Milling Machine WM18B DRO Thoughts

[norfolkandgood]

Wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experience in choosing a middle of the range 3 axis DRO for a Warco Milling Machine. Having looked at the baffling range Chinese  kits available and the usual Youtube exponents and influencers my head hurts!
Guy

[uuu]

Machine DRO turn up to several of the exhibitions so, being UK based, you'd have someone to talk to. They sell kits for Chester machines, and are likely to know what would suit your Warco. Here's their website: Machine DRO

I'm not a customer, but someone on this forum probably is, and may be able to comment.

Wilf

[jon38r80]

Warco sell glass optical systems for your machine and have a table on their website that tell you how much travel on each scale you need. I am not suggesting that you should buy theirs but what they sell is commonly available elsewhere more economically. I bought a three axis head unit but only fitted the horizontal scales on my WM16 as the head movement having quil and slide way is difficult to capture as you need somehow combine the two movements. I didn’t buy mine from Warco but bought from others at the best price for each bit. At the time the scales from Chronos were better priced. As this stuff is generally made in China to a common spec it’s best to shop around I didn’t buy the head unit from Chronos and have had no comparability problems.
I don’t find the lack of the third axis a problem as the quill has one built in.
I bought a three Axis head unit in case I decide it would be helpful to fit A Z axis scale but avoided the cost of the scale for now.

Ebay is probably your friend if on a Budget. I don’t have any bias against Machine Dro, you only have to poke about on the internet to find many singing their praises. I was trying to be parsimonious.

[92220]

Whoever you buy from, buy an optical unit. There is far less chance of outside influence on readings such as might be experienced with magnetic units. I have bought 3 3-axis DRO sets from Machine DRO, over the years, and the one that is on my Senior Milling machine, was bought in 2003. Should I need any more, that's who I will go to again. The Machine DRO units will fit any brand of milling machine.

Bob.

[johnd]

I converted a WM16 type machine about 5 years ago, it took a lot of planning as i used parts from a number of different suppliers. I did it on a tight budget, i had no choice at the time. The only advice i would give to anyone contemplating a diy installation is to concentrate on one axis at a time, plan, install, move to next axis, otherwise it can be a bit intimidating.
A couple of years ago i converted my S7 lathe to two axis DRO, i used a kit from Machine-dro, nice installation, straight forward, but costly when compared with my mill installation.
You pays your money and takes your choice.

[jem]

I have a warco milling machine, and had a 3 axis DRO fitted. but I never use the z axis scale, it is very difficult to wind the z axis up or down, so I fitted it with an electric motor to move it, I bought a digital read out bar, from arc for the quill, and that is what I use for the z axis. I really dont think you need 3 axis DRO, but it is up to you, what do others think?

best wishes

Jem

[dscott]

We have some of Warco's to fit to the WM 18 but with its issues with a very hot Motor have not got round to them.
Then it chewed a drive gear.
You Tube have a long list of people fitting a belt drive to various models.
Funny how the new one WM 18 B is belt drive.
And a couple fitting DRO's.

Thoughts originally of fitting it at the back but the amount of swarf heading that way put me off.
Lily who collects it into small plastic food trays using one of the Hunslets Shovels did the comparison.
The adjustable stops slot at the front looks great for fixing it to at the extreme ends.

David and Lily.

[johnd]

David and Lilly,
Fitted my ‘X’ axis scale at front, used stop slot at front, spaced scale about 15mm from face. This allowed stops still to be used by using hex bolts and allowed spanner access from top and behind of ‘X’ scale. Fitting at front also allowed full ‘Y’ travel.
I have also fitted a single speed belt drive to mine, did away with the gears, now quieter. In hindsight i would now go the extra mile and fit a two speed belt drive conversion, I really need a lower rpm with higher torque.
Also adapted the MEW stepper drive cross slide power feed to mine, great success.

John