Re: DIY Three Axis DRO Kit

Carlos,

The DRO does not use a sealed commercial membrane. The membranes I
priced were just too cost prohibitive for a budget DRO. Instead, I
came up with a DIY membrane that uses a full sheet inkjet label for
the graphics with a transparent plastic overlay. The result, as you
can see from the photos, came out pretty nice. It won't be as
rugged as a sealed membrane but should hold up well in a hobby
environment. I will have complete instructions available.

I will include all parts in the kit including the graphic label,
overlay, tact switches, switch caps, etc. necessary to complete the
DRO. The graphic will be available at the website in both mill
(X/Y/Z) and lathe (X/Z1/Z2)forms.

Scott


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Carlos Guillermo"
<carlos@v...> wrote:

> Hi Scott -
>
> That's a very nice job! Does the kit include the membrane overlay
> and the tactile buttons? If not, is that what is shown in the
> photos?
>
> Regards,
>
> Carlos Guillermo
> VERVE Engineering & Design
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ccq@x... [mailto:ccq@x...]
> Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 12:29 PM
> To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] DIY Three Axis DRO Kit
>
> Sounds good, but I can't afford it till next month.....:-(
>
> Do you have soft ware for anything besides windoze? (Linux?)
>
> Bill
>
> On Fri Aug 1 04:37:49 2003 Bob Muse wrote:
>
> >Hi Scott
> >Very nice job! I would probably buy one at least. Where can you
> get the
> >scales and cables and how much?
> >Bob
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "sshumate" <sshumate@y...>
> >To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
> >Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 12:41 PM
> >Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] DIY Three Axis DRO Kit
> >
> >
> >I have finally finished my DIY three axis DRO. I set out to make
> a
> >DRO as capable as the commercial versions but use the cheap
> Chinese
> >digital scales and be low cost in its own right. The cost of the
> >DRO parts minus the scale cables and PCB should be around
> $60-$70.
> >I designed it to use common parts available at Digikey, Mouser,
> or
> >the like and be all DIP devices to make it easier for someone to
> >assemble it as a kit.
> >
> >Here are the set of features I included:
> >· Software upgradeable over RS-232 serial port with free
> >Windows software
> >· Fast scale reading with a display update rate of up to 50
> >times a second per axis
> >· Powers scales for battery-free operation
> >· Triple data sampling for glitch free readings
> >· Three axis display with super high efficiency LEDS for
> >maximum brightness
> >· Display brightness configurable in 10% increments
> >· Max display range of ±99.9995 inches (±999.995 mm)
> >· Six display resolutions: ±99.9995, ±99.999, ±99.995,
> >±99.99, ±99.95, ±99.9 inches (±999.995, ±999.99,
> >±999.95, ±999.9, ±999.5, ±999 mm)
> >· Incremental and absolute coordinate systems
> >· Enter zero values for both coordinate systems entered via
> >keypad
> >· Enter incremental presets via keypad
> >· Separate zero and preset buttons for each axis
> >· Centerline function
> >· Bolt hole patterns with programmable start and end angles
> >· Linear error correction factors for each axis
> >· Two data display modes: data averaging for a more stable
> >display reading when the scale is at rest or direct data
> >display to show the data unfiltered from the scale
> >· Auxiliary input for either an electronic edge finder or
> >tachometer
> >· Electronic edge finder optical coupling so any optical
> >electronic edge finder, like Enco's $19.99 Machinist's Mate,
> >can be used.
> >· Third axis configurable to display RPM or SFM from
> >tachometer for lathe operations
> >· Reversible axis directions
> >· Diameter mode (2X) for any axis
> >· Configurable auto power-off time (1 min, 5 min, 15 min, 30
> >min)
> >· Near zero warning by flashing display
> >· Configurable tool offsets entered via keypad
> >· Setup through display and keypad
> >· Setup is retained even if power is removed
> >
> >Of course, being software upgradeable means that any conceivable
> >feature could be added or changed in the future. Here are some
> >pictures:
> >
> >http://www.shumatech.com/images/dro1.jpg
> >http://www.shumatech.com/images/dro2.jpg
> >http://www.shumatech.com/images/dro3.jpg
> >http://www.shumatech.com/images/dro4.jpg
> >
> >I am going to build at least three more, one for my lathe, and
> two
> >for friends. I am willing to offer the DRO as a build-it-yourself
> >kit if there is enough interest to make the PCB manufacture
> >affordable. I figure if 20 or so people are interested, the PCB
> >should cost $10-$15 to produce. I am not willing to produce a
> >finished product since I am way too busy at my day job. There are
> >several commercial alternatives like Zietlow's, Positron, etc.
> >that offer a finished product, albeit for a finished price. What
> I
> >don't know is how many people are either willing or feel they are
>
> >capable of soldering the components together and machining the
> case
> >themselves.
> >
> >The case machining is very straightforward consisting of three
> >windows for the LEDs and 28 holes of four different diameters. It
> >took me about two hours to machine mine going very slow to double
> >check everything. The PCB will consist of about 15-20 DIP IC's,
> >the LEDs, and 30-40 resistors/capacitors/diodes. It should take
> >someone 3-4 hours to solder together the whole thing.
> >
> >I might be willing to offer a few pre-assembled and tested PCBs
> but
> >it will be on a time-allowed basis only.
> >
> >Any interest?
> >
> >-Scott