Re: Tapping into the group knowledge - DRO

Well actually guys I was less concerned with a device to output
signals than I was in coming up with a good method of building and
mounting the mechanical parts of the design. The US Digital folks
(http://www.usdigital.com/) have both rotary and linear type encoders
real reasonable with high CPI. They also have the HEDS-9000 series
of sensors that will read the rotary or linear strips.
I appreciate the referral to Dan's project. I have studied that in
the past in great detail and fail to see how it works. If I
understand it, the slider arm slides in and out like a trombone
slide. Unfortunately that makes one end or the other have to be
mounted hanging off the end of the machine to get full travel...maybe
I don't understand the design.
Its hard to describe what I have been thinking about without
drawing a sketch. I though about mounting a long linear strip in a
square extrusion and build a small sliding "carriage" that holds the
HEDS 9000 device. I though about building a pair of miniature linear
rods that the carriage mechanism could slide on to keep the HEDS unit
sliding along the strip. Then I thought about machining out a strip
of aluminium with either dovetails or a long T slot and build a small
slider to fit inside...maybe out of nylon or brass. I even
considered tiny ball bearings or some spring mounted bearings up in
the body of the carriage. The electronics part of the design bothers
me much less than building a good "chip proof/oil resistant" housing
and mounting that fits neatly onto a mill, lathe or X, Y table.
I'll run to the sidelines and monitor the comments.