Newall DRO

Hello Has anyone fitted a Newall NMS 300 DRO On a Colchester Bantam MK1? Having problems fitting the cross slide scale, because of the cut outs to get to the compound adjusting nuts. John

Hi John, can you use an extension perhaps an aluminium extrusion to move the scale backwards so that you can still get to the compound lock nuts. As long as the scale moves with the slide or the reader head moves it dosn' t mater that it is sticking out the back as long as it is sturdy.

David

Not a great photo but it'll give you an idea, on a M250

Hello, Thanks for the idea of hanging the scale over the back there. That is the only way it is going to fit, i thought i was buying a Bantam specific DRO kit two months later and 35 phone calls and it's still not done. The Newall scales are very cleaver. it's a stainless steel tube with ball bearings inside that the reader head reads from. You would think buying British you would get some good instructions. John

In the past I have fitted these to many machines for 5 meter long boring machines to surface grinders just use the basic clamps and make your own brackets from pieces of ally angle and plate to suit machine. You can get a single ended mount scale but only if you have 12 inch or less movement. Have a look on Newell web site.

David

Edited By David George 1 on 15/10/2019 07:47:20

Not a Newall or a Bantam, but when I fitted a DRO to my Denford lathe of similar size I had to fabricate brackets out of angle that stick out the back of the cross slide. The included brackets didn't really help. There just isn't enough space otherwise. No problems with the z axis but I had to drill and tap holes in the casting.

It's stating the obvious but I fitted spring washers and used loctite to all fittings as I found vibrations loosened the screws over time and scales lost accuracy as the fixings had some end play.

Newall scales on my Myford S7s amd Harrison M300 all overhang partly to the rear. All single end mounted with own home made mounts. Single ended mount used for Bridgeport Quill DRO

Pics in Album

Edited By KWIL on 15/10/2019 11:38:06

Kwil I like the way you have routed your cables very neat. How have you done that? I notice you are using all Microsyn scales?, the longer scale on mine is the steel type Spherosyn. I will post some photos of my install soon. John

Have a look at what JS did part way down this page

That is just the sort of information my brain has been looking for. Any thoughts on why i am getting Suds in the screw cutting gearbox? Thank's very much. John

John,

Yes microsyn on many scales but spherosyn on the Bpt (except the quill). Bpt has a summer on the vertical so sums the table and quill positions, so has to add microsyn and spherosyn together

Wiring fed through cable chains for neatness. Search KABELSCHLEPP Metool

Edited By KWIL on 16/10/2019 10:11:28

Hello I have now got the DRO installed. Problem is i find myself not using it, seems to lie as to what the OD is. Got a bit of backlash in the cross slide nut about 0.4 mm i need to make some sort of cross slide lock? Any one else had this problem? Thanks in advance. John

John,

Are you set to display radius or diameter? There will be a control somewhere to make the selection. The backlash will be on the screw, the DRO is measuring position on the slide so it is independent of slack etc in operating screws

Regards Brian

It sounds like you have some movement in the slides. You need to put a dial indicator on the saddle to the bed ground way and wind the saddle backwards and forwards to see if there is any movement as it may be crabing. Then do the same for the cross slide it sounds like there is some play there somewhere. It will be obvious if there is and you can put a ground bar in the chuck and clock along that in same manner. Hope that helps.

David

I fitted the smaller microsyn on my Colchester student On the right of the saddle, with a very thin piece of alloy angle to provide a shield. One of the newall black alloy angle mounting bars was mounted in the gap between the bed ways under it, used to stop the tailstock smashing into it.

Ill try for a photo in the morning

The thin aluminium  guard came with the set from newall  the mounting at the fromnt is slotted for positioning, the small screw end on holds the end of the sensor bar, which is mounted only at the front .  The cover is held in place with small cks “cap” screwsSeems the angle bracket also carries the sensor , it can be seen in both photosSry about the delay went to buy a loco but unfortunately the wheels were loose..... shame, was exactly what I wanted

Edited By Zan on 03/12/2019 17:36:50

Thanks for the Idea and the Photos Zan. I do like the Student its a nice size. John