Workshop News
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.