DRO recommendations?

[OCD]

Got a Tree 2UVR mill and want a 3 axis DRO. Could get away with just X & Y, but ideally all 3. This is a personal use only machine and not for work, so not looking to spend 2k on a quality DRO w/ magnetic scales, etc. After a little research I’m thinking this may be unrealistic, but would like to be in that 500-600 ballpark if possible. Any recommendations.....?

 

[WaterH]

I got two axis from some outfit on eBay. It was from Hong kong. Cheap and got here quick. (Pre COVID) It had shit for instructions, but I got it mounted and it has worked perfect for over 10 years. The hole pattern was easy enough to figure out. It also has a 1/2 feature I really like. Other that that, I just use x and y. I have one of those cheap battery powered slide things on the quill. it works, but I hardly ever use it. I don’t remember the price, but I think it was less than $400.

 

[arse_sidewards]

When I worked tool crib we had a mix of Acurite stuff that was slowly being replaced with bottom dollar chinese stuff as scales were damaged from material handling, machines were replaced, etc. The Chinese stuff worked great, and was cheap. We never had problems with it. And this was a shop with 20 machines that would all make the same parts. We knew which variable speed head indicators were off. We knew which machines had banana shaped ways. We didn't have any DROs that we knew of that weren't dead nuts on.

The electronics in a DRO are stupid simple shit. Basically just any old chip that can power a display and some digital counting logic. The glass scales are literally just a microscopic tape measure, a light and a light sensor that's detecting whether the sensor is shining at a dark (no reflection) or light (light reflects back) spot. All this shit is much more crude than the consumer electronics the Chinese are well practiced at making. So it's no surprise they don't fuck it up.

I had to go with a slightly more expensive magnetic DRO for my lathe because nobody makes glass scales that big and piecing a mag DRO together can't be done all that cheap because the Chinese don't churn those parts out by the shipping container like they do with the glass scale encoder stuff. Cost $650 ~1yr ago.

My Bridgeport will get the cheapest China special that comes with the right size scales.

And my Cincinnati will also get the cheapest China special that comes with the right size scales.

 

[Lbhsbz]

I have the same mill and run one of the ebay units...I've had it about 10 years and except for a scale going bad, it's been great. I only use the X and Y

This one I think Digital ReadOut DRO kit for 9x48 Bridgeport Mill w Glass scales 2 axis NEW | eBay

 

[restore49]

If like a Bridgeport they make a scale that mounts to moving external parts of the quile(z). Looks like a 6 digital scale with external wired screen.

 

[cj3a]

I bought this one and I am installing it now.

Welcome to TPACTOOLS - DRO CAT40 Decent Quality at Reasonable Price. 2 and 3 axis dro, cat40 er32 er16 collet chuck, er32 er16 collets, magnetic base indicator.

www.tpactools.com

 

[billybob_81067]

I think my cheap e-bay dro kit has Sinpo branded on the monitor. Works great. It's a 2 axis, but that's all I need.

 

[cj3a]

I have the x and y installed now. I am using it to make parts to mount the Z on the knee.

 

[OCD]

I have the same mill and run one of the ebay units...I've had it about 10 years and except for a scale going bad, it's been great. I only use the X and Y

This one I think Digital ReadOut DRO kit for 9x48 Bridgeport Mill w Glass scales 2 axis NEW | eBay

Would like to see how you mounted the scales on your 2UVR if you don’t mind posting a few pics...

 

[OCD]

General consensus seems to be, don’t be afraid of the cheap Chinese units and glass scales. Good to know. Will post a few pics once I commit to a unit and get it installed....

Thank you guys for the input, I appreciate it!

 

[Lbhsbz]

Would like to see how you mounted the scales on your 2UVR if you don’t mind posting a few pics...

X axis is pretty straight forward behind the table....Y axis was a bit more fun. I'll get a picture in a bit.

 

[kf4zht]

I use some cheap Igauging scales with touchdro on an old tablet. Seems plenty accurate and has a lot of built in features. Plus the tablet is handy for pulling up tap charts or even prints

 

[cj3a]

I looked at the touchdro and it did not appear any cheaper than a eBay set up. Also the website was not clear to me on what I needed to buy.

 

[TTMotorsports]

I have this one here.

ToAuto DRO 2 Axis Digital Readout Display with 2pc Glass Linear Scale 300+900mm | eBay

Min resolution of DRO angle :0.0001/pulse. 1pc 2Axis DRO Digital Readout. (4) Digital readout kit can avoid wasting weeks to check machine precision. (6) 1pc digital readout(2Axis/3Axis) with scales(upon your options), 5μm /1μm resolution (at 45ºC).

www.ebay.com

The X axis was easy on my Bridgeport BUT i just got some material today to do the y-axis AS it is setup for M5-0.8 bolts and the bridgepost has 1/4-20 on same spacing. SO i got some aluminum to make little adapters out of

 

[Landslide]

I looked at the touchdro and it did not appear any cheaper than a eBay set up. Also the website was not clear to me on what I needed to buy.

I’m not at all familiar with it but I did find this site, maybe it’ll help?!?

DIY DRO Project

 

[AlxJ64]

I’m not at all familiar with it but I did find this site, maybe it’ll help?!?

DIY DRO Project

I built one, and it was pretty easy and cheap. I've used it for a few years now, BUT I cheaped on the scales and it loses resolution. I've calibrated and calibrated but the scales just are junk. I used the cheap iGauging ebay ones. I plan up going to better scales to see if it improves it.

 

[Lbhsbz]

Would like to see how you mounted the scales on your 2UVR if you don’t mind posting a few pics...

Kinda janky but I didn't really give a fuck I just wanted the thing to work so I could start on a job I needed it for....and it worked, so I never touched it again until the scale died.