DRO and Milling machines

[jonkett]

Does any one in the group have any experience of fitting and using a DRO. I finally had a rush of blood to the head and bought a DRO to suit my X3 milling machine.

I have a reasonable idea of what makes them tick however the manual is written in Chinglish and life is far too short to struggle with it.

If any can help I would be grateful.

[Richmond]

HI,

Yup, bought several in fact.

5 golden rules really :

1/ Rigidity - Ensure there is NO movement whatsover in the scale or reading head mounts

2/ Parallelism - Ensure the scales are truly parallel to the axis they are connected to

3 / Check, and re-check the reading head is square to the actual scale along the full length

4/ Make sure you dont limit axis travel, or impede an axis, or the axis clamps. Sometimes it does take a bit of working out, and more than one trial fit.

5/ Ensure you fit them so that no coolant can enter the scale via a "direct" method. Reflective splashing is ok, but in moderation. i.e scales should face down or away from the natural direction of coolant application

Rgds
Keith

[jonkett]

Thanks

After much head scratching and a lot of help from Allendale i understand the installation a lot better.

However translating the handbook is a different matter altogether. The 'progressive progressing of rectangular inner chamber' is a head scratcher at first. It's reasonably obvious, but it makes you think.

[hudmut]

I have done this to my X3 with every thing from the same place if you would like a few pics on how i did it all just ask and ill send them on to you there is a lot work but in the end you will love them