Thread: How do you use your DRO?

"Whats the cleanest thing in the average home shop?"
"The function button on the DRO"

The dirtiest things are the X and Y axis zero buttons.
Regards

Hi Michael,
Good thread. I'm in the same boat as you, i want to put one on Mlle, but like you i'm in over my depth.
I can see where tool memory (or whatever its called) could be useful for repetitive work, but otherwise i have no idea.....

Cheers,
Ew

Can you get by without a DRO? Sure you can(you know that already)
Is life easier with a DRO? Sure is
Anything a dro can do you can do with maths........ though you'll end up with some funny numbers to chase rather than just 0.000 and you have to keep reverse errors in mind.

Hey you dont need a R/T for PCD you can do that manually also..... fun maths .

1/2 would be my most used, hardly hyper mathmatics lol. But if you are using DRO and a edge finder you will get the middle of the part. Not so easy without a DRO.

Stuart

Hi Michael,
I only have one on the lathe so the most used would be switching between metric and imperial (probably should just use a calculator), the X and Y zero and the conical function for morse tapers and taper pins.
I love the conical function as the degrees on the compound are etched on a strip that has been installed with silastic. I'm not real confident on accuracy there .

Phil

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

I love the conical function as the degrees on the compound are etched on a strip that has been installed with silastic. I'm not real confident on accuracy there .

Phil

Can't imagine why you'd feel that way, after inspecting the quality machines available at Hare & Forbes the other day.

There wasn't a lathe I, personally, would feel comfortable using for accurate work straight from the crate available for less than $7000. That one did have stamped graduations.

I want a DRO....

PDW

Originally Posted by Michael G

For those who use DROs on their machines, what features do you use on them?
I've been dreaming again and looking at DROs. Some of them seem quite plain while others have buttons for everything. If I got one I'd like to know where I was but I'm not sure that I'd use a lot of the features built in -
PCD? I have a R/T for that.
Linear hole spacing? It's called maths.
Calculator? Got one (and trig tables too).
Pocket milling? Don't do that.
- you get the picture -

I also can't see one on Ebay that is for a 2 axis lathe. The sub $500 ones seem to be "universal", so I can presumably mill a pocket on the lathe?

Michael
(E-luddite out of his depth)

good one Michael.
i'm in the market for one too
but i have different concern thought . how hard for one to install the DRO into the Lathe ?
i have absolute no idea how to install it properly.
regards
Peter

Most used function is linear position, set zero, set offset. The rest is like candy if you know its there and how to get it you will eat it, but not necessary. I use the trig functions on the mill DRO all the time, because its handy and got a plastic cover protecting it from gruby hands. The rest of the functions I need to pull out the DRO manual for.
-Josh

Originally Posted by thorens

how hard for one to install the DRO into the Lathe ?
I have absolute no idea how to install it properly.

Peter, my understanding is that it is not hard provided that you are careful. The important thing is getting the reading head/ scale lined up with the ways so that the head stays a constant distance from the scale. Lots of work with shims and indicators to make sure things are parallel but not difficult.
Most packages you buy will have at least some bracketry and fasteners + an instruction manual for fitting which may or may not be in understandable English. However, I'm sure enough people have fitted them for it not to be a black art.

Michael

Hi Michael,

For me.. the key feature of a DRO is no backlash! forget about reading dials and counting turns.

Regards
Ray

Installing a DRO on a lathe (or mill) is a relatively straightforward job, but as said above can be a bit fiddly.

Lots of examples on the internet and Youtube, here is but one:

How to Install a Digital Readout DRO Kit onto a Lathe Part 1 of 4 - YouTube

Michael, can you solder electronic components? Or are you maybe a little bit into electronics? If so, do not buy anything until visiting this group:
ShumaTech : ShumaTech
and/or this website:
http://www.shumatech.com

Over the years, I assembled 4 such kits. Two older ones I sold, two newer ones I use on lathe and mill. I think they are great fun, very instructive, very useful, and very low cost. The software is "open source", meaning that if you ever feel like designing your own function, nobody will stop you. And the Yahoo group makes sure you are not alone if something should not work. With the low cost DRO's from eBay you will not get any circuit diagrams, and no software source code, and probably not much in the way of new sofware releases either - you are completely alone if something goes wrong after the warranty period. Chris

Originally Posted by cba_melbourne

With the low cost DRO's from eBay you will not get any circuit diagrams, and no software source code, and probably not much in the way of new sofware releases either - you are completely alone if something goes wrong after the warranty period.

Judging from the stories I've heard, I'm not sure that there is much hope of help with an Ebay DRO from some vendors even if things are in warranty.

I had looked at the Shumatec units years ago. This is a dim memory, but I think the main issue at the time was only some scales were compatible? Might be worth another look (my soldering is alright, but my skill in getting things to work...)

Michael

It might be easier and cheaper to install a mechanical device e.g., a dial indicator onto your cross slide ,with suitable stops etc. Or , onto the carriage bed stop . Probably , this setup will be just as accurate as a electronic DRO . Just my thoughts ..Mike