How much am i looking to spend on a decent DRO?

Pcmaker

Pcmaker

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I have a Grizzly 7x12 lathe and a Precision Matthews PM25 mill.

How much am Iooking to spend on DROs for each of these? I'll be fine with 2 axis DROs on both. The mill already has a chintzy battery operated Z axis DRO.

I was going to include a 3 axis DRO for when I ordered the mill, but it added $600 to the total.

Also into consideration is ease of installation.

Any recommendations that are on the affordable side?
 
What is your definition of affordable? I am sure it is different from mine as I think the $600 dollar option was very affordable.
 
I have these installed on the mill and have one waiting for the lathe.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Good-DRO-2...485599?hash=item237b007f9f:g:ZlgAAOSwpcxbPNMW

Good seller, in China, but ships overnight DHL.

They offer smaller scales for a little extra. You will likely want those for a mini lathe. Even those will be tough to mount on something that small. Another option that might be better for the lathe is iGauging remote reading scales. They are basically digital calipers without the head and with a remote display. Distance only, but probably good enough. I think the normal scales would mount to a PM25 without too much trouble, but I haven't used one so I can't be sure. Here's one thread here with some pics though. https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/pm-25-dro-install.55624/
 
Depending on what you call decent. I used the magnetic scales from DRO Pros.
They are a little more than some of the eBay stuff but you get very useful readout box and you get immediate, local support on the end of the phone.
I think the two axis for the mill was about 900 and the lathe was a little more.
Arrived in exceptional packing and with all the mounting hardware and instructions in english.
 
Look on Aliexpress, there are many 2 and 3 axis systems for sale
Siton and HXX are two vendors I recall, fairly inexpensive
 
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I installed a 3 axis one on the mill last winter. Direct from China, couldn't be happier. In the $300 range with DHL shipping.

Greg
 
Ditto on Dan's post (middle.road).

Regards,
Terry

P.S.: Dan, did you ever finish your 3-axis installation?
 
Pcmaker said:
I have a Grizzly 7x12 lathe and a Precision Matthews PM25 mill.

How much am Iooking to spend on DROs for each of these? I'll be fine with 2 axis DROs on both. The mill already has a chintzy battery operated Z axis DRO.

I was going to include a 3 axis DRO for when I ordered the mill, but it added $600 to the total.

Also into consideration is ease of installation.

Any recommendations that are on the affordable side?
Click to expand...

The mill shouldn't give you much trouble.

I would suggest looking at Grizzly's T10893 DRO kit for your lathe compound for $140 (if they ever get them back in stock). I know nothing about the kit (or Grizzly lathes), just putting it out there as a possibility. Your compound is so tiny you're going to have a much greater challenge mounting any other kind of scale(s). You will still have to do the carriage, but that's going to be much easier (I think).

I can see some possibilities for setting it up with TouchDRO, but you would have to do quite a bit of work. If you're up for that we can continue the discussion.
 
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