-
Welcome back Guest! Did you know you can mentor other members here at H-M? If not, please check out our Relaunch of Hobby Machinist Mentoring Program!
Trav-a-dial
- Thread starter ddickey
- Start date
I agree, to me for that price doesn't seem worth it. I paid $350 for my 2-axis Easson DRO with graphical display for my mill years ago. These days you can get a 2 axis DRO for under $200. Not sure how good the sub $200 ones are but just saying. I'd spend the same or a little more & get a DRO.
I just used a 2" dial indicator with mag back on ways for a while before I got a DRO for the lathe. I still use a dial indicator on the ways for single point threading to a shoulder or blind hole.
I just used a 2" dial indicator with mag back on ways for a while before I got a DRO for the lathe. I still use a dial indicator on the ways for single point threading to a shoulder or blind hole.
I have a Trav-A-Dial on my lathe. It was on the lathe when I bought it. I use it once in a while and it works well, but for what they cost these days, I would spend the money on a DRO instead if I felt I needed one. I really don't feel the need for either one on the lathe for the typical hobby work I do. Now the mill is a different story. I almost feel I couldn't live without the DRO on the mill.
Ted
Ted
I have Trav-a-dials on my lathe and mill. Would not do it any other way. I do not like how the DRO shows “dancing” numbers. For me, the dancing numbers makes it difficult to come up to a set point. I like the analog pointer coming up to a set point much better! Telling direction is also much easier and amount left to go to a set point. So, analog is my choice. The wires running all over the place, hanging the display, the room/real estate the scale takes up and needed power are some of the other reasons I will not want a DRO…Dave.
Try finding a cheap DRO for any larger sized lathe ---- I very much like my Travadial on my 19" X 54 Regal Leblond, I agree 100% with the above poster on all points that he brings up. For threading up to a shoulder, I'd rather keep my eye on the tool/part than an indicator or DRO or any other locational aid.
At the prices they are going for, I would find another solution, and there are many, starting with a dial indicator with a magnetic back, cost starting at under $30, even less used.
I used a trav-a-dial on my main lathe exclusively for about a decade then I put a DRO on it two years ago. At first I kept instinctively dropping my eyes to the dial then checking the DRO for accuracy. After awhile I quit looking at the dial at all and honestly don't miss it much. The trav-a-dial does occasionally require calibration, it'll be easier to perform now that the DRO is in place.
Exactly . DROs aren't cheap for larger lathes . I'll choose a TD over a DRO every time when doing large shaft work . ( I'm not talking about 10" lathes , more like 24" and larger ) . DRO's are nice on Hardinges and smaller lathes but they do add a lot of wires and needed room for hanging scales etc .