Cut down DRO

I am thinking about adding a Z axis DRO to my SX1L micro mill.

If I bought one of the inexpensive (aka cheap!) remote DROs like this one from WARCO **LINK** could I shorten/cut down the scale as I will only need about 3" of travel on a small machine like this at max?

Looks identical to the type I cut down for my mill. No bother at all.

Dave

I have been content with the twin axis readout for my lathe (**LINK**). Marginally more expensive for a single channel, but cheaper if two scales are needed. It has worked well (within its specification - reads only to 0.01mm or 0.001” .

Scales can be shortened (its in their description 🙂 ).

Unless you specifically need a remote readout the scales are cheapeper by a lot.**LINK**

edited to get rid of the emoticon glitch thing🙂

Edited By not done it yet on 21/08/2020 12:55:48

I fitted one to my Warco WM16 in place of the standard one. I have made a small circuit to connect it to a cheap android tablet running the TouchDRO app. ( I have 3 axes ) .

I cut it to length with no problems.

I initially fitted 2 of these to the x and y axes but found the display as supplied a bit small, so that’s why I am using the TouchDRO app. Plus it has extra features.

Stuart

I had a look at them but I worry about where the readout will be. How readable is it if it's mounted low - or, alternatively, when mounted higher, how vulnerable would it be to things going on on top of the milling table?

The price is pretty attractive, of course.

I am just basking in a sea of smug today. My second hand Sealy milling machine had a very iffy speed control but I have just replaced the switch / pot and it works a dream. I feel more inclined to do some more things on it, rather than with it!!

Andrew