Cheap DRO for the mill

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
Messages
5,703
I know it's been done a few zillion times on the web but who doesn't like pics right?

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I love it! No more messing with the wheels backlash and counting turns. Now to install one on the X axis. :D

Anyone has questions or want more picture don't hesitate.
 
I have seen others do the same, but ALWAYS nice to see pictures:thumbup: Looks like you did a great job, looking forward to seeing pictures when you get one on your X!

Thanks for sharing,

Ken
 
Patrice, that's great I need to make one of those. My z skips and I really don't want to tear the machine apart to fix it.
 
Thanks Chris, I may check them out someday but when I say cheap I mean 30$ tax included for 2 calipers. ;)

Patrice
 
Patrice. I did something similar and did it to all my axis. The one on the X axis isn't long enough for the complete travel, so I set it up with an adjustable rod that I can set ro cover the area i am going to use. Jim
 
Jim, that sound interesting. Do you have any pics of your setup?

Thanks Keith that is very reasonably priced.

Patrice
 
X-Axis done. I apologize to real machinist who are probably thinking I should not be around machinery. I am learning.

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Patrice
 
Patrice,

Please excuse me, its been a long day. Do you have full travel both ways on your mill table with the way your caliper is mounted? If I am understanding what I am seeing, your only able to move the table to the right of center?

Ken
 
No Ken. The caliper has is 6". Everything I do is in that range so it is setup over my 5" vise. If that makes sense.

Patrice
 
Thanks! I understand now. You have given me inspiration to set up an inexpensive DRO on my little 6 x 26 knee mill. :thumbup:

Ken
 
Patrice, I will get out to the shop with the camera. Bot it is a mess. Got tired of fixing up and am making some knives.
 
I sort of did the same on my x-axis, but went with a 12" unit.
I also removed the center table stop and mounted the DRO at the center of the table.
It helps, as there is nothing hanging off the right side of the mill.
 
Thanks you Jim.

Howie, the vise is on the left part of the table so nothing hangs off the right side. I did not want to put it under the vise and have to bend down each time to use it.

Patrice
 
Here you go. The bolt on the bracket attached to the slide has a hole in it and when tight it hold the rod to the slider. The brass rod is clamped where my travel stop sw used to be. The piece of aluminum has a shallow groove in it. Want to reposition the table to the read out just loosen the wing nut move table get the read out slider where I want it and lock the wing nut. The other one is on my y axis. Plate bolts to one of the mills mounting bolts.
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All this mill talk made me go out and put a deposit on this guy at the local(250km away) Busy bee store. http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?NTITEM=B1977 It should be here early next month. I also bought about 900 worth of stuff lol at the store front.... I'ts a good thing I live this far away I think. The quality of this stuff looks to be improving from 9 years ago when I last was in house of tools, and prices are allot lower. I picked up 2 - 12x18x3" surface plates for $40 each, you couldn't even ship them across the country for that price! Quick change tool post for my lathe, the little 4x6 bandsaw I was after, and a few other things too.

I have not had luck with my Canadian tire caliper at all, it randomly is out .200" every now and again even after fresh batteries.
 
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