Thread: DRO addition to 15" thicky

I added a (CarbaTec I think) DRO to my CarbaTec 15" thicky some time back, just havent got around to posting the pics.
I used existing mounting points where possible along with new brackets mounted to existing bolt holes. I also re-used the original red indicator arm.

old rule and new DRO.jpgold rule and bracket for the top of DRO.jpgDRO top mounting bracket.jpg
This is the old next to the new, I folded a bracket to hold the top of the DRO, I use the existing holes that held the old rule.

replacing the original grub screws.jpglonger cone point grub screws made from bolts.jpglonger grub screws to mount the lower bracket on.jpglower mounting bracket.jpglower mount bolted onto post grub screws.jpg
The next challenge was to hold the btm of the DRO, I use the vertical column mounting points to hold a folded bracket, I replaced the original grub screws with bolts, I drilled the ends to form a cup and then cut the heads off, (longer grub screws would also have sufficed) two nuts locked against each other allows me to tighten the threads, I then mount the bracket between the nuts.

checking the front face for paralell.jpgchecking the side face for parallel.jpg
Next I setup a dial indicator to test and adjust the DRO rule for vertical in two planes.

original table arm.jpgoriginal table arm1.jpgslider bracket.jpgslider bracket to table arm location point.jpg
I folded a bracket that mounts to the slider, I use the original arm to drive the bracket via a hole, this needs to be a neat fit.

slider on zero reading inches.jpgcomparing the table movement with the slider movement.jpgslider moved 100 thou.jpgtable hieght moved 100 thou.jpgslider moved 250 thou.jpgtable hieght moved 250 thou.jpg
Next I did a few tests to compare rise and fall of the DRO with the DI setup on the thicky table with favourable results.

test hieght block.jpgslider set to the correct thickness.jpg
Next I use a test block of known size and move the slider (zeroing first) to that dimension and locate the red arm into the slider hole.

close enuff to size.jpgmeasuring a test piece of wood ~32.46.jpg
Next, do a test run and results seems close enough to me.
The only thing wrong with it is the battery doesn't last long enough and I have to go thru the the test block process when I put a new battery in, a larger external battery would be a better option when I get around to it.



Pete