Using my existing scales?

[PNW_Guy]

My mill came with an 80's vintage Sargon 2 axis DRO. I'm wondering if I can use the existing scales, or need to replace them when I add 2 more axis and a TouchDRO.

It has a 25pin connector (DB-25?), and inside the connector is a bit of electronics. I could deal with the physical connection if these scales would work with the Touch DRO.

Any thoughts?

 

[Inferno]

I can only speak for my own install but the scales I use are connected to the Touch DRO with a USB cable.
I don't know how many of the USB pins are active but it should be at least 3.

 

[markba633csi]

I don't think I would bother trying to use scales that old- they are so inexpensive new
You really would need an oscilloscope to understand what that level translator is doing
Just sayin'
-M

 

[PNW_Guy]

I don't think I would bother trying to use scales that old- they are so inexpensive new
You really would need an oscilloscope to understand what that level translator is doing
Just sayin'
-M

Thanks. Electronics aren't really my thing. I can wire a house, but when the parts get small I get lost, and don't have an oscilloscope.

 

[pontiac428]

You need to determine if they are analog or digital. Totally different beasts. On the new equipment, I'd expect TTL voltage (5v) on the read heads, but older equipment is anyone's guess. There's also the encoding, there are different schemes:

Linear encoder - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[markba633csi]

There's also the fact that scales that old may not even have the resolution of modern scales