How to get the most out of a DRO on the lathe?

Splat said:
Any others care to chime in?
Click to expand...

I'm chimeless at this time. :dunno: Mine won't be delivered until tomorrow. :))

Really enjoyed the replies though and I'm sure I'll have some questions as well after I get it installed.
 
itsme_Bernie said:
Thanks for bumping this- I must have missed it the first time around! Bernie
Click to expand...

Same here, Bernie! :) I was looking for DRO info and found this thread. I don't have a DRO so can't really contribute to it but I hope others can.
 
i dont have a dro on my lathe, but there is one on the lathe where i work, and it makes life a little easier. imo, you dont really need dro on the cross slide or compound, or tailstock. but the lathe bed dro is very nice, since otherwise you are not able to accurately position the carriage. when i convert my mini into a 7x16 i will buy an igaging scale for the carriage only. without dro, it is hard to make several things of the same length. i often part off slightly oversize, and face the parts to length and measure, recut using locked carriage and compound at 90* to feed semi accurate measure, which sucks. its nice to be able to move to the correct coordinate, and cut. i dont think the other axis benefit from dro, unless you have a very rigid machine that won't deflect much, otherwise the measurements are not very useful unless you take a bunch of spring cuts.
 
I did finally figure out a mount for my 12" atlas craftman for the "z" axis with a guard too.

I never thought about the fact that cutting above or below center would be inaccurate as someone stated above, but it would be the same inaccuracy as when reading the dials. . .

when Im turning anything, I still double and triple check as im going along, with a digital caliper. I just do. .. . . .
but for the little work I actually do in my shop, its usually some radical repair for something or other.

I do have another "boatload" of dro's and angle cubes available.

everybody on this forum should have them, they're so reasonably priced.
 
I would really appreciate it if some pictures of lathe DRO installations were posted. I have a 12 x 36 and am trying to visualize a 2 axis DRO mounting that would not be in the way of carriage locks, oilers, ect. The tailstock mount is simple enough but the L-feed & X-feed baffle me.
 
epanzella said:
I would really appreciate it if some pictures of lathe DRO installations were posted. I have a 12 x 36 and am trying to visualize a 2 axis DRO mounting that would not be in the way of carriage locks, oilers, ect. The tailstock mount is simple enough but the L-feed & X-feed baffle me.
Click to expand...

Maybe a little late on this response. I'm in the process of installing my Igaging DROs on my 12x30 lathe. The L feed is getting mounted on the backside of the bed. Since theres no lead screws or anything else on that side. It'll be pretty well protected back there too. The x feed is getting mounted onto the right side of the cross feed, since that side sees less swarf. It's gonna stick up a little bit, but not enough to interfere with anything. I'm gonna use 3M VHB mounting tape to mount them. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...R8gs_QNRM99KDQB_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d
People are mounting gear racks for x-y tables with this stuff, so, I'm gonna give it a shot. The area has to be degreased really well and then followed up by isopropyl alcohol. I had some that I used for mounting other things around the shop and it's fantastic stuff. I just hope that there's enough surface area on the brackets for it to bond. If it works and stays, you guys will know about it. If it fails, I'll just drill and tap like every one else. :whistle:

I'll post up pictures when I'm done
 
xalky said:
Maybe a little late on this response. I'm in the process of installing my Igaging DROs on my 12x30 lathe. The L feed is getting mounted on the backside of the bed. Since theres no lead screws or anything else on that side. It'll be pretty well protected back there too. The x feed is getting mounted onto the right side of the cross feed, since that side sees less swarf. It's gonna stick up a little bit, but not enough to interfere with anything. I'm gonna use 3M VHB mounting tape to mount them. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...R8gs_QNRM99KDQB_N2RL3FHWVK_GPD0K8BC31gv)&rt=d
People are mounting gear racks for x-y tables with this stuff, so, I'm gonna give it a shot. The area has to be degreased really well and then followed up by isopropyl alcohol. I had some that I used for mounting other things around the shop and it's fantastic stuff. I just hope that there's enough surface area on the brackets for it to bond. If it works and stays, you guys will know about it. If it fails, I'll just drill and tap like every one else. :whistle:

I'll post up pictures when I'm done
Click to expand...

Where did you find it? Your link leads to 9 per case. Where did you get one roll?
 
Try Amazon or eBay. I can't remember.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top