Monday, August 20, 2007

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.


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