My new toy has arrived... smiling!

[gitrdun]

No, it's not another gun, I got one of those about a week ago. It's a DRO (Digital Read Out) for my lathe. I've been waiting a month and a half for it. It's an Igaging that I ordered from KMS Tools in Calgary. It gives my new lathe digital readout capability to a half thousand on an inch on both the X and Y axis. I didn't want the Chinese stuff, so I opted to wait it out for American gear. It doesn't make the lathe more accurate, that is a function of the lathe itself, but mine is wicked tight and accurate. It allows me to not have to squint my eyeballs to look at the thimble on the wheels, instead I get a nice accurate digital readout that I can switch from decimals, to fractions, or metric should I choose. Besides, relying on the wheel thimble means that you gotta deal with gear back lash. A DRO on the other hand provides an accurate measurement of the apron or cross-slide motion. My tail stock is already outfitted with such a digital readout accurate to a half thou also. I'm a big fan of precision, and this is gonna be a real treat. Tomorrow is mounting day on the lathe. If this set up works out to my satisfaction (no reason why it shouldn't as I've done my homework), my smaller lathe and milling head will be outfitted likewise.

[Knotter]

i look forward to seeing what you get up to. all other things being equal, a tool that is easier on the user will see more use.

[Full Curl Earl]

I'm curious about this DRO you've got on your tailstock? Any pics?

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by Full Curl Earl

I'm curious about this DRO you've got on your tailstock? Any pics?

I will attach a picture a bit later FCE. But actually, it's quite simple. I made an adapter to clamp on the quill. I mounted a 1" travel digital dial indicator using a C-clamp that clamps onto the tailstock frame.

[gtr]

If it makes your day, that's good on you.

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by gtr

If it makes your day, that's good on you.

Yes, it made my day. What can I say? I love tools and machine tools, they make for better guns.

[BigRedJeep]

DROs are great and all. I’ve found them best at measuring on z axis. I always got messed up cutting tapers with the attachment using a dro and compensating for backlash. I always found myself using the dials for tight tolerances on diameters. Mounted Dial indicators are far more trustworthy for tight work

But boy if you got a +/- .003 on an od you can hammer out sizes like no ones business
Most of all Congrats!! you’ll find its greats and limits fast
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