DRO on mini-mill - anyone have these?

mfarris · Oct 17, 2012

Has anyone installed these on their mini mill? I'm thinking of installing one of these on all three axis of my mini mill, and was wondering if anyone has gotten any good results from them. Would also love to see some pics of installation.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Stainless-Steel-Remote-Digital-Readout/T24361

V 45 · Oct 17, 2012

I have put them on all 3 axis and have to say...I like them a lot !! Good for the home shop without spending $500.00 to $800.00 or whatever on a glass scale set-up. I will post a couple pics after work. The batteries in mine are still running strong after about 9 months. The spare set still in package !! I don't have any issues with the units turning off or things of that nature.
V 45

mfarris · Oct 17, 2012

Thanks so much V 45. I am really intrigued by the price of these, so I'm glad to hear they do a descent job for the money. Really looking forward to seeing pics of how you installed them so I can perhaps do the same to mine.

V 45 said:
I have put them on all 3 axis and have to say...I like them a lot !! Good for the home shop without spending $500.00 to $800.00 or whatever on a glass scale set-up. I will post a couple pics after work. The batteries in mine are still running strong after about 9 months. The spare set still in package !! I don't have any issues with the units turning off or things of that nature.
V 45

sssfox · Oct 17, 2012

I have a pair on the X and Y axes on my LatheMaster LMT25L mill. I installed them a couple of months ago. I haven't had as good luck with the batteries, I'm already on my second set. Mine don't ever turn themselves off.

I'm really glad I bought them and I don't know how I ever got along without them.

Steve Fox

V 45 · Oct 17, 2012

Here are a couple pics for you...

I made a couple of blocks to mount and used the existing tapered block for the stop. I copied that from another site...modder.

I mounted the readout on the motor cover (I cut it to cool it better)

V 45 · Oct 17, 2012

Here is another one...

The Z was pretty straight forward...just made a z bracket from aluminum with a little spacer behind it.
Hope these help.
Dave

Lance · Oct 17, 2012

I bought one of these and have been happy with it's performance.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/XYZ-3-AXIS-...736?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ca3108978
Batteries last about 6 months. I like the large display, eyesight isn't what it used to be.

mfarris · Oct 18, 2012

Thanks for the pics V 45. I plan to so something to my x2 very soon.

V 45 · Oct 18, 2012

mfarris said:
Thanks for the pics V 45. I plan to so something to my x2 very soon.

Your Welcome !!!
V 45

mfarris · Oct 19, 2012

Also V 45, is that a 12" DRO on your Y axis? I'm asuming I would only need a 6" on my X2 since I only have about 4" of travel anyway, although it looks like maybe perhaps a 12" would be easier to mount the way you mounted yours.

V 45 · Oct 19, 2012

The Y and X axis are both 12"..The Y was cut down a little to fit. The 6 would have been too short. You can cut these with a dremel cut-off wheel in no time !! My X axis was a 24 and cut about an inch off that one.

hacklordsniper · Oct 19, 2012

I just finished putting the IGAGING on my mill few days ago, month before i put them on my lathe, very happy with them and i checked them with a good quality dial indicator and they are quite accurate. It not a DRO system with all bells & whistles as offered by OEM but for costs 10 times less

Here is some pictures:

sssfox · Oct 19, 2012

Here are a couple of pictures of my machine. I used the 6" scale for the Y axis. My total travel with the DROs installed is about 5" on the Y. I installed the X axis DRO on the back of the table because my power feed cutoff switch is on the front. I made brackets from sheet aluminum for the sensors and used the included brackets for the scales.

The first picture is the back left corner of the table and shows both the DROs. The second picture shows the power feed cutoff switch housing. Since I took these pictures, I added an aluminum swarf guard over the X axis DRO and leveled the power feed switch housing so it doesn't stick up above the table. I also added wire looms to protect the wiring.

canadianhorsepower · Oct 19, 2012

I dont know why would someone bother using these cheapy one when you can get the real stuff for less I purchace these about one year ago. The brand is Diltron one is a 2 axes for my lathe and a 3 axis for my mill
the 3axes with all the cable mounting hardware scale cost me 350.00 us
Ive install a data switch and Im changing the input from my big lathe to my Taig lathe. I didnt do it with the mill cause my small mill is CNC and it came with it

sssfox · Oct 19, 2012

Where did you find those?

I just did a search and they don't come up. When I was looking for a set, the cheapest I could find were about $700 for a 2-axis unless I bought directly from China. I could get those for about $400 and they had mixed reviews. I couldn't even find a 2-axis display for $350!

That's why people are looking for a cheaper solution. I've seen people that spent more for the DROs than they did on their mill.

I admit that they are worth it, I just couldn't justify the cost.

canadianhorsepower · Oct 19, 2012

You are here:

This is Shars tool page and this dro set is EXACTELY the same the only difference THE STICKER FOR THE NAME BRAND

8" x 20" x 6" 3 axis Dro digital readout glass linear Quill Milling Package

Product Pricing

Your Price:$705.00Availability:Quantity:In stock

Add to CartE-mail Me When This Item Goes In Sale

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sssfox · Oct 19, 2012

That's one of the sets I found for $700.

Are you saying these go on sale for 50% off?

canadianhorsepower · Oct 19, 2012

yes sir the controller itself No scale is 135.00 and you can purchase rotary encoder in state for 35 to 55 a pieces
if you don't want the big scale

Blue_Rock · Oct 19, 2012

How about these 3-axis Sinos for about $400? I've a 2-axis Sino for my lathe and it works great.

black85vette · Oct 19, 2012

Eagle America has the inexpensive ones on sale here:

Low cost DRO

Under $150 for 3 scales. I have had mine on my X2 mill for several years now and they still work great. One warning though. They DO NOT like swarf. I fabricated some clear plastic shields for my X and Y and had no problems.

DRO on mini-mill - anyone have these?

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