Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Quadrature for DIY DRO

>For the 5V output signal the US Digital encoders use, the existing
>PCB could be easily reworked to accept this. It would consist of
>depopulating (or not populating to begin with) the buffer chips which
>are three 8-pin DIPs. The wires from the connector would then be
>soldered on a couple of the through holes of these DIPS. Second
>question, is there a standard style of connector for these encoders?
>Would the existing 4 pin mini-DIN work?

Yes.

>I don't think I would be able to support simultaneous reading of both
>Chinese scales and quadrature encoders. The PIC is very busy while
>triple sampling the Chinese scale serial stream and there is a good
>probability that a quadrature pulse could be missed. Third question,
>would it be sufficient just to have a setup screen that switched all
>inputs between Chinese and quadrature mode?

I don't know about everyone else, but on a milling machine, I could see
wanting to use Quadrature encoders on the X/Y and a Chinese Scale on the
Quill...

On the lathe, you might want Chinese for cross-slide and encoders for Z.

Basically, when you get into large >24" scales, the encoders become more
cost effective.

--C.S.