Fitting DRO scale to WM16 Milling Machine

[johnd]

Thought this may of some interest.
Several years ago i assembled a Touch DRO system to my milling machine, which is one of the many G0704 or Warco WM12,14,16 etc types.
The Touch DRO system is a home built interface using an Arduino board and cheap scales, the type with an individual display. You cut off the display and connect to the Arduino, then use a tablet application to have a DRO readout. It worked perfectly for years, but lately has stated to misbehave.
So have purchased a LCD display and glass scales.
Many people have gone this route on this type of milling machine but usually they fit the X scale to the rear of the machine to keep the limit stops and table lock, which are on the front.
This is fine but it results in lost Y travel equivalent to the depth of the scale used. I wondered if i could fit the scale to the front and still maintain the stops and table lock. Thus still having the full travel of the machine available.
Therefore i set about mocking up the scale as shown in the photo just using studding and some nuts.
The table is shown at its forward limit, the scale has a gap behind it allowing limit stops to be used and the two long studs prove that the table locks are still accessible.
Of course this is just a mockup, machined spacer blocks will be produced and custom stops, locks, covers etc.
I will post a photo of the finished item when complete, assuming it works.

[wink]

I fitted an M-DRO kit to my WM14. The very good instructions suggested fitting the x scale to the front of the table as you have done, but I decided to fit it on the rear as I didn't want to lose the table lock. I'm quite happy with the scale on the rear - I'm usually working on fairly small stuff and the loss of table travel is no problem - in fact I'm more likely to run out of travel moving the table forward. But I suppose it all depends on where the fixed jaw of your vice sits on the table.

[johnd]

Wink, i can fully understand you fitting the scale to the rear of the machine if you never use the full travel.
In my use of the machine i need the full travel to be available as i, as well as a model engineer, i restore and rebuild old cars. So the size of parts can be quite large.
The way i intend to fill the scale will give, i hope, the full use of the locking levers, we will see.

[wink]

I should have noticed the clue in your avatar!

[jon38r80]

I fitted my glass scale to the back of the table on my WM16. yes I did lose a bit of travel, the depth/width of the scale cover. I did sort out the rubbish method of holding the ways protector for the column and base ways on as the Warco ones took up quite a bit of the travel so got some back. I didnt want the scale on the front as I was concerned that even with its covere iut would be prone to damage by its clumsy owner. I could have lost a bit less travel by leaving off the cover but felt that it made it vulnerable to swarf and lubricants.

[begineur]

Quelqu'un a-t-il surtout monté un DRO Touch et des règles en verre sur une fraiseuse Myford VM-F ?
J'aimerais bien, pas de difficulté pour X  mais ce n'est pas la même chose pour Y du côté gauche ! ( Le moteur d'avance  de l'axe X est situé sur le côté droit de la fraiseuse... donc une règle ne pourrait être installée que sur le côté gauche, sous la table longitudinale....)
Merci pour votre aide.( Texte rectifié le 16/3/23..)

[begineur]

UP..!

[johnd]

Machine Dro a des images pour installer un dro sur un VM-C. J'espère que cela sera utile.

www.machine-dro.co.uk/latest/post/dro-install-images-of-a-myford-vmc-milling-machine

[begineur]

Thank's, but for the Y axis on the right side there is the feed motor!! So I can't put a glass scale on the side; on the opposite side the Z- axis drive screw complicates the installation of the glass scale!

[johnd]

Hi,
Just found some photos of a VM-F and can see the problem, no easy solution.
The only photos, i could find, of a VM-F with a 3 axis DRO fitted seemed to show the scale on the left hand side above the knee lifting handle but you cant see any detail or the brackets used.
Wish i could be of more help, but good luck.

[begineur]

Mar 18, 2023 12:56:25 GMT johnd said:

Salut,
Je viens de trouver quelques photos d'un VM-F et je peux voir le problème, pas de solution facile.
Les seules photos, que j'ai pu trouver, d'un VM-F équipé d'un DRO à 3 axes...
J'aimerais pouvoir être plus utile....

Hi, have you the photos of this VM-F ? 
Thank's and have a good Sunday.

[ron61630]

I have a 3 axis MDRo and fitted the X axis to the front... for some reason i still can get at the table lock keys.. Will take pics if reqd and for a left handed complete idoit no engineer...it went on like a well worn riding boot

[johnd]

Mar 19, 2023 16:10:03 GMT ron61630 said:

I have a 3 axis MDRo and fitted the X axis to the front... for some reason i still can get at the table lock keys.. Will take pics if reqd and for a left handed complete idoit no engineer...it went on like a well worn riding boot

Hi Ron,
If your mill is a Myford WM-F yes pictures would be appreciated, especially the “Y” axis.
If you have a WM16 machine thanks but my conversion is complete now. I do intend to post some pictures but i am out of the UK at the moment.
Thanks for you interest
John

[johnd]

Pictures as requested.
First picture shows “z” axis.
Second picture shows “X” axis and you can see a second cable coil on the drip tray which is probably for the “Y” axis.
The third photo seems to show the “Y” axis fitted near the knee.
Sorry the photos are poor quality but that all there is.

[begineur]

Hi, thank's everybody.
The third photo isn't really very usefull, what a pity.. and I don't see the Z scale on the first one ... but no problem as for me.
This morning I have found a thread on model-engineer.co.uk about fitting  scales but on a VM-C... 
www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=183505&p=1

Where did you found the three photos? The author is ?

[johnd]

Hi,
i may be incorrect but i think the “Z” axis installation is shown thus:-

A - Read head
B - top of scale bar
C - Read head cable

The photos are of a machine that was for sale, now sold, on www.pressxchange.com

john

[johnd]

Been out out the country for some time so have only just finished the first phase of the dro fitment, “X,Y&spindle “Z” all working.
I did manage to fit “x” axis whilst still retaining the table stops and axis locks.
The second phase is to fit the main column “Z” and build the combiner unit to add both the outputs of “Z” axis scales.

[jon38r80]

I only have X and Y on my WM16 because of the quill and moveable head. Where can I find out abouyt the combiner you intend to build. Is it commercial (ie on the internet) or is it your own design. When I looked before ( some time couldnt find anything

As you have made mention of it I just had a quick look again and there is now a surprising amount of informatio/ideas out there now. Ill look into it more and perhaps finaly get the three axis control I originaly wanted.

[johnd]

There is a commercial unit available from machine-dro, you just need to make sure that your scales pin output match the combiner inputs.
I will be constructing my own using an Arduino board, i just enjoy the challenge.
There are a number of home made units on the internet, when i have made and tested my unit i will report the results here.