Dro for mill

Ordering a 3 axis dro from china in the next couple of days to fit to my Toolco vm32. Essentially same as the Warco Wm18.

If anyone has the same sort of setup would be interested in any photos or details on lengths of scales which might help me avoid any pitfalls.

X axis travel is 840mm and was thinking of ordering 700mm scale to avoid overhang as the scales are plus 141mm. My thinking is you would never use the full length of the x axis. Does that sound right ?. Y and z axis the overhang wouldn't matter

Tia

Brian

840mm is the table length, you will only get 565mm of travel so a scale that reads 600mm would do

Mistake number one? Warco blurb says table is 840 and travel is 565?

Suggest you check carefully.

Why do you think that's wrong NDIY - are we talking about the same measurement?

On my WM18 the:

• width of the table is 840mm
• The length of the T-Slots is 700mm (giving the maximum clamping distance)
• The right-left travel is 565mm. (ie. the maximum distance that work can be traversed under the spindle in the X-axis. At maximum extent the overhang is considerable and there are stops to prevent overbalancing and/or winding the table off the stand .)

My DRO scale is 840mm wide. Although functionally unnecessary I felt using the full width looks better! Jason's suggestion that 600mm is enough is a little tight because you also have to allow for the width of the reading head which varies with model. Mine is 75mm suggesting my particular DRO/WM18 combination needs a minimum track of 640mm.

Fitting a DRO scale to a WM18 isn't complicated if you have enough track, I guess 700mm would be a safe minimum. It might get hairy if you overthink the job and minimise track in an attempt to save a few quid.

Dave

Dave the 600mm reading length allows for the read head as the whole thing is going to be about 750mm long depending on head size. Also saves blocking up the drain holes on the back of the table which a full width scale would do.

NDIY is correct in saying the tabel length is 840mm but Brian said he had 840mm OF TRAVEL which are NOT the same thing and would need a table of over 1000mm long.

Some scales can be damaged if they bottom out at the ends. Recommended to allow a bit extra than the table travel to avoid problems. Or fit permanent stops to restrict travel. I use the full extent of the table travel and sometimes wish I had more.

Hi Brian,

This may be useful from the Warco Website **LINK**

Scroll down a bit for the application table

Regards

Lofty

Of course you are correct in that table length and not travel is 840mm. Like Silly old duffer says it looks neater with a longer scale which is why i suggested 700mm. Overhead on length is 140mm total and should just clear the coolant union. You still pay same price upto 1000mm so no reason not to

Thanks FMES

mes. I saw that a few months back but couldnt find it when i looked the other day.

Can't understand why the y and z axis are so long.

I was thinking 200mm for y and 350 for z. I think there is only 330 mm and 200 travel on the machine

Edited By Brian Rutherford on 26/03/2018 14:21:03

700mm scale plus 140 at the ends = 840mm which is full length of table so will block the drain holes, by the time you add on a bit more for the backing track and cover you will be sticking out the ends of the table

Says 220 and 370 for travel on Warco site so like Paul says go the next size up so you don't crash the head into the end of the bar.

Once you have got the correct read length work out the overall length inc covers and see where that comes on the machine, it may pay you get a longer scale particularly on the z-axis for easier mounting as it won't cost you any more.

Edited By JasonB on 26/03/2018 15:21:36

SOD,

TBH, I had no idea whether the OP’s mill was not exactly as the Warco item, whether there was exra cost for longer scales, etc. As usual, JB got there before me, but I did know Brian stated that his table travel was differentto the stated clone.

I was only questioning if there was a miskake (note the ? at the end of the sentence, not a full stop).

Personally, I don’t particularly like ‘spare’ unused scale as it can be a hindrance at awkward times. Some can be shortened, some cannot.

I’ve yet to come across a scale that would not read its listed length. Most have a few mm to spare at those sort of lengths.

Finally, guessing may not be the best method. Measuring (twice?) is far better!

Too busy, at times, to waste time typing - as my dear wife needs dressing, showering and getting to the clinic on time. (I’ve now got about three hours, or so, to wait before taking her home - we were here for 10 1/2 h two weeks ago).

NDIY / Jason - a storm in a tea-cup due to me misreading Brian's original post, oops!

Sorry,

Dave

If you are talking about run of the mill glass scales, you can always cut them down if you find the length could be usefully reduced on your installation. Fairly straightforward using basic hand tools.

Murray

Jason been able to measure up this evening. 700mm scale just fits but with the covers on it would be too tight so 650mm it will be. The z axis only moves 330mm not 370mm as Warco & Toolco both claim. I think they are adding on the quill travel! So i think i need to choose between 350 and 400mm

The cross slide 250mm is ample.

Jason can you post a picture of the fixings for the y-axis please???.

Thank you all for your help

Brian

Pic was just one I found on the net but this is where it came from which shows X&Y being fitted

Ordered the 3 axis kit on March 28th and was delivered today at 9.30am. This is the second set i have bought from the same supplier on the bay. Both times without a hitch. The 2 axis ones for the lathe i had £12 duty to pay plus fedex charge £10 for admin. To fit both lathe and mill has cost me less than £400. Bit of a bargain i think.

First job is to tidy the workshop and clean the machines ..

Was the lathe DRO a "proper" lathe flavoured one with radius / diameter mode - or actually a 2 axis milling DRO? I have a spare 3 axis system that could go on my lathe but it lacks some of the useful features and has other stuff (bolt hole circle etc) that has no use.

Yes, a link would be helpful.

Murray

Very useful thread - thanks to all

I am considering purchasing this for my Tom Senior M1: https://www.machine-dro.co.uk/3-axis-mill-dro-kit-with-magnetic-encoders.html

Is there anything I am missing or should know before proceeding?

Looking at JasonB's photo, Does fitting the scale to the back of the table reduce movement in the Y direction?