DRO repair

[stevec]

I've been having problems with the DRO on my mill of late and had been putting off looking into it.
A little bit of working "back to the dials" is good motivation.
I was experiencing E20 readings on the X scale so I switched the inputs to see if it was scale related or in the electronics of the Mitutoyo DRO. The problem switched to the Y scale so I knew it was in the reader head or glass scale.
I removed the plastic "wipers" and carefully wiped the glass scale with a nice clean cloth.
I then put the wipers back, ooops better get the camera, better late than never.
   
The plastic shields (I guess that's a better term)
came out and went back very easily.
   
Then I remounted the scale. I know, I know how come it's such a long scale for the X of a mill. It's because it came from a large VTL.
(Thanks again Claude)
   
Back in business both X and Y behaving like they should.

[doubleboost]

Pleased you got it sorted
Watching the dials is a good motivator
It is possible to shorten the scales but nasty problems can rear there heads
Nice solid looking mill you have there

John

[EdK]

Good old Mitutoyo stuff. I'm a big fan of Mitutoyo.

Ed

[stevec]

John, I wouldn't dream of shortening the scale and the pitfalls involved therein. The excess projects to the rear of the mill and isn't at all in the way.
The mill is a Tree 2UVR and I love it.

[f350ca]

You'll be tackling watches next. Good feeling when you dive into the unknown and don't come up gasping.

[PixMan]

Are those the AT102 scales? I have what appears to be the same scales on dad's lathe here, though we have an older generation box with all mechanical push-buttons.

When I had trouble with the long scale, it turned out to be the reader head had worn itself right through the aluminum diecast stalk because it had been knocked out of alignment. Because it was on the back of the machine I didn't know it was being damaged until the display just stopped while I was still cranking the carriage along.



The damage was limited to the reader head. The 800mm long scale was still fine. I found a 150mm scale on Ebay and bought it for about $50 (if I recall correctly.) I removed the head from the new one and installed it on the old 800mm scale. I still have the 150mm scale and housing if it's of any use to anyone. Hell, I'll even ship the busted reader head with it if anyone wants to try fixing it. It was still putting out a signal last time it had power to it!

[stevec]

Pix, that reader head sure looks like the ones on my DRO, especially the little bearing rollers, connecting rod and enclosure.
150mm is just shy of 6" so it's too short for me.

[claudef]

Well Steve, it's nice to see you take time away from your tractors and work on some real shop problems.. Next time we need more pictures.

[stevec]

I must lack confidence in what I'm doing, that's why I don't take a lot of pics of the progress or lack thereof.