Interface question on the Touch DRO circuit board

[jarhead]

Good morning,
Yesterday I was watching Touch DRO videos on YouTube. I came across one called BlondiHacks. She was setting up the Touch DRO on a lathe.
Video on YT

The interesting part to me was she used both a glass scale and a magnetizing scale, I didn't know this was possible.

I have the Touch DRO unit with DB9 connectors I bought for my mill. Can I use both the glass scales and a magnetic? Do I need an adapter for the magnetic, or do they also come with B9 connections?

Thanks, Joe

 

[ycroosh]

Joe,
Most modern glass and magnetic scales use the same output voltage and type, so as far as TouchDRO is concerned, they are identical. It gets tricky with brand-name DROs (AccuRite, Heidenhain, etc. since those often use fancy/custom stuff), but your run-of-the-mill import stuff is pretty safe.

Regards
Yuriy

 

[jarhead]

EDIT: I did some googling and see that they do have some with DB9 connectors. I think I had the magnetic scales only having the I-gaging connectors for the touchDRO board.

My mistake, but thanks anyway for the explanation on the voltage. I am starting to understand things a little more.

Thank you Yuriy,

Does that mean the magnetic scales also use a DB9 that can plug in to the TouchDro? I was under the impression they used something similar to a USB connecter similar to the micro B.

I could not really see how she (Blondi) connected the magnetic scale. I just assumed the glass scale she used was a DB9.

Thanks, Joe

 

[OldFatMan]

That's quite a kit she got! Seems almost like cheating- she didn't have to finagle those pins around on the DB9 connectors 3 or 4 times like I did. You know the whole plug front or back pin out numbering. Did she abbreviate the calibration big time or does the new release have a new calibration wizard?

 

[ycroosh]

That's quite a kit she got! Seems almost like cheating- she didn't have to finagle those pins around on the DB9 connectors 3 or 4 times like I did. You know the whole plug front or back pin out numbering. Did she abbreviate the calibration big time or does the new release have a new calibration wizard?

V3 has a calibration wizard that makes the whole process much easier. The process is described here: TouchDRO Input Calibration
Blondi (Quinn) got a special "promotional" kit that was fully configured. A friend of mine has the same lathe as she does, so it was easy to get everything ready.

EDIT: I did some googling and see that they do have some with DB9 connectors. I think I had the magnetic scales only having the I-gaging connectors for the touchDRO board.

My mistake, but thanks anyway for the explanation on the voltage. I am starting to understand things a little more.

Thank you Yuriy,

Does that mean the magnetic scales also use a DB9 that can plug in to the TouchDro? I was under the impression they used something similar to a USB connecter similar to the micro B.

I could not really see how she (Blondi) connected the magnetic scale. I just assumed the glass scale she used was a DB9.

Thanks, Joe

There are magnetic scales that use magnetic tape to measure distance. Most of those output the same signal as glass scales and [almost always] use RB9 connectors. There are also some sellers who call iGaging EZ-View "magnetic" because in the back of the display there are two magnets that you can use to stick them to the machine. That is obviously marketing BS/deception.

Regards
Yuriy

 

[OldFatMan]

That's cool Yuriy. I'm just jealous I didn't get a "promotional kit". I'm an old boilermaker so getting a kit together and getting it working on an old RF-30 was a bit of a challenge for me but it is great! Its good that you supported Quinn with one- she's a good teacher for folks at several levels.