Thread: Cheapo DRO

Originally Posted by Com_VC

hehe it seems more natural for me to look to the right.

I have gotten use to it over the years, but will try the other side and see how it goes. I have seen some guys mount them on the left.
I also tried the lathe readout on the carriage like the larger lathes, but didn't like it as much because your looking away from the work instead of just up.

Dave

G'Day Gents,
I mounted the displays to the left as there was more room and the controls for the power feed and quill lock are on that side and being just on 6 foot with a stuffed back I more often than not use the pig sitting on a stool, slightly to the left. FWIW the DRO on the lathe is mounted above the headstock, so looking to the left is quite natural for me.
Regards,
Martin

The y axis scale on the mill is very inaccurate This is most likely because of the way I mounted it. My question is do the scale have to be level to read Accurately this is probably stupidly obvious

Yes (If I understand what you have asked)
Think about your trigonometry - consider that the scale is running on the hypotenuse. The mill ways are the adjacent. Any angle will mean you read the real distance divided by the cosine. Only when the mill way axis and the scale axis coincide will you get a true reading.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Yes (If I understand what you have asked)
Think about your trigonometry - consider that the scale is running on the hypotenuse. The mill ways are the adjacent. Any angle will mean you read the real distance divided by the cosine. Only when the mill way axis and the scale axis coincide will you get a true reading.

Michael

There is also the mechanical thing to consider. You have a little box running on an aluminium rail, this is fixed to your Y axis. If the two are not in alignment you are straining the whole setup mechanically, getting binding in one or both in both planes.

So, I made sure my scales were in alignment in both planes using a dial indicator.

Well this evening I made a new bracket to mount the y axis readout

although I am stil not getting an accurate reading. I set up an indicator against the cloum of the Mill zeroed it a nd zeroed the readout moved the indicator .2. I have a feeling that my readout is faulty but once again it is probably me.