as its difficult to accidentally calibrate once you have it set up, but lately I cant seem to get to calibrate function.
Now proudly sponsored by Binford Tools. Be sure to check out the Binford 6100 - available now at any good tool retailer.
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24th January 2020, 10:01 PM #8SENIOR MEMBER
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I have the Wixey and also believe it has helped me a lot, but does take a bit of effort to recalibrate with a blade change.
I think you will find that applies to any of these devices.
I always do a test cut on scrap and then adjust the calculation accordingly. It does take a bit of arithmetic, but I usually properly calibrate on my main blade and use a calculation when I change.
Bauldy
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25th January 2020, 12:09 AM #9GOLD MEMBER
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I have a Wixey and it is a PIA as far as zero goes and I now use 3 different blades which 3 times the PIA. Have a look at the Proscale, a much better system
CHRIS
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25th January 2020, 11:09 AM #10Woodworking mechanic
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I have a Wixey on my thicknesser - very accurate but setting the zero can be a bit fiddle as others have said but it’s done rarely - usually just seasonal check. I bought some iGaging gear for my router lift but sent it back as it had accuracy problems which are a bit difficult to put into a few words. I have a video of the problem.
I rang iGaging in the USA about the problem and they couldn’t explain it and just said to return it. I gather from other conversations I have had with retailers that they have seen the problem on some of these units. The problem may be in the head unit itself as when I attached the sensor by itself to my Arduino it was fine and I believe Mike (MandJ) is also just using the sensor and it’s fine.
iGaging have two cost levels of these units - I was using to lower cost one.
JMTC
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25th January 2020, 05:02 PM #11GOLD MEMBER
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The proscale is nearly $600 landed is aus, so that's out of the question.
Seems some of the Wixey's issues can be sorted with fresh batteries - they don't like low juice.
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25th January 2020, 06:41 PM #12GOLD MEMBER
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I have no issues with the Wixey apart from setting zero so if the blade is not changed the zero issue goes away. My Wixey is going to be up for sale eventually because I am motorising the rip fence some time before 2030 but hopefully this year. Don't be confused between repeatability and accuracy, the Wixey like all digital stuff has a resolution that is built in so analogue can have a better accuracy but repeatability is just that, two weeks after a cut the same setting will get you the same cut. I keep meaning to put a dial indicator on the fence to see how good the resolution is and keep forgetting about it.
CHRIS
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25th January 2020, 07:04 PM #13Woodworking mechanic
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When I use my thicknesser, after a break from it,I take a light cut, measure the wood thickness with my analogue verniers and check the reading on the Wixey. Vary rarely do I need to calibrate it. The thicknesser is in a place where it gets moved often to get to other bits and pieces.
When I first fitted the Wixey, I used to manually measure the timber as I was getting close to size, now I don’t bother - the Wixey is spot on.
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25th January 2020, 07:40 PM #14GOLD MEMBER
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I can see the resolution on my table saw as it has a fine fence adjustment and using that I can see how much the fine adjuster moves the fence before the Wixey registers the change but I have never measured what it is. It won't be a huge amount but it is there.
CHRIS
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2nd June 2020, 08:42 PM #15Intermediate Member
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Wondering if anyone has successfully fitted a Wixey to a round bar rip fence rail. My Minimax sc2c doesn't appear to have much suitable structure close to the bar.
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