Ebay Dro Kits Direct From China

Tomh, this is what I bought, http://www.ebay.com/itm/220523008542?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT. This vendor has over 1000 feedbacks, 100% positive. I put it on a Smithy Granite machine and with the vendors help I got exactly what I needed.

You will want to order "thin" scales for the cross slide. Measure the total travel of each axis on your machine and add about 1", the overall length of the scale will be about 2" longer than its working length. Some mounting hardware comes with the scales but you will have to custom fit it to your particular machine, not a major issue usually. This is a dated design but still very good for a hobby machinist. The scales are glass 5 micrometer, .0002 resolution. He has many options for the DRO to fit what ever your need is, lathe, mill grinder etc.
The documentation that comes with the kit is not the best but usable. The LED/LCD display works good under the artificial light in my garage but with the door open on a sunny day it can be difficult to see.
Email Jian-Jun Liu <jianjun1207@live.com> and see if he can help you.
 
I hate to say this and I am NOT trying to open up a full on political discussion here, only stating the obvious and why it may change. This lack of import duty is part of what Trump is stumping about. We ARE buying goods from overseas and the sellers ARE hiding the value at times on those goods so that no duty or a minimum duty is paid. We see this as I ordered a DRO (one item) that was X number of dollars. I paid Y number of dollars on it, or ZERO dollars on it. Now consider the amount of those one item purchases being a cargo ship full of single item purchases that incorrect or no duty was paid on. We are now talking about a bunch of money.

Why this is important to us.
We do purchase items from China. They are cheap, of reasonable quality and since we are hobbyist's we are not concerned that it may take a month to complete a project because we need a tool to do it. Now again I am NOT wanting a political mud slinging tirade to result because of what I am saying, but know that these duty free items from over seas may not be duty free for much longer. And I am not asking that you vote any certain way to keep items duty free. (My PERSONAL opinion) is I would rather pay the duties that have the alternative, but that is ME and MY opinion. Just know it COULD change, so if nothing else, get your DRO's boaring heads, calipers and what ever else you have a fancy for prior to the election.
 
tomh said:
Bob
I am following this with a lot of interest, I am wanting to order a DRO also. I am somewhat afraid and confused about ordering from someone I know little about, so the information you get here will help me and others:encourage: .

John
Is aliexpress and ebay the same or they total different?
Hope I am not getting personal, When you ordered did you/could you use pay pal?
Also how did you measure your scale length?
Thanks for any advise or help.
Thank
Tomh
Click to expand...
AliExpress is a different company than eBay but it is set up the same way, they guarantee the transaction, you can open a dispute and leave feedback. They have a similar arrangement to Paypal as well. The prices are cheaper than the eBay sellers for the same items.
 
Tom,
As Eddy said above they are different---the Ebay sellers may be drop shipping from Aliexpress ( just an uneducated guess)
The seller I bought from did not have paypal as a means of payment--others may though.

I just made a couple of marks on each axis and measured the full travel and ordered that length--they will pretty much make whatever length you need.
I would order from them again.
 
Eddy / John / Terry/ Others

Thanks for the response! Looks like I will be ordering in the next few weeks.

Everyone that has experience please respond with your knowledge, so those who are reluctant to ask and only watch can pick up useful tips. Many don't ask questions, because like me they don't know what or how to ask. Going from your head to the keyboard will leave you thinking that your question makes no sense. Your knowledge will shed some light that will help many. Posting your experience in the helpful way that you do is what makes this forum so great! :encourage:
Thanks
Tomh
 
Cheap DROs work, but they work like cheap DROs...

Each axis is separate so there are a lot of functions that a "real" DRO can do that the cheap ones wont. Drilling evenly spaced holes in a circle is the first thing that comes to mind... But there are a lot of functions that the upper end units are good for.

If your just looing for simple they will fill the bill.
 
RCWorks said:
Cheap DROs work, but they work like cheap DROs...

Each axis is separate so there are a lot of functions that a "real" DRO can do that the cheap ones wont. Drilling evenly spaced holes in a circle is the first thing that comes to mind... But there are a lot of functions that the upper end units are good for.

If your just looing for simple they will fill the bill.
Click to expand...

Don't know what "cheap" DRO you are referring to but the Chinese DRO's being discussed in this thread have all those functions and many more.
 
Just finished installing a "cheap china DO" on my voest lathe. 14" cross and 48" long . total cost was right at 250.00
works great. Wilson answered any questions I had and revised my order for me when I changed my mind which lathe I was going to mount it on and ask for larger scales. took about 10 days for the order and 4 days shipping fedex .
 
I was in the market for a 3 axis DRO 3 or 4 years ago. Looking at the eBay sellers from China stating that any custom duty will be my responsibility made me nervous. One seller said to just fill in the form saying the DRO only cost $50
For the same dollars I bought from TPacTools who imported them to Chicago, import duties were their responsibility.
current pricing has gone up a bit in the last few years.

http://www.tpactools.com/3-AXIS-DRO-DIGTAL-READOUT-MILL-PACKAGE-NEW_p_8.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top