Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] DRO with ball bearings

Clint Bach wrote:

>
> As far as accuracy is concerned, ball bearings in a tube would be the
> quickest way to an accurate scale for my primitive shop. How are
> these read out and can they have a fast update rate?

Newall makes these. I was saving for one, when I ran across a deal on a
used AcuRite I couldn't pass. I know two commercial shops that have the
Spherosyn scales, and they both love them. There are a series of coils
in the housing that travels over the tube, and I suspect the principle
is rather like the Mitutoyo scales just discussed.
I've found Newall helpfull and willing to talk. If you contact them and
say you are developing a CNC control and want to incorporate their
scales for linear feedback, you can probably get detailed specs on
update rates. Might also get some feedback on how they work, I don't
know if the scales directly output a signal that can be directly read,
or if their output is processed in the readout.

Jon