Paul,

I fitted a Sino 3-axis DRO (from Allendale) to my FB2 mill a few years ago; it has worked faultlessly and has transformed my ability to do precision work. I would personally never bother with those cobbled-together systems using recycled digital calipers and the like, but I appreciate not everyone can afford the proper stuff.

My own feeling is that a DRO is far more useful on a milling machine (for both milling and drilling) than on a lathe, since when one needs a precise diameter on a lathe one normally approaches slowly and checks with a micrometer.

David

Edited By David Littlewood on 08/01/2013 02:30:36

David

I have just received a Sino DRO from father christmas, and was wondering if you have any photos of your setup, as I shall also be fitting this to an FB2.

Thanks

Colin

Colin,

As requested; let me know if you would like bigger copies PM'd to you.

Y-axis scale

X-axis scale

Note the stop at the base of the column, which is to protect the X-axis scale from contacting the base and possibly suffering damage. It does limit the Y-axis travel slightly, but I have only found this a very minor inconvenience which I have always been able to work around.

Though I bought a 3-axis system, I didn't fit the Z-axis scale until a few months later, so I don't have a decent photograph of it; I'll try to get one posted later. It was a little more fiddly to fit as I had to fabricate brackets at top and bottom, but I was able to do this fairly easily from the generous supply of Al brackets supplied by Allendale/Machine DRO.

BTW, although the Z-axis is (obviously) of little use when drilling, it is invaluable when milling, and I would say that without it the system is missing half its functionality. I recommend anyone to get the proper 3rd axis scale; it is better to have them all visible on the same monitor, and the position of a Z-axis scale is necessarily a little exposed – at least on this machine – and it needs to be robust and well protected.

David

Edited By David Littlewood on 08/01/2013 16:39:33

Paul,

You could ask the price for Newall DROs because the Microsyn Scales are only 5.64mm diameter carbon fibre tubes, naturally the Read Heads are larger. They are, being industrial, more pricey than Sino etc, but in the end you get what you pay for. 5 year warranty on DRO and for life on the scales.

I have had excellent service on 4 machines currently fitted with this system. They are virtually indestructible cf. the glass scale versions that are about and do not notice coolant and oil, being completely sealed.

How have you stopped or reduced the amount of head movement David when altering the height? Different reading when locking up unless precision toleranced. Round column same as my small very accurate Clarke.

Take it the usual Y1 feed there isnt one and only for drilling, no fine feed.

Jon,

The FB2 has a rectangular guide on the LH side of the column, with a corresponding groove in the head, which is fitted with a proper gib strip. In over 25 years of using it I have found it remarkably good at maintaining the head alignment on moving the head up or down.

Not sure I understand your other question. There is fine feed, by which the entire head is moved up or down the column (and to which the DRO scale is attached), and a hand-feed quill for drilling, the handle for which can be seen on the last photograph. The latter has a movement of 40 mm and can be locked with a lever when miling.

David

hi yes that is their web site,, http://www.ems-i.co.uk/

my magnetic tape is enclosed on all sides,

mine is the second one down in the pic, Open Extrusion Magnetic Scale

http://electronicaems.com/magneticscale.html

also here is a link i found very useful,, a range of vidoes to show cutting to length and installation info.

http://www.dropros.com/Electronica_Lathe_Digital_Readout.htm

ray

Edited By ray jones 1 on 10/01/2013 20:33:07

Ray,

Please post your photos one per line; if you post them side by side this stupid forum software stretches out the text on everyone's popst and takes it under the pesky advert strip on the right.

Jon,

The FB" has a gib strip bearing on the side of the locating bar and is adjustable by screws in the normal way; the column, being round, provides lateral location, and in the (unlikely) event of wear can be adjusted by means of a vertical slit and two stout clamping bolts.

It works!

David

hi paul,

EL 400 looks very neat. well made. The buttons are "REAL "buttons

not "plastic buttons" on a membrain- as in some calculators.

glass slides etc, these cannot be cut to length, if your travel is say 150 mm, ,plus mountings

etc your total length overall would be , say 220. mm

If the glass slide was 250mm, it could not be cut, you would have 30 mm overhang.

The one I have has S1 magnetic slides, they are slimline , enclosed, yet very robust and totally swarf and coolant tollerant.

they are rated at 5 microns and display to 4 decimal places

to cut them to,length takes 5 minutes and is fool proof and easy,

unscrew the one end.( 2 – 3 mm scews)

take out stainless strip guard.

put the slide in my chop saw

slide stainless strip guard.back in

ray.

supplier:

MARK HUDMAN EMS

MOBILE 07595 036601

WORK 0116 270 6891

EMAIL

WORK mark.hudman@ems-i.co.uk ;