Author Topic: Adding DRO's to Myford super 7 (Read 24213 times)

Don1966 · « **on:** November 25, 2012, 05:17:35 PM »

I had been wanting to add a set of DRO's to my Myford and wasn't sure which set to get. This set is Chinese made but of pretty good quality. They are glass scales. It comes with an assortment of brackets and screws to assist in mounting. I didn't have to much trouble mounting the cross slide scale besides making some L shape T Nuts to mount it to the T slots on the cross slide. I had to run the DTI along the top and side to align the scale. The scales come with a set of locking devices to help with the proper alignment. Once the scale is positioned and DTI in place, I removed them. I am missing a piece of alumimum to complete the saddle scale with. Hopefully this coming week I can find a piece suitable. The Photos below is my progress so far.
This first photos is making the L shpe T nuts.

Making the base plate to attach the scale to the cross slide with.

This is some photos of the scale mounted to the cross slide

a shoot of the digital display as it is mounted to the side of the lathe

The back side of the lathe I started to mount the brackets for the scale slide mounting. the alumimun stripe I will need the secure the scale to the base of the lathe with.

I will be out of town working tomorrow so I will complete it once I return.

Don

Jo · « **Reply #1 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:23:59 PM »

Quote from: Don1966 on November 25, 2012, 05:17:35 PM

I will be out of town working tomorrow so I will complete it once I return.

You cruel man! I wanted to see the final assembly and to get your thoughts on how good having a DRO on a lathe was

.

I suppose i will have to wait. (I am not good at waiting

)

Jo

Goldstar31 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:48:02 PM »

I've sort of been there before but I'm just as curious to see how clear the armoured cables are.
Again, I wonder how one copes with a taper turning attachment which bolts onto the holding stud holes on the Myford beds( ML7's and Super 7's)

My DRO's were fitted to the cheaper magnetic black boxes. They helped but I still have problems with 'four letter words'

I'm all eyes

Don1966 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2012, 06:42:37 PM »

Unfortunately I don't have a taper attachment. The scale will be mounted where the attachment would mount.
Sorry Jo, but work takes preference and week after next I go on vacation for a week. This coming week will be a full one also.

Don

chuck foster · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2012, 06:59:11 PM »

jo i have a dro mounted on my old 9" south bend lathe and it works great.

now if i could work as good as the dro i might have a chance of making some stuff as good as you.

chuck

steamer · « **Reply #5 on:** November 25, 2012, 09:41:47 PM »

Nice Don!
Whos scale did you use

Same question for you Chuck!

Dave

Don1966 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 25, 2012, 10:37:00 PM »

They are Sinpo scales Dave. These scales are made in china. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SINPO-2-axis-digital-readout-kit-for-Lathe-applications-/221078186670?ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123

Don

chuck foster · « **Reply #7 on:** November 25, 2012, 11:05:12 PM »

dave, my scales are made by sinpo as well (just like don's) but my display is a bit different as is can be used for a milling machine.

by the way don i forgot to say NICE SET UP ON YOUR LATHE.

chuck

Don1966 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2012, 02:49:20 AM »

Thanks Chuck, I noticed Sinpo has a set for the mill also. I have some grizzly scales on my mill right now and they do help to count, but I don't rely on them for accuracy. Later I want a more ridged mill and will add better scales to it.

Don

Bogstandard · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2012, 07:01:13 AM »

I was a little worried when I converted over to all DRO, thinking that it would take me away from the mechanical side of machining, which for me personally, I didn't want to do.

But a few years down the line, getting older, losing good eyesight, blah, blah, blah, I have found that in fact it has helped me greatly to achieve and retain the accuracy I always strove for.

They take away the little 'niggles', like having to back off and come forwards again to take up backlash in your system, as they show exact slideway movement, in both ways, forwards or back, in fact, I don't even need to look at the machine scales any more.

So to anyone who thinks it is getting away from the basic roots of mechanical engineering, don't worry, they are just a modern day 'upgrade' to help you in your shop.

The next step up from these DRO's are power feeds, which have been around for more years than I care to remember, and if you are anything like myself, have allowed me to carry on for a lot more years, because of my personal infirmity.

John

Don1966 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 18, 2012, 10:20:29 PM »

OK guys and gals,

I know its been a while since I post anything about this but work and vacation had me all wrapped up. So today I managed to complete the modification. I started with a piece if 3'' Aluimunum for a back plate to mount the scale to. I bolted it to the existing holes in the lathe which were orginally used for a taper attachment. Once I secured the scale to the backplate I ran a DTI acroos the top and side of the scale to line it up. The scale comes with an alignment bracket on the slider itself so that was pretty easy to set up once scale was aligned. I still have to set the calibration when I tested the Z axis it was off by .006 per 5 inch and the X .010 per 5 inch.

The scale has a linearize function to correct for offset and that will be done.

So here are a few photos of the set up. The saddle scale was a little longer then it should have and I guess I gave the wrong measurements but I made it work without returning it.
Setting up the Aliumunum backplate.

With the scale mounted a all secured.

The protective cover installed

completed

Don

zeeprogrammer · « **Reply #11 on:** December 18, 2012, 10:43:39 PM »

Well I'm thinking your life just got a little easier.

DROs are definitely in my future. Far-off maybe. But someday.

Jo · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2012, 07:13:50 AM »

Thanks Don,

I noticed that you have put your cross slide scale on the left hand side of the saddle. I have also seen them mounted on the rear of the cross slide. Has the loss of tailstock travel had any adverse effect (yet)?

Your cross slide scale is also some what smaller than the saddle one: Did they charge any extra for the small scale?
--------
I wait to hear your feedback as I am still thinking about putting DROs on a couple of my Lathes....... more expense

Jo

Bogstandard · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2012, 07:32:07 AM »

Lovely job Don, well thought out and executed.

You should be well pleased with the results.

Jo,

Glass scales (at this time) usually come in three sizes. The smaller the physical size of the scale, usually, the more expensive they are.
Not a lot, sometimes just a few pounds between each size.

Most people use the large for where it won't be seen (along the back of the lathe), and medium (if they will fit) anywhere else. You only tend to use the very small ones when things get really tight.

John

Don1966 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2012, 02:09:43 PM »

Thanks John, and yes Jo the cross slide scale is smaller and it comes with the set. When you order you have to give the the travel dimenisions and they send the scales to fit. I tested the tail stock travel before mounting the cross slide scale and you only loose a small amount of travel. I don't see it as any problem. If it does I will remount it. It does take up the spot where my carriage lock was. I now use the one I made for stopping. All in all I do like them.

Don

steamer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2012, 10:04:27 AM »

Very Attractive to me Don!

I'll keep that in mind for the SB.....but its' still a ways off.

Dave

Xldevil · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2013, 01:35:41 PM »

Hi.
Hello

Nice job,Don.

That's how I solved the problem mounting a scale to the cross slide

I tried to keep the full travel of the tailstock.

Cheers,Ralph

Don1966 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2013, 02:17:25 PM »

Thanks for showing Ralph, I had been thinking of moving it to the back the same way you did yours.

Don

Don1966 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 06, 2013, 01:44:01 AM »

Well I finally getting around to redoing my cross slide DRO. There are a couple of reason for redoing it. For one had some trouble with the compound slide, a problem adjusting the Gib's, took up some room for the tail stock and took some meat off my knuckles. So this is my version of the modification.
First I made a bracket to attach to the back of the carriage. The bracket is made of two pieces. It is attached by two Allen socket head screws and so is the cross bar. Attached to it is the DRO Scale

This next photo I am squaring a piece that will be used to hold the slider for the scale.

after working it over with the bandsaw and milling it square between cuts this is the bracket all drilled and ready to attach to the cross slide.
Also had to tram it level to the cross slide.

Then I had to square the piece that will attach to the cross slide bracket and will hold the slider.

After mounting the main bracket and attaching it to the slider bracket here is what it looks like.

I hope someone finds this useful with there conversion. All in all these DRO's have been a joy to use they are very precise.

Don

Jo · « **Reply #19 on:** March 06, 2013, 07:46:23 AM »

Don,

I hope you realise that your posting might be costing me money: Today I will either be buying a bridgeport or ordering a DRO for my Prazimat. I really need to find a cheaper hobby.

Jo

pgp001 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 06, 2013, 01:12:15 PM »

I have just taken delivery of a 3 axis DRO system to fit onto my Alexander milling machine.
I had a quote of over £500 from one of our well known UK suppliers, someone on another forum suggested contacting the DRO Store for a quote.

I eventually bought the full kit from them with the more expensive slimline scales and an LCD readout for under £400.
http://www.thedrostore.com/details-promo-3i.htm

It was posted last Monday and arrived on Friday, which you probably think sounds about right for the UK, but it had come all the way from Singapore via Fedex.
You will now be wondering how much the postage cost me, it was £0.00

Phil

swilliams · « **Reply #21 on:** March 06, 2013, 01:22:15 PM »

Quote from: Jo on March 06, 2013, 07:46:23 AM

I really need to find a cheaper hobby.

Na - you just need to find a higher paying job

Steve

Jo · « **Reply #22 on:** March 06, 2013, 02:14:03 PM »

There are other alternatives

I lost out on the Mill so the postman is going to bring me a nice new DRO for the lathe as a consolation prize.

Jo

Don1966 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 06, 2013, 02:20:58 PM »

Jo, one of the reasons I post the mod was for your benefit. Sorry if I caused you to spend money, but I don't believe you will regret it. I love there use and I ordered a 2" DTI for my tail stock. I figured a way to install it.

Don

Jo · « **Reply #24 on:** March 06, 2013, 02:38:25 PM »

No worry Don,

I have a pair of cheap LCD scales and hooked them up again on Saturday whilst I was doing my barrel turning and decided that no the DRO on the Mills were just so much nicer, it is bonus season and I normally look to use it to buy something that I would not normally have brought. I now need to decide what to do with these two 8" LCD scales. One could go on the tail stock

I am a great believer that tools are best brought as early as possible in life so that you can get maximum benefit out of them. The Bridgeport mill I nearly brought went for a fortune: £1850

So this is a bargain.

The trick now is to avoid fitting a second set to my Colchester master and put the remainder of the bonus towards this little engine:

I just need someone to remind me of this little promise

.

Jo

Jasonb · « **Reply #25 on:** March 06, 2013, 04:28:19 PM »

Ah your purse will be bulging now that you missed out on teh mill

Where did you order the DRO from, Allendale or the cheaper guy in Singapore?

Jo · « **Reply #26 on:** March 06, 2013, 04:47:08 PM »

A gentalman in Nottingham by the name of Colin

He promises me it will be delivered on friday.

This is the one I brought: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-axis-digital-readout-lathe-applications-complete-DRO-kit-/321051085864?pt=UK_Measuring_Tools_Levels&hash=item4ac022cc28

Jo

Don1966 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 06, 2013, 06:31:58 PM »

Jo, I would check this again I see no mention of the scales. By the way that is the same unit I have. Did he get in touch with you about the scale dimensions before he shipped? The scales would make the unit cost about $500 state price.

Don

Jo · « **Reply #28 on:** March 06, 2013, 07:07:54 PM »

Yep, I spoke to Colin personally to order the correct length scales and also confirmed the order by Email.

The advantage of buying from this Uk company is that the import duty is already paid which if I brought from Singapore directly it would have put the total price up to £310.

Jo

Bearcar1 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 06, 2013, 08:11:17 PM »

It never occurred to me Don, and I guess I never had any reason to pay that close attention to such things, but I never realized that you had a Myford. I am jealous as Hell. They are such beautiful machines. There are others on my list of *wants* but alas, all things must pass. DROs have also always been on that long-ish list, but those will become reality before I do grow

. When the weather does finally decides to get warmer here, the first thing I have to do is get the Bridgeport I bought down into the shop. C'MON! Springtime!!

bc1
Jim

Jo · « **Reply #30 on:** March 06, 2013, 08:20:30 PM »

I have a spare S7B complete with lever feed tailstock, capstan equipment etc that will be going when I find myself a Bridgeport.

Jo

Don1966 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 07, 2013, 05:12:02 AM »

Quote from: Bearcar1 on March 06, 2013, 08:11:17 PM

It never occurred to me Don, and I guess I never had any reason to pay that close attention to such things, but I never realized that you had a Myford. I am jealous as Hell. They are such beautiful machines.

bc1
Jim

Jim they are really nice machines. I happen to buy this one from one of the guys on the MEM forum last year. The DRO just adds to its quality.

Jo, read the manual well and leave the scale locking clamps on till you have it lined up and bolted then remove them. Also the linearity of the scales have to be tested and adjusted. There is a coefficient fact you will add to make them linear and read correctly.

Don

Jo · « **Reply #32 on:** March 07, 2013, 07:05:26 AM »

Don:

Thanks this will be the third set of DROs I have fitted. I previously fitted them to two of my milling machines: http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,803.0.html

Still looking for a home for that Myford.

Jo

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Author Topic: Adding DRO's to Myford super 7 (Read 24213 times)

Goldstar31

chuck foster

chuck foster

Bogstandard

Bogstandard