Fitting a budget DRO to a Warco WM14 milling machine

This thread is about how to fit a budget readout to a Warco or similar milling machine. I have never really bothered about fitting a readout to a lathe but I consider a readout on the mill is essential.

While the X axis mounting is fairly standard, the Y axis uses a technique I have not seen before. (It took me a couple of weeks to think of the best way to fit the Y axis.) The method will be useful for any mill with an angular tapered base.

The Warco budget readout console shown above.is battery powered and has readouts for the X and Y scales of the matching digital slides.

You are welcome to copy the photos and drawings for personal use only.

Comments are welcome as are questions. No question is stupid if you don't know the answer.

Edited By David Clark 1 on 16/11/2015 10:55:44

The readout scales used were from Warco. Although fairly low cost I did not use the budget ones.

The scale above is the Y axis one, the X axis is the same but longer. Both scales and the readout console will have new batteries fitted. I purchased these from Ebay at about £6 for 10 batteries, genuine Duracell ones. The X scale will have a 90 degree miniature USB connector fitted so the lead does not interfere with the machine base, I used a left-hand adaptor but right-hand ones are also available. The Y axis probably won't need a right-angled adaptor.

The milling machine above is a Warco WM14. Note the angled sides to the base casting.

The stops and table lock have been removed ready to fit the readout. The stops will not be refitted but the table lock (not sure if one or both yet) will be replaced by a long Allen screw. The Y axis table locks are at the right-hand end and will remain in place as the readout scale will be fitted to the left-hand side of the machine.

It looks like you will be doing the same set up as I have done on my WM 16...

Y axis...

The scale is fastened at an angle, but as long as you set it level horizontally & ensure the read head runs smooth it poses no probs, I've not had any bother with mine set up like this, about 18 mo. now.

X axis...

different read out from yours...

George.

Hi Mechman48

I am mounting mine in a similar place but square (90 degrees) to the table.

Edited By David Clark 1 on 18/11/2015 20:37:41

David I shall be really interested to follow this thread as I to have a warco WM14, I have hands like chimpanzees feet and I find accurately using the dials awkward so this looks to be good upgrade

Regards Mick

I'm in the process of fitting a DRO setup to a Myford Lathe using the same slides.

I'm using Shahe scales bought through AliExpress, I had no trouble with ordering and the slides arrived in 2 weeks.

**LINK**

I'll ditch the displays and will use TouchDRO on a tablet or mobile phone, see Yuris Toys, this has lots of options for setting up drilling patterns and plenty of tutorials online, There is an alternative screen for lathes.

**LINK**

This uses some interface hardware based on Arduino all described on his site and picked up on Ebay

All in the parts for a 2 axis kit were about £100. Fitting the cross slide scale will be the hard part, not too much room on an ML7. After Christmas there should be plenty of cheep used Android Tablets around to use as a screen, I'll look for a Tesco Hudl or a cheep chines clone they sell used about £20.

I'll post some pics when I get it up and running.

Regards

Peter