Needs Pictures: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 26
Thread: DRO Recommendations
-
18th Jan 2021, 10:12 PM #1Golden Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2019
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 596
DRO Recommendations
I have finally got my Fexac UP mill wired and working. I would like to put a 3 axis DRO on it. Something on the cheaper side but accurate and reliable.
Anybody have any recommendations?
Anybody fitted a DRO to one of these mods before?
-
18th Jan 2021, 11:42 PM #2Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Location
- Southern Flinders Ranges
- Posts
- 1,552
I put one of the 3axis Sino package deals that HAFCO sell on my RF45 early last year. It works, pretty happy with it.
-
19th Jan 2021, 12:00 AM #3Golden Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2019
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 596
That one is at the top of my list at the moment. I would assume it is at least accurate to a thou or just under.
-
19th Jan 2021, 07:51 AM #4Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2011
- Location
- Southern Flinders Ranges
- Posts
- 1,552
The resolution of the scales is as quoted.
-
19th Jan 2021, 10:26 AM #5Golden Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2007
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 574
I fitted the 3 axis version of this one a few years ago, still going ok with no issues, might pay you to watch a lot of youtube videos on installing on various types of machines just to see how others do it and where they mount them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPeZu3RaFec
-
20th Jan 2021, 12:36 PM #6Golden Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2015
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Posts
- 843
I got this over the xmas break. Just installing it atm: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3270...58c511a3DdQ32W. Seems alright, but installation takes some time - lots of brackets to be made and drilling and lining stuff up. Still working on z axis ...
-
20th Jan 2021, 05:32 PM #7Diamond Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- South of Adelaide
- Posts
- 1,227
we have a Sino on our slotter and a Jenix on the vertical borer at work both have been very good. Main thing is to mount the scales solidly, and with good alignment.
-
20th Jan 2021, 06:28 PM #8Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2012
- Location
- Healesville
- Posts
- 2,129
You can get an easson dro kit with lcd screen from the dro store for 530 bucks, the sino kit at hare and forbes is 600 bucks.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1000...archweb201603_
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/K5202
There is plenty of cheapies on ali express if that is what you want.
-
20th Jan 2021, 09:05 PM #9Golden Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2019
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 596
Although the LCD is much better looking I think I need to stick with known quantities and buy what others can confirm work. At this stage the Sino is the front runner given that an Accurite is too exy but that Easson looks nice
-
20th Jan 2021, 09:50 PM #10Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2012
- Location
- Healesville
- Posts
- 2,129
-
20th Jan 2021, 10:03 PM #11Golden Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2019
- Location
- Adelaide
- Posts
- 596
Ok good to get the thumbs up. I did note the long scale is 1000mm whereas my Fexac table travel is slightly over that. Grrr
-
20th Jan 2021, 10:11 PM #12
-
20th Jan 2021, 10:59 PM #13Most Valued Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2012
- Location
- Healesville
- Posts
- 2,129
-
21st Jan 2021, 12:45 PM #14Senior Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Location
- Tamworth, NSW
- Posts
- 205
I'm also very interested in the recomendations here. For my mill being so small I think I am going to need compact scales so this is another consideration and teh Ali express site is often hard to determine just which scale and the dimensions they are offering.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who bought some more compact scales to get their thoughts.
-
22nd Jan 2021, 04:54 PM #15Golden Member
- Join Date
- Aug 2015
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
- Posts
- 843
baronj,
The unit seems alright especially given the price. The actual DRO unit feels pretty light but it'll do the job. The actual scales themselves seem very well made. The dust sealing is really good and the movement feel good too. I've nothing to compare it to, but, my amateur opinion is, as long as it all keeps working, it'll do me. The DRO unit has some real troubles if plugged into the 4-way power board as the VFD. It just goes stupid so just needs to plugged into a different power socket. The scale leads are made of a kind of wound metal, like a shower head hose, and I thought it might snag on things but really, they just slip over and accross stuff without snagging - so pretty good. The leads lengths are pretty generous as well.
The scales are cut to whatever length you like. I think they add a little extra. Be wary though, you tell them the TRAVEL, not the total length you need. The total length they make is the travel you specify + some extra + about half the length of the reader head + the mounting points. Their site will say what total extra length all that comes to.
The supplied mounting brackets were useless for me. Though for other machines they may apply. The mounting arm is also useless for me. I went with another means that meant not drilling into the side of the (bridgeport) mill.
Depending on your mill, be prepared to start making brackets and some means to mount and align the scales to make sure the reader movement aligns with them. Honestly, that can take a fair bit of time, measuring, measuring again, and again ...
Similar Threads
-
MIG Wire Recommendations
By what-da in forum WELDINGReplies: 2Last Post: 29th Jun 2019, 09:57 AM -
Mig welder recommendations
By snapatap in forum WELDINGReplies: 16Last Post: 2nd Dec 2018, 06:20 PM -
A new machine vice - recommendations
By bollie7 in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 46Last Post: 9th Sep 2018, 04:06 PM -
End Mill Recommendations
By 19brendan81 in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 5Last Post: 17th Aug 2018, 07:14 PM -
4 jaw chuck recommendations
By snowyskiesau in forum METALWORK GENERALReplies: 39Last Post: 7th Oct 2008, 06:11 PM