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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
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    Default Adding a DRO to a small lathe?

    Rather than putting this in the Hercus section I thought it may be better served here as I imagine the difficulties would be experienced by other small lathe owners.

    I'm in the process of adding a DRO to a Hercus 260, and I'm trying to explore different options with regard mounting the X scale. Unfortunately on a small lathe like this it's always going to be a case of various compromises, unfortunately I think that's just the way it is. But I'm keen to see what others have come up with, how it affects the lathe operation (ie one option would limit the tailstock for example), what they may do differently, etc. I think it's one of those situations where there's no "right" way to install the slide, and it's likely to be more a case of which compromise suits the individual.

    It's quite likely before I start drilling and machining too much I'll literally stick the thing in place temporarily just to get a feel for how it may work out once permanently mounted, but it would be good to get some other's input and opinions, even if it's on larger lathes and it's been a "gotcha" that's come up.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    Bendigo Victoria
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    Default

    Pete, I installed this DRO

    http://www.franksworkshop.com.au/Wor...o/LatheDro.htm

    to my Steelmaster 9x20, I have described my install here

    http://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ht=steelmaster

    It may give you some ideas.

    The DRO works very well and I am about to install the VFD and 3 phase motor that came with it as my EVS/motor blew up last week. I will then get to use some of the speed functions that Frank incorporated.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    near Rockhampton
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    Default

    I would poke it out the rear if you have no splash guard... As you mentioned if you put it in the close to the slide on one side it will restrict tailstock movement close to the saddle and the other side it will get killed by swarf, if you cut like I do (bird nests flapping round the chuck at 5000rpm )
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  4. #4
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    Oct 2007
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    Sydney
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    Default

    Thanks Fred, yeah I've been leaning towards a "back sticker". I have the factory splash guard and probably wouldn't have enough room to stick it completely out the back. I'm likely to go for that one that is out the back and to one side, but very much undecided as yet. The Z shouldn't be an issue at all, but that X is a real PIA. Much head scratching, and "hmmmm's" going on here at the moment.

  5. #5
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    Aug 2007
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    One factor is, what sort of DRO are you planning on using and what type of scales.

    Glass scales are best for accuracy and well protected, but expensive, and these come in given sizes and that may limit your installation options. Particularly for the cross slide and even more so on the top slide.

    Chinese "caliper" style scales (capacitive system) are cheaper and can be both miniaturized, or even integrated in slides. But that may require some time to modify. Also accuracy is less than glass scales. They can resolve 1/100mm, but relied upon consistenlty only to half as much.

    There are other scale systems too, like the Shooting Star DRO, or systems using steel balls in a tube.

    There are other DRO systems too, like those that do not use a scale bu instead decode the handwheel position and apply a fixed backlash correction. Not so accurate though.

    I personally have made four DRO's from Shumatech kits, two 350 and two 550 models. The latter can accept a mixture of chinese scales and glass scales and is what I would recommend if you are handy with a soldering iron. See http://www.shumatech.com/

    I only have a DRO 500 on my smaller Emco lathe, not on the Hercus 260. The Hercus design does not lend itself very well for DRO's. On the EMCO I did choose to install the x scale (a miniaturized chinese scale of caliper sized beam) behind the cross slide table. There it does not interfere with the headstock or the tailstock, but prevents me to use a rear mounted milling column. On the Hercus a rear mount would interfere with a taper attachment. I really do not have a good idea how a scale could be attached to a Hercus cross slide, anywhere I can think of it would be in the way. That is why I decided for myself not to put any DRO on the Hercus.

    This is aother kit DRO from Germany, the site has some info on scale miniaturization that may help you:
    http://www.yadro.de/dro/using-display.html

    If you want, I can also post links to the way how I have miniaturized several scales.

  6. #6
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    Nov 2006
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    Bendigo Victoria
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete F View Post
    Thanks Fred, yeah I've been leaning towards a "back sticker". I have the factory splash guard and probably wouldn't have enough room to stick it completely out the back. I'm likely to go for that one that is out the back and to one side, but very much undecided as yet. The Z shouldn't be an issue at all, but that X is a real PIA. Much head scratching, and "hmmmm's" going on here at the moment.
    Yes, that's why I decided to cut a channel in the splash guard, works well.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Ballina N.S.W.
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    Default

    Pete,
    I went through the same problem when I fitted a DRO to my lathe a few years ago. I settled on mounting on the chuck side as I felt you lost too much tail stock quill travel mounting it on that side.To protect it from coolant and swarf damage I made up a housing out of aluminium to protect the reader and then covered and sealed the entire scale and reader in a piece of stainless steel angle. It has worked great with no problems. A few pictures to give you the idea.
    Bob
    Attached Images Attached Images

  8. #8
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    Oct 2007
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    Sydney
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    Default

    That's a neat install Bob. One of the issues on the tailstock side is the gib screws, and there's certainly a lot more room on the headstock side. I'll take another look at it tomorrow. I'd be concerned with the scales getting clobbered on that side, or at least hindering available room, as I often run the carriage up pretty close, but I'll check each option out. I've seen some people even mount the scales sticking out the front

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    Probably not much help but for my cross slide I have a mag scale and so one day when I finally get to it I was going to machine a recess into the (T/S) side of the cross slide and put it there. The way the travelling steady for my lathe is set up I can't have anything wider than the cross slide.

    Michael

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