Thread: Fitting a DRO to a Myford ML7R

What you have listed there is a standard DRO package without mounting brackets and screws that you can get off ebay for $450 posted.
He has sold hundreds and everyone seems happy with them. For the slimline you just need to ask and it will cost an extra $15.
It's your money, but buying through ebay cuts out the middle mans mark up, and will save you nearly $300 for exactly the same thing.

Dave

Dave, it sounds like you have someone in mind who sells on eBay. Who is that?
I'm certainly happy if I can get the same stuff cheaper.

This is the guy
SINO 2-axis digital readout (complete DRO kit) | eBay

I think the 2 axis ones do lathe and mill as well like the 3 axis ones do, just check with him and he will supply you with the right one.

He sells others as well
eBay Seller: xiao1207: Industrial items on eBay Australia

Meister also do a nice read out, which I think are better than Sino. Not sure how much extra the slim scale are off him, or how the standard size scales compare to the Sino ones. If you send him an email he will send a diagram of the scale sizes. He is a really nice bloke to deal with and is a 100% in back up service.
Meister ARC2 digital readout DRO Scale 500~ 900mm Lathe | eBay

Dave

I forgot to mention I was out on the price, it is only $420 not $450 delivered. As you can see halfway down the page, the slim line scales have gone up to $20 extra, which still only makes it $440.

Dave

Ok, right. I was looking at this guy on eBay earlier in the day, but just buying blind was not confident since this seller is in China and I thought it would be risky. You've bought from him?

Been looking thru those eBay sites. Yep, will save a shetload of cash buying from one of those two suppliers. As you say, its the same stuff as is on the UK website. Good one.

I have bought 2 x 3 axis DRO's off Meister but not the other seller. I have a Sino on the mill I bought but it was fitted when I got it.
I have spoken with and read about a lot of guys (30 or so) on other forums who have ordered off the Sino guy and they are all totally happy.
One guy had his turn up early last year with a broken scale, so he contacted the seller and another was sent out with out any problems. I haven't heard of anyone else having problems so I think he is packaging them better now. The delivery usually only takes a week to get here. I notice the Sino guy has a delivery of 5-7 days.

On ebay you have the security of Paypal, so it makes it safe dealing with people in China, if it's ever needed. I have found them all to be really helpful if any problem arises.

The Meisters turned up in a box with purpose made foam padding around it to keep it in the centre, which was inside another box. The scales where wrapped up in bubble wrap inside a thick cardboard mailing tube.
I have contacted the Meister fellow a few time wanting to know about hooking up Mititoyo scale to it, and he has emailed the wiring diagrams back within a couple of days.

Dave

Are you sure you need the extra lengths of cable?

Stuart

That's great Dave. Thanks for all that. Appreciated.

Looks like I won't need the extra cable if I go for one of the eBay kits. It was good to see the Allendale stuff though as it gave me a good idea of how to do it and what I'd need.

No problem,
I remember when they first did that great right up, I think it was aimed at them selling kits.
Also a lot of guys go for a 1micron (0.001mm) scale on the cross slide. The normal scale resolution is a 5 micron (0.005mm) which is 0.010mm off the diameter. Going with the 1um scales will give 0.002mm off the diameter.
They usually charge around $30-$40 extra for the 1um instead of the 5um for the cross slide. It can also be added for the carriage scale, but is not really needed.

I have a 5um cross slide scale on my lathe and wish I had the 1um, but back when I bought mine they weren't really available and would have been a lot more expensive than what they are now.
If I was to buy a new set today, I would get the 1um cross slide scale. After all it can't hurt to have too high of resolution.

Dave

G'Day ,
I purchased an Easson ES 8 kit to suit a 12 x 36 lathe from Mtechdro store in Singapore in May last year, the cost with express air freight was $525, It arrived in 4 days in perfect condition, I chose the Easson although it was an older model because all of the common functions I use are directly accessible from the front panel with no need to enter sub menus.
Regards,
Martin

Good tip to know about the 1um scale for the cross-slide. Looks like it will be harder to find that, as neither of those eBay sellers have it listed as an option. Maybe I should send both of them a message to see what they say about it. It would seem worth at about $40 extra, to keep the dro error down below the resolution of my micrometer.

I was looking at the Easson consoles too, but at this stage I have no sense of what makes a more desirable or less desirable console.

You will find they both have access to a large range of sizes. I would grab it while the dollar is up.
As for the consoles, they are all pretty much the same. I find the Meister's have things that can be accessed from the front panel, where the Sino you need to go into the program for. But in the end they have the same functions.

Dave