Thread: DRO on lunchbox thicknessers?

I get by with digital calipers. That said it is worthwhile setting up the depth of cut scale as well as you can and use the depth stop for the final pass. A DRO would likely save some time but I think they are a bit pricey. Depends how much you use it I guess.
Regards
John

Digital read out (DRO) added to carbatec thicknesser

I put a DRO on my lunch box thicknesser, i didnt end up having it too much longer before i got a combo unit.

It definitely made things alot easier and quicker once set up. Rather then sneaking up on the final dimension using callipers and multiple passes.

Made repeats alot easier as well.

You can easily get buy without one, its just a nice to have, not hard to install either.

I see it as great for having to thickness a replacement part for a job, and in general as a lot more accurate than the cheap and nasty scale and pointer type scales normally provided. The scale and pointer systems that I have seen rely on the pointer having mounting holes somewhat larger than the screws through them to 1mm or more range to set the pointer for an moderately accurate reading, but have the inherent issue that the pointer can be displaced by vibration in the long term, or by being knocked at any stage.

I have one of the original Wixey units on my 15 inch Triton lunchbox and the only issue is that it needs to be reset after a battery change, a simple operation because of the thought that went into making it easy and reliable during the design phase. Basically, you thickness a piece of material to a random thickness, leave the head where it was set, lift a slide and insert the finished piece, lower the slide onto it, and press the zero button. This mechanically compares the head height and finished thickness, calculates the difference and saves that as an offset that is calculated into subsequent readings. Very simple but accurate system, no mucking around trying to achieve a specific thickness by trial and error etc.

Something else I am starting to appreciate as I age is that I get a nice 1/2in/12mm display of the head height without having to allow for parallax errors or stoop to avoid them. Eyes, back and knees are also showing signs of wear and tear (abuse) as I get older.

Thanks all for the tips on DROs on the thicknesser. Fare and Horbes has this one on special - M733 - M733 Digital Vertical Scale | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse which would be a great addition.