The Summit 1440B I got recently, came with a cheap ToAuto DRO that I just wasn't happy with. Along with the flimsy feel of a $200 Chinese DRO, it also had the annoying "feature" of having some nonsensical symbol display that you were in diameter/radius and inch/metric. Why not just display Dia/Rad and Inch/MM? Also, the Y axis scale only had a 40" range, and this lathe, while spec'd as a 14"x40", will actually go to 14-1/2" x 45". So, I talked to Mike at Can Do Machinery, and ordered a Mitutoyo KA200 lathe package. Great guy to deal with, and the best price on Mit DRO's that I've found.
On the back side of the lathe bed, there are two very flat/uniform ribs down the entire length that were perfect for scale mounting. Not sure if they're for that purpose, or perhaps for something like a taper attachment. At any rate, I mounted it using the supplied mounting blocks, but the grub screws were not needed. Mounted as is, the scale was within .010" end to end in all planes.
Never been a fan of the universal two piece sliding "L" brackets that come with DRO's, so a solid one was made out of piece of scrap aluminum that was already surfaced flat while testing a new face mill. Much more solid mount.
Then had a local shop bend up a Z channel out of .080" aluminum to cover the scale.
The X axis scale required a bit of fiddling, as there wasn't enough room in the pocket cast in the carriage for this DRO's read head. Had to stand off the scale about 1/4" from the side of the cross slide, so the read head had clearance. Originally used ferrules, but the gap between the scale and cross slide was a chip magnet. So, a spacer was machined out of some 3/8" x 1" aluminum stock. No more gap, and the spacer is thick enough to drill and tap to mount some sort of shield over the scale down the road.
Great weekend project, and way happier with the high quality, user friendly Mit DRO!
On the back side of the lathe bed, there are two very flat/uniform ribs down the entire length that were perfect for scale mounting. Not sure if they're for that purpose, or perhaps for something like a taper attachment. At any rate, I mounted it using the supplied mounting blocks, but the grub screws were not needed. Mounted as is, the scale was within .010" end to end in all planes.
Never been a fan of the universal two piece sliding "L" brackets that come with DRO's, so a solid one was made out of piece of scrap aluminum that was already surfaced flat while testing a new face mill. Much more solid mount.
Then had a local shop bend up a Z channel out of .080" aluminum to cover the scale.
The X axis scale required a bit of fiddling, as there wasn't enough room in the pocket cast in the carriage for this DRO's read head. Had to stand off the scale about 1/4" from the side of the cross slide, so the read head had clearance. Originally used ferrules, but the gap between the scale and cross slide was a chip magnet. So, a spacer was machined out of some 3/8" x 1" aluminum stock. No more gap, and the spacer is thick enough to drill and tap to mount some sort of shield over the scale down the road.
Great weekend project, and way happier with the high quality, user friendly Mit DRO!
