Adapt new DRO to older scales?

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Greyhound

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Not sure if this is the right section or not but I'm considering purchasing a new DRO (brain) if I can utilize the existing X&Y scales. The current DRO was on my mill when I bought it. Pics of the DRO below. I'd like to purchase a 3-axis DRO and add a scale for Z-axis. Can this be done?

DRO.jpg

DRO 1.jpg
 
TouchDRO, just need to confirm which version would be compatible (same as you would for any DRO head) and I doubt you'll find better support anywhere.

Many discussions in this thread.
 
Greyhound said:
Not sure if this is the right section or not but I'm considering purchasing a new DRO (brain) if I can utilize the existing X&Y scales. The current DRO was on my mill when I bought it. Pics of the DRO below. I'd like to purchase a 3-axis DRO and add a scale for Z-axis. Can this be done?

View attachment 511099
View attachment 511100
Click to expand...
This looks to be from the 90's. The scales during that era ware all over the place as far as the output signal format goes. If you can find any info on the scales, see if they output 5V square wave signal. Could be called TTL, "open drain" square, etc.
The connectors look like DB-15 (as opposed to DB9). In either case you will need to rewire the connectors.
Does the display working? At least enough to probe the scale connectors to see what sort of voltage they output?
Regards
Yuriy
 
ycroosh said:
This looks to be from the 90's. The scales during that era ware all over the place as far as the output signal format goes. If you can find any info on the scales, see if they output 5V square wave signal. Could be called TTL, "open drain" square, etc.
The connectors look like DB-15 (as opposed to DB9). In either case you will need to rewire the connectors.
Does the display working? At least enough to probe the scale connectors to see what sort of voltage they output?
Regards
Yuriy
Click to expand...
Correct. I believe the mill was a late 90's model and I believe the DRO was installed at the time of purchase.

Yes, the scales and display work. I'll look on the scales and see if I can find any information.
 
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Looks like the unit was made by Sargon for Enco. If you can find any info on that model you might be in luck
If the scales are using +5 volt power there's hope
 
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Greyhound
I have the exact same DRO. Sargon, made for Enco. Also came installed on my 1991 Enco knee mill.
Have you found any documentation on your scales? Mine are Sargon XT-350-40.
Here is what I have found for these two differently numbered scales.

Sargon-s.jpg


Sargon-1.jpeg
 
vonbondo said:
Greyhound
I have the exact same DRO. Sargon, made for Enco. Also came installed on my 1991 Enco knee mill.
Have you found any documentation on your scales? Mine are Sargon XT-350-40.
Here is what I have found for these two differently numbered scales.
Click to expand...
The only documentation I've been able to find is basically identical to what you posted. I did reach out to a company led by a former Sargon employee that can retrofit an Acu-rite display with my scales. The cost for Acu-rite 203 display, new scale to add Z-axis for knee, all bracketry and adapters was just over $2100. That's a bit more than I wanted to spend on a retrofit.
 
Greyhound said:
The only documentation I've been able to find is basically identical to what you posted. I did reach out to a company led by a former Sargon employee that can retrofit an Acu-rite display with my scales. The cost for Acu-rite 203 display, new scale to add Z-axis for knee, all bracketry and adapters was just over $2100. That's a bit more than I wanted to spend on a retrofit.
Click to expand...
Yuriy should be along shortly: if they're compatible he can beat $2,100.
 
Your old scales look like they would work fine- quadrature TTL is what you want
Just have to connect them correctly
 
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