Thread: Digital read out (DRO) added to carbatec thicknesser

Hi everyone, thought i'd share a couple of pics of the DRO i added to my carbatec lunch box thicknesser

I tried to make it easily removable if needed but ended up using the original gauge mounting points. The DRO is the igaging one sold just as a DRO, not the specific thicknesser one which i think comes with hardware for the dewalt one.


The only items needed where:
3mm x 30mm aluminium
M6 bolt and nylock nut
2x 25mm self drilling screws (for attaching)
1x 12mm self drilling screw (for attaching)

Everything else used was in the DRO kit. Washers and screws.

Tools required
3.5mm drill bit
6mm drill bit
6mm brad point bit
Double sided tape
Drill or drill press
Hacksaw, metal bandsaw, grinder


Theres no reason this couldn't be made from wood, i just had some aluminium left over and considering its $10 from bunnings its pretty cheap.

I'm thinking about redoing it just to make it look neater so i can write up some measurements if people need them if i decide to go that route.


So this is how i have it installed. I used a self drilling screw on the top mounting bracket of the strip, how ever you cannot do the same for the bottom on the black plastic section as you will drill into the actual machine. I intend to either glue it in place or use some thin double sided tape. So far only having it held by the top seems fine.




So i just drilled two 3.5mm holes using the plastic lens as a guide so i can use the original lens screw holes.


I then transfer the mounting holes on the back of the reader to a piece of the same sized aluminium. The issue here is the supplied screws are not long enough. So i just used a cheap brad point bit to counter sink it enough so the screw reaches. Its not pretty but does the job. You could use a thinner material but you will just have to pack it out more in the next step. At the same time i drilled a 6mm hole in the corner of this piece





With the rear strip mounted i transferred the location of the 6mm hole to the first piece. There is about a 5mm or so gap between the two strips of aluminium so i just packed it out with a few of the washers from the DRO kit. I used a nylock nut just to stop it from vibrating lose.



And with that its all done. I'll do another post tomorrow about setting up the offset/preset function in the DRO which is needed. Maybe a video of it in action