070817- ST Profile Projector with mTECH DRO2M

Thanks to Thomas for his photo on a installation on ST Industries Profile Projector.
It is installed with a 0.001mm mTECH scale.


The overall view of the machine


A view of the X axis installation


A view of the Z axis installation.

Great photo and shows that mTECH DRO is capable of displaying highly accurate positioning information. It is trusted in even the most critical application. Cheers.

Can we use 1 unit of DRO-3M and use it for both Lathe and Milling machine?

Can we use 1 unit of DRO-3M and use it for both Lathe and Milling machine?
The answer is YES.

This question is asked by Jim (ebay ID : cutaway3 in New Zealand).
I find this a very interesting way to save cost, as long as you do not need both machine to work the same time.

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Jim is asking if the "1/2" function in the mTECH DRO-3M is the same as the Rad/Dia selection?
The answer is NO.

The 1/2 and Rad/Dia selection does not work like the way you want.

The 1/2 button when pressed after selecting an axis (e.g. X), it will half the current value.

For example

X is now 100mm

After pressing the button "X" "1/2"

X will now show 50mm

For Rad/Dia selection, it will always show the axis in "Radius" mode as Radius (normal counting) or "Diameter" mode as Diameter (double the reading).

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How are we going to use the TECH DRO-3M in Lathe mode especially making it count in Diameter for X axis?
The answer is setting the resolution to 0.010mm (10um).

By changing the resolution parameter in the DRO, you can use it either as a Radius counting or Diameter counting.

In normal milling mode, the resolution is 0.005mm,

when it travel 0.005mm, DRO will display 0.005mm.

when it travel 50.000mm, DRO will display 50.000mm.

In Lathe mode, you can set the X axis resolution to 0.010mm

when it travel 0.005mm, DRO will display 0.010mm.

when it travel 50.000mm, DRO will display 100.000mm.

The only catch is that you must power on/off the DRO if you want to switch between Radius or Diameter mode.

But since people will alway use the Lathe in Diameter mode, this will not be a problem.

55- mTech DRO-3M on Sieg X3 Mill - Jeffrey (UK)

Great Details went into the installation and also taking of photos which show a step-by-step guide for installation for a Sieg X3 Milling machine. Thanks to Jeffery for sharing.



DRO installed on the supplied arm with cables neatly tied up.


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Below is the installation for Y axis.


Jeffery make some blocks to be fitted to be used as a base for the scale installation.


He also adds another base for the reader head to rest flat on.


The scale is then added on.


The cover for Y axis is then fitted on.



This is the X installation, with block at each end to elevate the scale.



Top view of the X scale.

This is after the X cover has been added.


This is the installation for the Z scale


Here shows the mounting for the reader head.


Another view showing the Z reader head mounting.


Overview of the Z axis scale.

Thanks again for the great effort to make this installation steps so clear. Cheers

59- Mill/Lathe machine - Aaron Nelson (USA)

A good effort by Aaron Nelson from USA again, on a Mill / Lathe Machine.

We have sold him a Reconditioned Fagor NV20 DRO unit with Brand New mTECH scales.



The Fagor NV20 counter install with the arm kit.




It is installed in a very neat and clean manner.
The red plastic on the reader head has to be removed.

Aaron comments:
"It was pretty easy to set up with the DRO, but I have to cut down the guard for the Y-axis in order to install it properly. I haven't had a chance to do that yet. "



He has done a great job to make a special bracket to fit the reader head.
The red plastic on the reader head has to be removed.

Aaron comments:
"The X-axis slide on the back side of the lathe is impossible to install the guard on- it's just that the way the lathe is designed is not very good. I had to fabricate a bracket for that as you can see in one of the pictures."

It is a good piece of work. Cheers.

59- Bridgeport milling machine - Aaron Nelson (USA)

Thanks to Aaron Nelson for the photo from USA on his Bridgeport milling machine.
(Aaron has so far bought 2 sets of DRO from us, you can see his lathe installation on next blog)


The overall view of the Bridgeport milling with mTECH DRO-2M.

Quoting him from his feedback:" The tool-holder is a nice touch, BTW- It's really convenient to keep the tools I use most often, rather than the holder on the side of the machine I used to use. "




View of the X and Y linear scale.

Aaron has this to say about the X-axis installation:
"The X-axis bolts directly to the bed, and then the pickup for the x-axis bolts directly to the saddle. No special bracket necessary. Using a dial indicator, I got the runout within 0.004" The X-axis didn't require many shims. The Y-axis required many shims because the knee is not very flat on the cast surface."






Aaron has really done a very good job in installing this milling machine. He is a real PRO.
This is what he says about the Y-axis installation:

" I had to modify the brackets in the kit to mount the Y-Axis slide on the bridgeport. You will see the two brackets used together in one of the pics. Basically, I milled one down shorter and then slotted it. The other I drilled tapped to match the slotting. It bolts right to the slide pickup. The only flat spots for the Y-axis on the brigeport are the underside of the saddle and the faces of the saddle- but if you use the side face, you lose 1/2" of travel in one direction."


Great Job, we can all learn from you, cheers !!!

29- Harbor Freight Milling machine - Mike Deines (USA)

Thanks to Mike for the photo from USA


Harbor Freight Milling machine : ZAY7032G



X axis installation with the cover painted Red.

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Y axis installation. The Red plastic holding the reader head should be removed.



A close-up photo of the Y axis.

mTECH DRO-2L (Lathe) -- by Alex in Moldova

Thanks to Alex for the photo from Moldova.


mTECH DRO travels to Moldova (a country in Eastern Europe, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldova )




Believe it gave them better productivity. Cheers

FAQ - installation: Do I need to remove the red plastic on the scale?

2 functions of the Red Plastic

- to secure the reader head during shipping
- to help to a guide for the gap between the reader and the scale during installation

So they should be remove.

Suggested time to remove the red plastic

We suggest to remove screws (8 screws) before you start the installation of the scale.

This is because in some case the space constraint make it difficult to remove the screws after you have install the scales. If there is no space constraint you can remove it after you install the scale.

BUT THE SCREWS SHOULD BE REMOVED BEFORE YOU START TO MOUNT THE READER HEAD.

How to use the plastic to check the gap between the reader and the scale.

1) There are 2 plastic on the reader head, the short plastic can be discarded.

2) The long plastic can be used to check the gap between the reader head and the scale.

3) Install the bracket and align the reader head with the red plastic, so that they rest nicely

on the scale.

4) Tighten all screws and slide out the red plastic.

5) Move the table and observe that the read head does not rub against the scale.

6) Check the gap with the red plastic, at both end limits and the middle of the scale.

7) The gap should fit nicely; else you will check your alignment of the scale/ reader head.

FAQ - What scale length will suit my machine ?

The best way to determine the length of scale that you required is to measure it.

Just follow the procedure to measure the "TRAVEL LENGTH" of the scale that you need.

(The physical length is 142mm(5.6inch) longer than the travel length of the scale, e.g. travel length is 820mm (32.28inch), physical length is 962mm (37.87inch).)

(We always mention the travel length for DRO as it is a more important piece of information than the physical length.)

1) Move your X axis to one extreme end and make a marking.

2) Move to the other extreme end and make another marking.

3) Measure the distance between the 2 marking, this is the TRAVEL LENGTH.

4) Select the correct travel length from our available list of travel length.

(E.g. you measure 780mm (30.7inch) travel length, the nearest is 750mm(29.5inch) or 820mm (32.28inch), we will choose 820mm(32.28inch), so that it will cover the entire travel distance).

5) Do the same for the other axis/axes.