Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 18
Thread: How do you use your DRO?
-
28th June 2013, 10:46 PM #1Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 3,149
How do you use your DRO?
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)
-
28th June 2013 10:46 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Age
- 2010
- Posts
- Many
-
29th June 2013, 12:26 AM #2GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 7,775
"Whats the cleanest thing in the average home shop?"
"The function button on the DRO"
-
29th June 2013, 12:32 AM #3Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Location
- ringwood vic
- Posts
- 251
The dirtiest things are the X and Y axis zero buttons.
Regards
-
29th June 2013, 12:43 AM #4
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,
Ew1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.
-
29th June 2013, 12:57 AM #5GOLD MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jul 2010
- Location
- Melbourne
- Posts
- 7,775
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
-
29th June 2013, 06:22 AM #6SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Sep 2011
- Location
- Ballarat
- Age
- 65
- Posts
- 2,659
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
-
29th June 2013, 12:15 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Location
- Australia east coast
- Age
- 71
- Posts
- 1,469
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
-
29th June 2013, 12:58 PM #8SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
- victoria
- Posts
- 524
-
29th June 2013, 01:02 PM #9SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2012
- Location
- Australia
- Posts
- 765
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
-
29th June 2013, 01:14 PM #10Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 3,149
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
-
29th June 2013, 01:19 PM #11
Hi Michael,
For me.. the key feature of a DRO is no backlash! forget about reading dials and counting turns.
Regards
Ray
-
29th June 2013, 01:38 PM #12
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
-
29th June 2013, 05:51 PM #13Cba
- Join Date
- Aug 2007
- Location
- Melbourne
- Age
- 68
- Posts
- 1,417
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
-
29th June 2013, 07:29 PM #14Philomath in training
- Join Date
- Oct 2011
- Location
- Adelaide
- Age
- 59
- Posts
- 3,149
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
-
29th June 2013, 07:29 PM #15
Mechanical DRO
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