DRO setup for a mini lathe

[Steven KingabyParticipant @stevenkingaby28820]

Advice requested on buying and setting up a DRO for a mini lathe – is it worth the effort for 110mm cross slide

[Steven KingabyParticipant @stevenkingaby28820]

I have a Warco 240 mini (or is it bench – not sure how it's categorised) lathe. I'm considering installing DROs but realise that a) they are more common on mills and b) on a lathe this size (cross slide travel of 110mm) there is very little room and installing them would be difficult and they would likely get in the way and reduce the travel of the tail stock towards the chuck. Further I'd have to modify the cross slide and main 'saddle' clamping bolts.

Thus, does anyone have any words of wisdom on whether or not this is worth the effort, any tips on how to do it and also recommended products. I'd be quite happy using the battery type DRO's – I don't need a full installation with the digital display panel – and would only install it on the cross slide – not the main 'saddle'

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Hi steven

i fitted DROs to my SIEG SX2 minimill. Totally transformed if for me. Highly recommended. There are some pics in one of my albums. Cover them to protect them from swarf. I didn't and have had to replace the x axis after about 18 months as I got swarf in it. I have Perspex cover on it now , fixed with Velcro so,it's easy to remove. You are right, space is tight, and would recommend a remote display as you may have difficulty reading the displays on the DROs themselves. Mine are tucked away.

Regards

bob..

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Steven,
I think a DRO on a lathe is very worthwhile. I have fitted one to my Chester DB10G (Which I think is based on the Seig C6). I think this is about the same size as your lathe. The scale on the cross slide is a modified 150mm caliper and I do not find that it gets in the way. I did fit a scale (100 mm caliper) on the compound slide which I have now removed as this did get in the way. Here are some pictures of how it is mounted.

Note. The reading from this scale is displayed on a Shumatech DRO350.

Les.

Edited By Les Jones 1 on 11/11/2014 22:20:11

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Hi Steven,

I can definitely recommend having DRO on a lathe, and I find the Z-axis one just as useful as the X-axis one. I fitted the BW Electronics wire system to my first lathe – its very compact and worked very well. When I upgraded to a bigger lathe the wire system was too small, so I fitted the normal glass scales. I wouldn't be without DRO now.

[Steven KingabyParticipant @stevenkingaby28820]

Thanks all for the excellent feedback – I think I'm going to do it

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