Mini Mill DRO – opinions please

[Robert Bowen-CattryParticipant @robertbowen-cattry70600]

Good afternoon all.

I’m starting to look into options for a 3 axis DRO for my Warco WM16b.

Amazon/Ebay sets range from £250-£300. Machine-DRO.co.uk range from £500-£600 for what appears to be similar units.

My question is, is it worth paying the extra or are the Chinese import versions OK for home/hobby use?

 

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

I think you’ll find they all originate from there

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

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.

 

[Robert Bowen-CattryParticipant @robertbowen-cattry70600]

Thanks gents.

I did wonder if they all came from the same factory, as many things do. And I would probably get it from Amazon as I find they are more helpful when it comes to problems/returns.

[Robert Bowen-Cattry]

On 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.

 

[Phil SParticipant @phils66830]

If you are looking for long term reliability I would avoid displays that use membrane keypads. Difficult to identify type just by looking. If just one key fails in a few years time you are unlikely to find a replacement panel, whereas a switch soldered to a pcb can probably be replaced.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

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.

[Robert Bowen-CattryParticipant @robertbowen-cattry70600]

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.

[Robert Bowen-Cattry]

On 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.

[Machine-DROParticipant @machine-dro]

Hi Bernard,

Our M-DRO Consoles are Chinese manufactured, however, our magnetic encoders, magnetic tape, Alu profile and machine specific bracket sets are a combination of UK and EU manufacture 🙂

We are investing more in UK manufacturing and increasing our own facilities with a further 4500 sq ft assembly area.

 

Regards,

Alan Ward
http://www.machine-dro.co.uk

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

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

[Wink HackmanParticipant @winkhackman25989]

I fitted a 2 axis M-DRO magnetic scale kit on my Warco WM14, which is very similar to the WM16, just a bit smaller. Came with all the necessary fitments and clear instructions with photos, plus very helpful telephone support when I had a query about one of the brackets.  I fitted the x-axis scale to the rear of the table because I preferred it that way. It all works perfectly. Good luck with support from Amazon.  IMO you get what you pay for.

[Ian HewsonParticipant @ianhewson99641]

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

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

Thank you for your recommendation, I’ll give their pages another turn.

I have been very happy with my low cost DRO, I didn’t expect any support, unfortunately I do have to be a little imaginative with my purchases because I don’t have the resources to buy the best, as much as that might be desirable.

[Paul McDonough]

On 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.

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

Thanks Peter I will check these out.

I do look from time to time, but its easy to miss stuff in the maze of things for sale!

[Wink Hackman]

On Wink Hackman Said:

Good luck with support from Amazon.  IMO you get what you pay for.

I agree with the sentiment Wink, however there has to be a value attached, and at double the price of the Amazon unit I personally don’t think there’s enough value. £300 for correct brackets, instructions and advice isn’t in my budget for what is just a hobby machine, and to be fair if I can’t figure out how to fit the scales and make brackets I really have no business owning the machine in the first place

[Wink HackmanParticipant @winkhackman25989]

Should maybe clarify that the M-DRO kit I used is magnetic scales, not glass. They’re more compact.

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

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.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

I purchased a 3 axis DRO from Ebay for my Warco 16B about 2 years ago. So far I’m happy. The seller, from the West Midlands, also sells on Amazon, but at seemingly slightly higher prices, extra postage cost and several days longer delivery time. The glass scales are 20mm x 42mm profile, ie; the smaller of the sizes mentioned above. All the mounting brackets etc. had to be shop made, so about a weekend’s work.

Ade’s Workshop on Youtube covers the fitting of a DRO to his 16B and is a good starting point.

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

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

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

The outfit that I purchased from is called “FastToBuy”. They have a website.

[Robert Bowen-CattryParticipant @robertbowen-cattry70600]

Fasttobuy were the company I ordered from via Amazon. Looks like the eBay price is £30 less. I’m happy with that, I’ve got a little more protection via Amazon for a small amount more.

[Paul McDonoughParticipant @paulmcdonough43628]

Thank you, you’ve been most helpful

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