DRO's

[Hopefuldave]

DaveH Wrote:Hi,
Has anyone fitted DRO's to their lathe?
DaveH

Not to mine, can't figure out ways to:

Dodge the almost-permanently-fitted taper adaptor on the rear (T-slotted) flat or the carriage apron (considering installing one between the ways over the bed ribs, where all the swarf and cutting fluids can get at it :S) ;
Get enough clearance for the cross-slide scale without encroaching on the production stops;
Allow for the double cross-slide (that the taper adaptor moves the lower part of!);
Find a glass scale small enough for the topslide...

Annoying, really - I have a repaired 3-axis fancy readout I could use!

I have though fitted numerous DROs to lathes and mills (2-axis on lathes, usually 3-axis on mills), happy to do what I can to answer any questions that arise :)

The Important Considerations are:

Precise alignment of the scales (horizontally and vertically) with the read head's travel (I aim for within 0.05 - 0.1mm, 2 - 4 thou" end-to-end, a DTI on a mag base moving with (e.g.) the carriage makes this attainable) to avoid damage to the glass in glass scales;

Rigidity of mountings, both of the scales and the read head - no good if the drag of the read head cable pulls it 10 thou" out of alignment;

Making *Sure* that nothing gets in the way, there's no chance of the read head hitting the end of the scale (expensive...) and that the hardware doesn't get in anything else's way! Too easy to fit it all and then realise you can't get to the carriage lock, the oil port for the carriage ways, the.... Don't ask.

Dave H. (the other one)