DROs etc

[PeteParticipant @pete41194]

Anything electrical is just about beyond my knowledge as well Graham. And I don't know if the idea may or may not interest you. But one thing I have learned is most dros today use a fairly narrow range of signal types they operate with. There were a number of others used on the much older dro systems, but a lot of those now seem to have been abandoned. If my information isn't faulty, most of today's dros will use one of about 4 – 6 different signal types. As long as those are the same for both the reader head and the display, plus the number of wires used are the same. Then the plug end can be easily changed over to suit the connection type on the rear of the dro display. For your purposes, then finding something to fit a small mill like that as a complete off the shelf system could be difficult, expensive or impossible as you've found. A display using different scales and reader heads and some well thought out machining on the table or slides to gain some clearance might be the only possible way to do so in a cost effective way. For that machining and knowledge about how and where it could be done without any adverse effects, then imo few would understand that better than yourself.

Yes it was on a Bridgeport with standard sized scales and reader heads. But the ROBRENZE channel on Youtube had a video a few years ago where he mentioned he mounted his X axis scale and head inside the table to eliminate mounting it on the front of rear and have much better protection. Unfortunately he didn't actually detail or show exactly how that was done.

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

Hi Pete,

Thanks for taking time out to post your reply. I was un-aware that the systems now use a fairly common number of signal types.

Unfortunately there is no room inside the slides for the reader even at 10 x 12 m section. Space is that tight that it needs the backlash adjusting screw on the Y-Axis feedscrew to be backed off, in order to remove the cross slide assembly. The feednut of which completely fills the cast in cavity.

Thus any DRO will have to be mounted externally and the smaller it is the better. The only other alternative is to fit two waterproof Digital Scales. Although this will not be small by comparison. This was done by the original designers of the Proxxon Mill, the Sakai Special Camera company. I have seen a picture of this set-up some years ago, but have been unable to locate that on the web recently. It was at the time sold as a kit.

Thus at the moment I am undecided as to which way to go.

Once again thanks for your input, it is much appreciated.

Regards

Gray,

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Looking at the mods you have done the magnetic tapes could simply be stuck over the engraved scales you already have. You then only need to make provision for the mini encoders. The X encoder could be mounted to the left of your stop and the Y take the place of the pointer and it's rod that you have. The stop clamps could just be modified to clear the tape if you still wanted to be able to us ethem.

Edited By JasonB on 29/09/2023 10:57:34

[Graham MeekParticipant @grahammeek88282]

Hi Jason,

The mill above is used mainly for milling while the one below is intended for co-ordinate work and it is this machine that I was intending to fit the DRO to.

I was going to add this picture today on the Proxxon post, as I have just finished the new table feed attachment.

Regards

Gray,

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