Santa might be good to me this year!

[steamer]

A lathe DRO might be on it's way from the North Pole sometime soon....Santa needs to make it for me....I'm considering just 2 axis on the SB...anyone put a DROPRO dro on their 9" SB?


Dave

[Don1966]

Early Christmas Dave? Your going to like it on your lathe. Since I did my Myford it made life easier using it. And I also did the tail stock GT had designed with a micro dial.


Don

[steamer]

Early Christmas Dave? Your going to like it on your lathe. Since I did my Myford it made life easier using it.


Don

2 or 3 axis Don?

[Don1966]

Two axis I did the tail stock micro dial by GT

Don

[steamer]

Nothing on the compound right?

[propforward]

Funny. Just ordered a DRO PRO kit for my lathe today. Decided just the two axis set up (nothing on compound) - fitting a third axis would be a real challenge. I added DRO PRO’s magentic slides to my mill - was very happy, so looking forward to this, and I think it will be a great addition to your SB lathe.

[crueby]

Mmmmmm..... Tools for Christmas!   

Hopefully Santa still has his workshop up north, and does not send things via the LA container ship port, or you will get the DRO next summer... 

[propforward]

There’s a cheery thought.

[Kim]

That's an exciting Christmas present to look forward to!
I love my DRO.  It's 2 axis, nothing on the compound.  I use the compound from time to time, but the things I use it for, the dial marks have worked out just fine.  Didn't seem worth the additional complexity and it seems that it would get in the way of everything.  I'm not sorry I stuck with the 2 axis on the lathe.

I did add a separate stand-alone DRO to the tail stock, which does see a fair amount of use.

You'll love it, Dave!

Kim

[steamer]

Thanks guys!   I'm really looking forward to a DRO on the lathe.    I know she deserves it, and my eyesight will appreciate it!

Prop, which resolution did you go with?   

Dave

[Jo]

Well done Dave you will love it     As for 3 vs 2 axis, I've got 3 different Lathe set ups:

Mr Silky - 3 Axis read out head but only 2 axis fitted.

Big C - 3 Axis Read out head and 3 Axis fitted.

Prazimat - 2 Axis Read Head, 2 Axis fitted.


The reason to go with the 3 Axis scales, i.e. + compound slide scale, is if you cannot get fine movement from your saddle feed (common problem on far Eastern machines). By having the 3 Axis read out on Mr Silky I could in the future fit a third but I doubt I would, and it also acts as a spare read head for Big C who does need that top slide scale for fine work.

Jo

[steamer]

I'll probably go with 2 axis if for no other reason the compound on the SB is pretty small.   I can currently split a thou pretty easily, so I'm not too worried about using the compound for fine work   I am looking forward to having multiple tool presets,   among other things!

Dave

[propforward]

Thanks guys!   I'm really looking forward to a DRO on the lathe.    I know she deserves it, and my eyesight will appreciate it!

Prop, which resolution did you go with?   

Dave

I went with the 1 um resolution for the cross slide. It didn’t add too much extra expense so I figured it would be worth it - or that there was a bit too much chance of regretting not going that way. I went with the magnetic slides and EL4 readout which seems a good price / feature combo. The magnetic slides are really easy to work with and have been great on the mill.

Like others I bought a standalone caliper style DRO for the tailstock, which is a very inexpensive way to add capability there. I spent a fair bit of time looking at how I might add a scale to the compound, but can’t see a neat solution for it on my machine. I think the two axis set up will be just fine.

I am a bit concerned about fine movement ability on the saddle but I will see how this all works out, and then look at a solution for that as needed. I’ve been able to make accurate parts so far, so should be OK. I’ve thought about adding a different handwheel or altering the gear drive.

[Twizseven]

Dave,

You will not regret it.

I have 3 axis head and three scales on Colchester Student.

2 axis head and two scales on Myford Super 7 and the same again on Cowells ME90 lathe.

It makes things so much easier for old eyes and nice to be able to switch from Metric to Imperial.

Colin

[steamer]

"It makes things so much easier for old eyes and nice to be able to switch from Metric to Imperial."......


That is another reason!