Member postings for Volans

Thanks for the reply. I will think on. I did think that using the DRO might be too complicated.

My old mill had so much backlash that I ended up replacing the screws with ball screws. The new one has far less - a maximum of 0.15mm, I read somewhere the max. feasible backlash that could be compensated for but can't find it now.

I used the keyboard for manual movement. A strange thing, every so often when I start the program the direction on the Z axis would reverse and would have to go into setup and invert it, never did find out why. I have also CNC'd my rotary table ( 1mm = 1 deg)

Following the demise of my mill which I had converted to CNC, I bought a new one. You could have knocked me down with a feather when the 'boss' said get a decent one - so I did. Although I hadn't considered it beforehand I ended up with one with DRO.

2 Questions.

I use Linux CNC. The 1st, which I will not do until the guarantee ends, is, is it possible to use the DRO to control the cnc?

And secondly ( I don't think they will, but thought I'd better ask) would the stepper motors affect the DRO?

Edited By Volans on 29/12/2021 11:28:49

Wow! thanks for all the prompt replies.

I am about to start to build my 1st stationary engine. Many years ago I worked for a company that restored traction engines, as well as industrial boiler services.(Eastern boilerworks, perhaps someone out there remembers them) - I only mention this so that you know I've a working knowledge of steam.

I have B.A. & metric (course) taps & dies. I notice that ME threads are used for fittings, is there any reason for that? Basically I can't decide whether to stick with what I've got, or buy a set of ME.

Also I read somewhere that ME threads can't be cut on an ML7, but my threading chart shows both 32 & 40 tpi???