The case for TouchDRO in 2022?

[ErichKeane]

On the topic of the "fragile tablets", you might consider the 'amazon fire kids' tablets, if Yuri can get his app installable easily enough on them (as they don't have the play store). They come with a thick rubber-silicon cover that makes it toddler proof: which is very much good enough for shop-proof!

 

[tonydi]

If you want to use any of the FireHD models get the free Fire Toolbox. It essentially lets you disable all of the Amazon crap, install Google Play Store and a whole host of other features. You'll end up close enough to a regular Android tablet that people would never suspect it was a Fire. It's all menu driven so it's simple to use. I even let my wife use it on her HD8 and she's anything but techie.

 

[Tomzo]

I bought a cheap Amazon Fire tablet for mine. Google how to install the Google Play store in a fire tablet - it is pretty straight forward. If you can figure out how to use a DRO you can figure that out too.

 

[stupoty]

I do like me some Z axis summing... though i would have thought most any run of the mill 4 axis systems would have 2 axis summing, no?



It certainly is pretty, but how does it do with dirty oily hands? or ones with latex gloves...
Theres something nice about a tactile blister button that doesnt care about being dirty and gives positive feedback...

I have not got the dro system but due to sailing people getting into tablets for navigation and instramentation , you can get fitted bag / covers that are water proof and touch screen compatible.

Stu

 

[ClintNZ]

Check out the Galaxy Tab Active series. I got the Tab Active 3 and it is drop protected, water resistant, scratch resistant, designed for extreme environs.
Add to that the RAM mounts charging cradle on a swivel arm and you have a pretty powerful tool within arms reach that you can also grab and go.

Yep, I have had a Samsung Tab 2 Active for years, very reliable unit that has bounced around in the 4wd & backpack for many miles & still works great. Since I'm about to get TouchDRO I may use it for that & upgrade. Unfortunately the Tab 3 is near twice the price of the Tab 2! But there are deals to be had 2nd hand.

Cheers
Clint

 

[middle.road]

I've got a few old HP Touchpads still, and I've been wanting to put them to use with TouchDRO for ages now.
And will do so as soon as I can.
The app runs just fine on them with Android 7.1.x
I want to replace the head on my chinese DRO with one and then do up my lathe.

 

[ClintNZ]

Right. My TouchDRO now ordered! Along with 3x Ditron 1um magnetic scales. My new Optimum lathe/mill came with slots already milled in for magnetic strips making these by far the tidiest option for an accurate low profile installation.

Optimum actually offer a house brand LCD DRO with magnetic scales, hence the slots. However the Optimum one is total bare bones, xyz & rpm with none of the functions you'd expect on even a basic cheap DRO, and for 3 axes it is nearly NZ$1000!

Cheers
Clint

 

[JFL4066]

Right. My TouchDRO now ordered! Along with 3x Ditron 1um magnetic scales. My new Optimum lathe/mill came with slots already milled in for magnetic strips making these by far the tidiest option for an accurate low profile installation.

Optimum actually offer a house brand LCD DRO with magnetic scales, hence the slots. However the Optimum one is total bare bones, xyz & rpm with none of the functions you'd expect on even a basic cheap DRO, and for 3 axes it is nearly NZ$1000!

Cheers
Clint

Clint,

I've been running mag scales on my mill over two years now. Be mindful of small chip buildup between the read head and scale! You may notice the read head LED blink red a few times when traversing the scale. This indicates a missed pulse. If it happens a lot you will be off in the measured distance. A cover/shield will help but my defeat the small profile of the scale/read head. Keeping it clean should prevent miss reads.

John

 

[Inferno]

I just want to say that my machine gets used more with the Touch DRO. I've never looked for an alternative. I wouldn't.
I've had mine installed for about 6 years and the only problem I've had is the battery in my tablet swelled from being on 24/7/365. I replaced the battery a year ago.

 

[ClintNZ]

Clint,

I've been running mag scales on my mill over two years now. Be mindful of small chip buildup between the read head and scale! You may notice the read head LED blink red a few times when traversing the scale. This indicates a missed pulse. If it happens a lot you will be off in the measured distance. A cover/shield will help but my defeat the small profile of the scale/read head. Keeping it clean should prevent miss reads.

John

Thanks! Do your read heads have the little wipers? Mine should do. A minimal 'veranda' over the cross slide scale should be easy to do so I'll likely have that. The mill column scale could be shielded quite well I think. Can't do much with the main lathe bed scale but a bit of a shield hanging off the tail end of the saddle & covering the read head should help. I'll post up a thread detailing the install once the parts arrive.

Cheers
Clint