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Posted: 2/3/2011 3:32:56 PM EDT
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Anyone with hands-on experience with installing and using a DRO PROS Digital Readout on a vertical mill?
Any better options (without going too extravagant with the $$$) I'm looking to add a 2 axis (maybe 3 axis ?) DRO to my machine and would like input from someone who has been there, done that. |
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Would help to know what mill you want to DRO, and what functions you want the DRO to do.
If a smaller unit, you can go with a DRO-550 and Chinese scales for a lot cheaper. Or if a larger unit, glass scales and a signal converter for the glass scales using the DR0-550. The DRO-550 comes a few different ways, being that you completely build it from scratch, or you can buy it with the major assemblies already completed and you just put it together. The nice thing about the DRO-550 is that it is programed with open source code, and if you want it to do something special that is does not do now, writing/finding code so it does that is a snap. If you just need plain read out of alone with only a zero function, Chinese scales and if you have a spare old laptop that will run Win2K,, then you looking around $30 for the USB converter (read done for under $150 with scales as well). Really, some of the features of the more complex DRO's are nice, but when you get to the point that you are using all of them, it just about time to just CNC the machine and go that way instead. By the time you start plugging everything into the DRO for a major project, you could have just used one of the wizards in something like Mac 3, and let the machine do the work itself (read final product completed way, way faster when it's all said and done and since you can save the G code for the project, reload is quickly if you need to make the piece/do the project later down the road). So, it all comes back to the functions that you want on the DRO, if you need glass scales since you are going to flood/looking for scales that will be less maintenance in the long run, and what machine all this is being bolted to. |
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From what I understand, the scales(for any DRO) must be aligned within a very narrow tolerance or the unit will not work/last. They need to be as parallel to the ways as possible to reduce errors. OP- why you want a dro? Got something special in mind or just easier? Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Its a RF-31 Mill/Drill. Most of its work is drilling sight or scope base holes in barrels and receivers, and milling front and rear sight cuts on 1911 slides.
Nothing too intricate (I just know how to do the things I know how to do...) but I would like to make the process of centering a part, spacing scope base holes, etc. a bit easier than counting handle rotations. |
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Shit, buy two starrett rules (6" & 12") and a fine tip sharpie for that.
If your holes are 1.463" apart mark off 1.450" and just know your dial needs to go another .013". That's how I do things without a DRO... They are very nice for bolt circles and things, but I don't know that I would have much faith in my ability to install one. Of course it's to test with an AGD, but if it's wrong it may not be easy to fix. I hope I'm not discouraging, just trying to show some of the things you may face should you install one. Unless the machine has factory drilled holes for a scale; thatd be slick. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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The least expensive for two axis, two chinese scales, USB converter, and a laptop or Iphone.
http://www.msh-tools.com/DRO/lathe.html A simple DRO package with it's read out, and if you are just going to do two axis for now, even cheaper. http://www.shars.com/products/view/2417/Three_Axis_Electronic_Digital_Display_wscales A step up would be he DRO-55O with Chinese scales from there. http://www.shumatech.com/web/products/dro-550 From there, you get into glass scales, and although very good, may be overkill for the machine, and the light work that you using the DRO for. |
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The least expensive for two axis, two chinese scales, USB converter, and a laptop or Iphone. http://www.msh-tools.com/DRO/lathe.html A simple DRO package with it's read out, and if you are just going to do two axis for now, even cheaper. http://www.shars.com/products/view/2417/Three_Axis_Electronic_Digital_Display_wscales A step up would be he DRO-55O with Chinese scales from there. http://www.shumatech.com/web/products/dro-550 From there, you get into glass scales, and although very good, may be overkill for the machine, and the light work that you using the DRO for. dano you just cost me $363 Been wanting a DRO for a long time, your post and a good scotch did me in. 
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The least expensive for two axis, two chinese scales, USB converter, and a laptop or Iphone. http://www.msh-tools.com/DRO/lathe.html A simple DRO package with it's read out, and if you are just going to do two axis for now, even cheaper. http://www.shars.com/products/view/2417/Three_Axis_Electronic_Digital_Display_wscales A step up would be he DRO-55O with Chinese scales from there. http://www.shumatech.com/web/products/dro-550 From there, you get into glass scales, and although very good, may be overkill for the machine, and the light work that you using the DRO for. dano you just cost me $363 Been wanting a DRO for a long time, your post and a good scotch did me in. Which set up did you go with? Maybe I'll break out the Knob Creek and go shopping. |
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The least expensive for two axis, two chinese scales, USB converter, and a laptop or Iphone. http://www.msh-tools.com/DRO/lathe.html A simple DRO package with it's read out, and if you are just going to do two axis for now, even cheaper. http://www.shars.com/products/view/2417/Three_Axis_Electronic_Digital_Display_wscales A step up would be he DRO-55O with Chinese scales from there. http://www.shumatech.com/web/products/dro-550 From there, you get into glass scales, and although very good, may be overkill for the machine, and the light work that you using the DRO for. dano you just cost me $363 Been wanting a DRO for a long time, your post and a good scotch did me in. Which set up did you go with? Maybe I'll break out the Knob Creek and go shopping. From CDCO Machinery Corp The order consisted of the following: Item Number: 39309 Item Name: Electronic Digital Scales (Horizontal) Price Each: $95.00 Quantity: 1 This Total: $95.00 Item Number: 39315 Item Name: Electronic Digital Scales (Horizontal) Price Each: $60.00 Quantity: 1 This Total: $60.00 Item Number: 30011A Item Name: 3 - Axis DRO Display Unit ( Scales not included) Price Each: $189.00 Quantity: 1 This Total: $189.00 |
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Word of advice,
I would send the DRO read-out back to CDCO, and get the one from Shars that I listed instead. A lot of people where having problems with the CDCO DRO brand read out, (with power, scale, and display problems), and the one from Shars does not have such problems (why I listed them instead in the above post). |
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Being a customer of all those sources I would have to say get the DR0-550 and get the new scales they just added support for.
Issue with all those shars/cdco units is the bodies must be mounted with isolated mounts because the use a positive chassis ground. My DRO-550 will be going on my sinker EDM. |
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Thought that everyone know that changing the Chinese scales to negative ground was a given.
http://www.msh-tools.com/DRO/scales.html But a huge Plus for the DRO-550 instead since it will run power to the scales so you don't have to worry about batteries for them (just replace the batteries with capacitors). Your only looking at about $100 more dollars for a kit with the assemblies already built (just have to put them together in the case), and have a fully programmable DRO, instead of just zeroing and centering on the simple DRO's. |
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Quoted:
Word of advice, I would send the DRO read-out back to CDCO, and get the one from Shars that I listed instead. A lot of people where having problems with the CDCO DRO brand read out, (with power, scale, and display problems), and the one from Shars does not have such problems (why I listed them instead in the above post). I took your advice and returned the order and picked up a Sino SDS6 2 axis DRO. This has a lot of additional functionality and uses glass scales. Just spent most of today getting it set up on my mill/drill. I only had time to play with it a bit but I like it already, this will be a force multiplier. |
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