Improved fitting of DRO scales
My next project in the workshop is to reinstall the digital scales on my Chester Conquest milling machine for ‘X’ and ‘Y’ directions of travel. My original fitting of these worthwhile scales did not provide sufficient protection from the ingress of swarf, lubricants and other general muck and debris into the read heads. The result is that the displays would suddenly display a spurious reading and usually in the middle of a tricky machining operation. I will, over the next week or so, post details of a new improved installation method.
I shall pay particular attention to protecting the read heads which has caused a few problems recently.
Copies of the plans I am using are available from www.fignoggle.com but I shall have to devise my own method of adding protection to the scales.
Update
Over the last two or three days I have produced the necessary brackets and fittings and today fitted the vernier scales and read heads. The brackets were made from 1/2″ aluminium. I have also found a plastics company who are custom making U section covers for the two scales.
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- Engineer’s blue – amateur style prior to marking out
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- Marking out brackets
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- Machining bracket to size
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- ‘X’ scale mounting brackets in position
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- ‘X’ scale fitted
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- ‘Y’ scale mounting block in position
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- ‘Y’ scale fitted
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- Brackets ready for fitting
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- ‘Y’ scale now fitted with protective cover
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- Clear cover protects the ‘X’ scale and hopefully improved reliability of readings
The plastics company made a superb job of producing the protective covers for the two scales and at a very reasonable cost. Anyone wanting components forming in plastic I would thoroughly recommend this specialist firm www.plasticonline.co.uk.
Wow thanks John. I am amazed to have such a quick reply. I have now had time to further browse on your site and it is absolutely fantastic. I can only thank Paul at Chester machine tools for forwarding on the link to the site over my query on how to fit DRO’s – this is now bookmarked in capitals and will get frequent use.
Patrick
Looks like a superb solution – not clear on the pictures, but how do you turn on and reset the readouts or do the covers easily lift off?
Hi Patrick
The data is fed to remote mounted digital read out units (DRO). Have a look at this should make it a little clearer. You can of course simply read the units direct but as you say it would be necessary to lift the covers. Whichever method you decide upon it is an excellent aid to precision on the mill.
John