Thread: DRO Recommendations

Hi Greg,

Thanks for that info ! It will be interesting to see how I get on with them. I didn't know about the length though.

I just measured the bed lengths, so it will be interesting to see how much they add for the read head. I wonder if they can be cut down like the magnetic scales. As far as drilling holes in the mill, I'm not overly fussed about that. Whoever gets the mill after me is welcome to it !

I'll post when I get mine and take some pictures.

Glass scales can be cut there are a few youtube videos showing how, mounting the scales does take some thought as they need to be adjustable in two planes to ensure alignment, the leads are easily shortened as long as you have a small soldering iron.
The calculator function is a bit clunky as you need to enter leading zeros and for me it is easier to just pickup a hand held calculator - the circle hole function is great for getting equal spaced holes set around a circumfrence, I had to do a dummy run through the process as the manual instructions are not that clear, I've also used the straight line hole function to drill a line of equally spaced holes when making amplifier turret boards.
I have a 2 axis DRO on the lathe and there are times I don't turn it on if precision is not required - on the mill though I only ever used the DRO now.

Originally Posted by familyguy

Glass scales can be cut there are a few youtube videos showing how, mounting the scales does take some thought as they need to be adjustable in two planes to ensure alignment, the leads are easily shortened as long as you have a small soldering iron.
The calculator function is a bit clunky as you need to enter leading zeros and for me it is easier to just pickup a hand held calculator - the circle hole function is great for getting equal spaced holes set around a circumfrence, I had to do a dummy run through the process as the manual instructions are not that clear, I've also used the straight line hole function to drill a line of equally spaced holes when making amplifier turret boards.
I have a 2 axis DRO on the lathe and there are times I don't turn it on if precision is not required - on the mill though I only ever used the DRO now.

Hi FamilyGuy, Guys,

I got an Email a few moments ago from Ali-express, saying that my DRO order has been dispatched along with a tracking number.

Now if the order page is to be believed, I can expect delivery within the next 10 to 15 days. I won't hold my breath !

Has anybody used the Touch DRO setup. Am thinking of that with a 1 micron scale for X and a 5 micron for the Z on the new lathe

Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

Has anybody used the Touch DRO setup. Am thinking of that with a 1 micron scale for X and a 5 micron for the Z on the new lathe

Have a look at Mark Preslings YouTube channel, he’s done a bit of content on installing one on his mill.

Originally Posted by racingtadpole

Have a look at Mark Preslings YouTube channel, he’s done a bit of content on installing one on his mill.

I saw that but hoped a few more had played with it. I will order one and see what happens, can always get a conventional display if i don't like it.

I know nothing about touch dro but I dont think those igauging scales are that accurate, also if you do need accuracy then you need a dro that you can adjust the linear compensation.

Originally Posted by shedhappens

I know nothing about touch dro but I dont think those igauging scales are that accurate, also if you do need accuracy then you need a dro that you can adjust the linear compensation.

There are several versions of touchdro for different types of scale. I would only use good Glass scales, Ditron

Originally Posted by oldbuggermike

There are several versions of touchdro for different types of scale. I would only use good Glass scales, Ditron

Mike I just had a bit of read at the touchdro website and it looks good, linear compensation/calibration is an important part of the dro installation process that nobody seems to do but when you accurately measure the travels they are not correct out of the box.
https://www.touchdro.com/resources/g...libration.html

Originally Posted by shedhappens

Mike I just had a bit of read at the touchdro website and it looks good, linear compensation/calibration is an important part of the dro installation process that nobody seems to do but when you accurately measure the travels they are not correct out of the box.
https://www.touchdro.com/resources/g...libration.html

thats a big part of the attraction for me

Originally Posted by BaronJ

Hi FamilyGuy, Guys,

I got an Email a few moments ago from Ali-express, saying that my DRO order has been dispatched along with a tracking number.

Now if the order page is to be believed, I can expect delivery within the next 10 to 15 days. I won't hold my breath !

Hi Guys, Replying to my own post !

I've just received an Email from Ali-express saying that my package is now in the UK and is waiting customs clearance. The tracking showed that it left China yesterday and arrived in the UK just over an hour ago (7:am UK)