Re: DRO

Rudy,
With the help of this list, I am in the process of building a 3 axis DRO
for my mill/drill.

At Goldmine, http://www.goldmine-elec.com/, I found some 24 volt motors
with 1000 line encoders attached ($3.95 each). Be carefull of their specs
as the shafts are 5mm not 3/16" as advertised. Also found some 5mm ID
bearings ($1.49 each)at the same place. Then on the metalworking
newsgroup, found a notice that Steve Lindsey was making his DRO software
available for the download and it works quite well on an old 486 DX 100
that I had laying around. While it should work in a DOS window, I find that
it does not on this machine. Then with a few pieces of Al that I have
laying around, I have had an enjoyable experience making chips on my Mill.

The biggest difference between what I have seen in the metalworking drop
box (and in the material with Steve's program) is that instead of using a
single line to rotate the encoder, I put the encoder in a block on one end
of the table and then have another axle in a block on the other end and
make a loop out of the wire with it fastened on one side in the center of
the table.

If you need additional details, please let me know, and will send something
to you off list as I have some drawings in cad. They are always evolving as
I find ways (in my own mind) to improve the workings. At this point, I have
two axis up and working and the resolution is 1.8 tenths per line on the
encoder. Have a couple of ideas and may(?) be able to get that down to .1
tenth with very little work. Hope to do that this weekend when I finish the
blocks for the Z axis and hope to give it a try.


Art


At 10:52 AM 02/09/2000 +0200, you wrote:

>From: "Rudy du Preez" <Rudi@...>
>
>Hello,
>
>I have just joined the list - therefore not up do date.
>
>My interest is for a start DRO for my milling machines (DECKEL FP1 and

ACIERA FP1) and lathe (Hardinge HLV). I have some experinece in electronics
and computers for hobbies (automatic battery chargers for NC batteries,
dyno's for small DC motors, speed measurement, etc.).

>
>My hope is to get involved in building my own DRO systems - I hope with

your help!

>
>Anybody would like to give me some hints for circuits, hardware, software,

etc.

>
>Thanks!
>
>Rudy du Preez
>

A. G. Eckstein

axtein@...