Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Building A Cheap DRO

On Monday, March 18, 2002, at 09:41 PM, catboat15@... wrote:

> In a message dated 3/18/2002 9:12:59 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> deanc@... writes:
>
>
>> I'd like to add a 3 axis DRO to my mini-mill.
>
> Maybe I am misssing something in these discussions of DROs. I too have
> one
> of the Chinese MiniMills with the dumb 1/16 inch/revolution dials.
> Therefore
> I would think any DRO should be coupled to table movement, not crank
> movement
> then we could forget about backlash, special screws and nuts since we
> would
> be looking at the real table motion and position not the position of
> some
> dial or shaft that may or may not reflect the true position of the
> table vs
> the tool.
>
> John Meacham
> California High Desert
> 12 inch Atlas, Minimill, rusty file

You know, I remember seeing a dro system that used a spring loaded cable
system. It kind of looked like a chalk line. You could mount the unit to
any stationary part of apiece of equipment and just hook the cable to
the part you want to measure the movement from. It was designed to be
portable and you could move it from one piece of equipment to the next.
The display box could also be configured to read degrees when you wrap
the cable around a rotary table too.

If anyone is interested I will see if I can find more info. If they can
do it there has got to be a way.

-Jerry