Thread: dro's

I should perhaps give you an answer in a couple of days as right now I'm about to launch a dispute with a seller over overcharging and refunds...

The cheapest seems to be the drostore who sell on ebay out of Singapore. (This is who I'm waiting on).
Others selling via the net are Allendale electronics under Machine DRO | Digital Readouts | Engineering | Machinery | Digital Calipers | Measuring Tools. Slightly more expensive but delivery may kill a deal.
There is also dropros selling out of the US (DRO PROS Digital Readout beats Heidenhain Newall Acurite Sargon Fagor).
Locally N&F sell the Easson range of units. While a nice unit there seems to be an issue with them that they will only work with Easson scales.
In a kit form there is Shumatech (www.shumatech.com). However, these use Chinese mag scale calipers. Once you add on the converters to use glass scales they are not much cheaper than all the rest.

My thoughts for the moment.

Michael

Hi Johno,
I was looking at one of these for my mill.
Sinpo 3 Axis Digital Readout FOR MILL Milling Complete DRO KIT | eBay
There have been some reports of problems from the Drostore units, seems like MG is have issues too.
Since i bought the Blohm it may be a while before i buy one myself......

Cheers,
Ew

Originally Posted by Ueee

There have been some reports of problems from the Drostore units, seems like MG is have issues too.

Ew, any link for the issues with Drostore units?

Johno, my Drostore install is here: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/md...uested-169053/

One thing to remember is to get scales a bit longer than your max travel. If you end up extending the travel of your machine your DRO will limit you.

Hi johno,

I'm not sure how creative you want to get but this looks promising...

Yuriy's Toys

I have a Shumatech unit on my lathe at the moment but will be trying the tablet based unit above on my next install.

Cheers,

Jayson.

Originally Posted by Jayson

Hi johno,

I'm not sure how creative you want to get but this looks promising...

Yuriy's Toys

I have a Shumatech unit on my lathe at the moment but will be trying the tablet based unit above on my next install.

Cheers,

Jayson.

Lets hope that next install is soon. A full build and review thread would be very interesting. I am planning on a DRO for the future but am very limited with cost.

Dean

Originally Posted by variant22

Ew, any link for the issues with Drostore units?

Johno, my Drostore install is here: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/md...uested-169053/

One thing to remember is to get scales a bit longer than your max travel. If you end up extending the travel of your machine your DRO will limit you.

Here it is, https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ex...er-dro-158339/
Took a bit to find, i had thought it was started by Davej and since he is now mysteriously (to me anyway) a guest you can't search for post by him....

Cheers,
Ew

On edit, there seems to be 2 drostores??? theDROstore Home Page and http://www.thedrostore.com/

thanks for the replies , its not for me its someone else now i just send him the link and he can follow the thread .
he wants a dro for his mill and i told him that there are cheaper options than the vendor he was looking at .

johno

Originally Posted by Ueee

Here it is, https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/ex...er-dro-158339/
Took a bit to find, i had thought it was started by Davej and since he is now mysteriously (to me anyway) a guest you can't search for post by him....

Thanks Ew. Good to see it was "the other dro store.." not the one I purchased from.

Dave left the forum. I think we really need to start a COME BACK DAVE J thread... he contributed a lot here and I was very unhappy to hear that he had left.

Originally Posted by Jayson

Hi johno,
I'm not sure how creative you want to get but this looks promising...
Yuriy's Toys
I have a Shumatech unit on my lathe at the moment but will be trying the tablet based unit above on my next install.
Cheers,
Jayson.

I've built one of Yuriy's MSP430 Launchpad Bluetooth DRO controllers. I have a couple of iGaging scales from OzMeStore in SA. The app works just fine. He's working on an improved Android app with more features and the option for USB connection.
I love the Bluetooth idea - I will be able to just walk up to the lathe with my phone, clip it into a car phone holder and voila - DRO.... Should be possible to have controllers on multipole machines and take the phone or Android table from machine to machine.... I like this 'out-of-square' thinking.
Yet to fit it to the lathe and test it in close proximity of the VFD and electronic leadscrew (ELS) controller (when fitted - working fine on my desk too).
I'll post about it when I get a bit closer.

Joe,

I think this android DRO is a fantastic idea. I would be very interested in hearing what is involved. Looking forward to the thread.

Cheers

Piers

If I was looking for a DRO for a milling machine that was fitted with one of those variable speed feed devices, I would seriously look for DRO models that show feed rates so you can attain the optimum feed rate for the cutter you are using...

Hi R.C.
I've been corresponding with Yuriy on Oregon about this: he has a mill and a lathe and is working on a rev counter add-in and will build the feed rate calculator and display option.
This is a work in progress, early in the piece..... the more interest we show, the more likely he is to make responsive progress.

Hi Piers,
have a read of Yuriy's pages - there isn't a lot to it actually.

Originally Posted by Michael G

I should perhaps give you an answer in a couple of days as right now I'm about to launch a dispute with a seller over overcharging and refunds...

The cheapest seems to be the drostore who sell on ebay out of Singapore. (This is who I'm waiting on).

In fairness to the seller, I should report that the issue has been resolved without recourse to Ebay or Paypal dispute measures.
I wanted to get a 2 axis DRO for the lathe and a second 3 axis unit for the mill, so I got a combined price that worked out a little cheaper on freight. Part of this was done through Ebay and part as a direct paypal transfer. The problem was that instead of billing me in $A, I was billed in $US. Because of the exchange rate (and paypal conversions) this would cost me over $A100 more. The seller was not willing to refund the difference directly due to margins so I was asked to direct transfer more money to him after which he would refund the original transfers. It all came together in the end (co-incidentally just after I had made the above post) although I was not happy that it had to be that complicated. Also in fairness I should point out that I only twigged after the event that I'd paid in the wrong currency. If I'd picked this up earlier it may not have been as messy.

As far as the units go, they are solid (feel like metal enclosures) and seem well made. I haven't plugged in a scale yet but the displays power up and are of a decent size. Although multi voltage they come with US plugs, so I'll have to find a couple of old computer power cords to use instead (or put on new plugs, but the price of plugs compared to modular power cords...). The seller did suggest that they could be wired directly into the machine's supply, but as both machines are 3 phase that may not be the best solution for me.

I would also suggest that you post your successes or problems in a thread like this as in this day and age of international trade and internet access, the more known about various traders (good and bad) the more likely the good ones will prosper and the bad ones will be found out. Would I buy from these guys again? Probably, but I would be paying more attention to the details.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

.....In a kit form there is Shumatech (www.shumatech.com). However, these use Chinese mag scale calipers. Once you add on the converters to use glass scales they are not much cheaper than all the rest........
Michael

True, its not much cheaper for the dro... but remember its not only the DRO. You also get the circuit diagrqams, if something breaks after warranty chances are you can fix it. The software is open source, good in case one day you want to add some feature yourself. Or benefit from what someone else develops. You can always download the latest revision software. There is also a Yahoo group dedicated to Sumatech DRO if you need help. An ebay dealer may go broke and disappear and render your investment worthless overnight if it breaks, but a support group will be there for years to help. Chris