Buy UK based stock on Ebay, electricals shipping direct from China are returns at your expense, which isn’t subsidised by the Chinese government. In other words it’s gambling money.

On 24 June 2024 at 15:53 Robert Bowen-Cattry Said:

Thanks gents.

I did wonder if they all came from the same factory, as many things do. Urban myth which comes from copying the same design. There is a better one that has more chance of being true where the cheap stuff is from quality rejects.

 

And I would probably get it from Amazon as I find they are more helpful when it comes to problems/returns. Wise man.

I have just installed a Chinese set on my SX1LP. Three 1 micron scales (I made a mistake when ordering!),  150mm (for Y axis), 250mm(Z) & 350mm(Y), and a Sino 3 axis display unit sourced from AliExpress. Total cost (I presume including taxes as I wasn’t charged anything by the couriers – they came as four separate parcels) came in at just over £200.

However there were no fitting instructions, the included brackets were very basic and the swarf guards way too big for my machine – so there was extra costs in materials and time, but overall I’m very happy with the result.

By the way Dave as I understand it postal costs from China to the UK are actually subsidised by our post office not the Chinese government. Postal treaties  obligate the local post office to deliver without charging the sending country. The theory being that they get their costs back on the charges they make when people send stuff the other way. The Chinese postal service doesn’t charge the UK for delivering there. It’s the reason Trump pulled the US out of the Postal Union.

On 25 June 2024 at 08:38 Robert Bowen-Cattry Said:

Thank to all for their advice, I think I’m going to go with the Amazon one, it’s £299 and comes with an LCD screen and I can order the exact lengths I need, rather than having to cut the scales down.

I appreciate I could save some money by buying from Ali Express, but the extra is worth it to me to have backup from Amazon if something goes wrong.

Very wise.

I am very pleased with the one I bought via Amazon:

“https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BY968YKN?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details”

Like most optical scales, they are a little bulky for the size of the machine but only the X-axis scale caused a slight reduction in table travel in the Y plane, I was able to find room for the Y & Z axis scales with no difficulty.

If I could find a similar product with slimmer scales to suite my 8″ x 16″ lathe I would be happy to buy. This product remains illusive at a similar economic price.

I would be very happy to hear of anyone who has managed to find a 2 axis DRO with suitably slim scales mainly the Y- axis due to limited room around the chuck side of the carriage

It also is worth considering the size of optical versus magnetic displays when fitting to a smaller mill. Fitted M DRO optical to my SX2P with good results.

Ian

On 27 June 2024 at 09:19 Paul McDonough Said:

…

Like most optical scales, they are a little bulky for the size of the machine but only the X-axis scale caused a slight reduction in table travel in the Y plane, I was able to find room for the Y & Z axis scales with no difficulty.

If I could find a similar product with slimmer scales to suite my 8″ x 16″ lathe I would be happy to buy. This product remains illusive at a similar economic price.

I would be very happy to hear of anyone who has managed to find a 2 axis DRO with suitably slim scales mainly the Y- axis due to limited room around the chuck side of the carriage

This was the main reason I went to Ali express  for my SX1LP. The Amazon scales, in common with most I found, are 28 wide x 42mm high with the read head (and gap) adding another 20mm to the height to give a total of 62mm. These Ali Express Scale are 20 wide x 27 high, with the read head and gap adding the same 20mm in height – so overall 47mm high.

The reduced width of 28mm was useful for the X axis, while the lower 47mm height made the Y axis simpler.

Yes I note that magnetic scales are generally more compact and I am not adverse to using them, I do however prefer the packaging of the optical scales I have, I just wish they were more compact.

Hi Clive, I would be interested to know who your ebay seller is please.