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- Jun 12, 2014
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I have glass scales on my current lathe and also had them on my previous mill, my current mill uses magnetic scales on all 4 axis. I am not sure of the value vs. cost of using magnetic scales on the lathe unless you plan on running coolant. Even then, I rarely hear of an issue with contamination on glass scales with the exception of some of the cheaper Chinese scales with a single seal. Magnetic scales are less finicky as to alignment, can be cut to length, and are a bit more immune to swarf, but I would not install them without a cover. Magnetic scales are still expensive relative, like twice the price in comparison to glass scales. On a lathe, I recommend a slim line 1 micron scale for the cross slide. There are also lathe specific DRO displays, or the graphical units have program settings vs. generic display units. You could consider a 3 axis unit, and put a scale on the tool post slide or tailstock, but it gets expensive and often the scale my not fit or be too bulky. My preference on the tailstock is to have a stand alone battery operated DRO, much less bulky/expensive. The clamping collar I use is adjustable as to its position. I use an Igaging Absolute, it maintains its position and the display is easy to read, otherwise I often see individuals using a caliper or depth DRO. On a mill, if you run 3 or 4 axis, the magnetic scales are a bit easier to mount and more compact, in particular for the spindle. The EL700 will also sum the knee and spindle axis, and has a host of other features that I commonly use on the mill.
Probably 3 levels/costs as far as DRO systems commonly installed
$250-300 range, 2 axis Sino system with glass scales, Igaging Absolute scales on smaller lathes or Android based system.
$400-600 range, 2 axis ES-8A or ES-12B or C or EL400 with glass scales
$800+ EL400 with magnetic scales, Acu-Rite Vue or similar mainstream brand with glass scales, the price almost doubles with magnetic or inductive scales.
On the display units, if you go with a standard numerical LED display, they are all pretty similar. The lathe specific EL400 is very nice. I prefer the graphical displays, I just find the numbers a bit less fatiguing then the numerical display units. I have installed DROs from Easson ES-12 (now ES-12B or C), Acu-Rite VUE an EL700, all are very nice. The EL700 has a great display, but is pricey, in the mid price range color graphical displays I would look at the Easson ES-12B or C (difference is one is vertical and the other is horizontal ) with glass scales they run $650-700.
http://www.dropros.com/DRO_PROS_Easson_Lathe_Digital_Readout_LCD.htm
http://www.dropros.com/Electronica_...#Electronica_Magnetic_Scale_2_Axis_Lathe_Kits:
Tail stock DRO example
ES-12, AcuRite VUE graphical displays
EL700 graphical display
Magnetic spindle scale
Probably 3 levels/costs as far as DRO systems commonly installed
$250-300 range, 2 axis Sino system with glass scales, Igaging Absolute scales on smaller lathes or Android based system.
$400-600 range, 2 axis ES-8A or ES-12B or C or EL400 with glass scales
$800+ EL400 with magnetic scales, Acu-Rite Vue or similar mainstream brand with glass scales, the price almost doubles with magnetic or inductive scales.
On the display units, if you go with a standard numerical LED display, they are all pretty similar. The lathe specific EL400 is very nice. I prefer the graphical displays, I just find the numbers a bit less fatiguing then the numerical display units. I have installed DROs from Easson ES-12 (now ES-12B or C), Acu-Rite VUE an EL700, all are very nice. The EL700 has a great display, but is pricey, in the mid price range color graphical displays I would look at the Easson ES-12B or C (difference is one is vertical and the other is horizontal ) with glass scales they run $650-700.
http://www.dropros.com/DRO_PROS_Easson_Lathe_Digital_Readout_LCD.htm
http://www.dropros.com/Electronica_...#Electronica_Magnetic_Scale_2_Axis_Lathe_Kits:
Tail stock DRO example
ES-12, AcuRite VUE graphical displays
EL700 graphical display
Magnetic spindle scale