Fresh run at homebrew DRO

I've found some inexpensive ($76 for 12" & $99 for 20") Chinese made,
fair quality, digital scales of various lengths at www.wttool.com &
www.calaerosupply.com, as well as other places.

It would be much less painless to build a system with these parts
rather than cobbling the US Digital scales and encoder pieces.

My background is micro-computers and would like to design and build
my own intelligent readout display. Can anyone refer me to a
comprehensive source of data on the digital interface protocol that
these units are likely to employ? A guy at www.calaerosupply.com said
they use the Mitutoyo protocol, but can't confirm.

I saw some discussion on this forum awhile back but I don't think it
was ever finally worked out.

Input gratefully accepted.