Re: DIY Three Axis DRO Kit

Scott,

Congratulations on a professional looking product.

I've used a similar method to produce a custom membrane for our cash
register. I put clear 'mactac' on both sides of the paper label. It
lasted over five years in a fairly harsh environment (laden with
ceramic dust).

Tony


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "sshumate" <sshumate@y...>
wrote:

> 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