Since I have not see it covered on the list so I thought I might mention a "DRO system" I came across that is relatively inexpensive and that seems to work great.
For a while I have been looking for a DRO system for my SB9, but could not justify $400-$700 for the unit. Recently after looking for the real manufacturer of the Angle Cube (2" alum alloy cube with digital angle display) I found out that they were mainly manufactured by I-Gaging (iGaging.com). After finding out how to fix the problem caused by a dying battery, I started looking over their site and came across their Digimag/Digifence line which is a digital vernier scale with a remote display. The display reads 0.001", .05 mm (IIRC) & 1/64" fractional ( Igaging Digital Scales and Readout ) . While the last one is not what I was looking for, the .001" repeatability/0.002" accuracy was what I was looking for.
The scale mounts like most of the other digital scales with the on-scale screens (i.e.: quill scales), but the screen is on a 3-4' cable and the screen mounts with either the imbedded magnets or a snap in bracket. I got the scales from Quint Measuring Systems in San Ramon, Ca, Phone: 1-800-745-5045, Fax:1-800-745-5043 (the rep that i-Gaging put me in contact with) the prices range from $27-$50 each and is available in 6", 12", 24" & 35" lengths. The people over at Quint seem nice to deal with, sounds like a small office / home office company (as the lady handling billing/shipping and the fellow handling the technical questions both had the last name of Quint). When talking to them they mentioned having an Amazon store, but I can only find Quint Graphics on Amazon, who also carry Igaging, but I can't be sure they are the same people.
Below you will see photos of the installation, the brackets (cross slide mount, cross slide connector and display mount) were all made from 1/8 x 2" CRS. The cable keepers are key retractors from Sears Hardware (found near the key machine), I think they were at most $2 each. The rings are chain mail rings (another hobby) baby key rings, like the ones on the AAA mag lights would also work. The scale for the bed had to be shortened by 8-10", the scale backers are aluminum and the scale is fiberglass, so I carefully cut the scale from the backside making sure the hacksaw blade was horizontal when I got to the fiberglass, and went extra light when cutting the last 1/32".
The repeatability is there, before measuring the c'bores in the display mounts, I threaded for #8 screws, but it turned out that the c'bores were sized for #6 or similar metric screws, so I had to modify a group of #8 pan heads into what I think are called fillister head screws (small diameter heads). I did one, and set my zeros on both scales (y scale for the diameter and x scale for the final head height) and although I got distracted 3 times long enough that they displays auto-offed, 3 of the 4 measured the same diameter and 1 was 0.001 larger.
The next project is installing the other 2 scales I bought for my B'Port, and I may by another scale and install it on the tailstock of the SB9. Not sure if I will also add sheet metal guards over them to protect them from chips & oil.
Take care,
Rich C.
Though I know many of you could do a better job, here are the photos:
For a while I have been looking for a DRO system for my SB9, but could not justify $400-$700 for the unit. Recently after looking for the real manufacturer of the Angle Cube (2" alum alloy cube with digital angle display) I found out that they were mainly manufactured by I-Gaging (iGaging.com). After finding out how to fix the problem caused by a dying battery, I started looking over their site and came across their Digimag/Digifence line which is a digital vernier scale with a remote display. The display reads 0.001", .05 mm (IIRC) & 1/64" fractional ( Igaging Digital Scales and Readout ) . While the last one is not what I was looking for, the .001" repeatability/0.002" accuracy was what I was looking for.
The scale mounts like most of the other digital scales with the on-scale screens (i.e.: quill scales), but the screen is on a 3-4' cable and the screen mounts with either the imbedded magnets or a snap in bracket. I got the scales from Quint Measuring Systems in San Ramon, Ca, Phone: 1-800-745-5045, Fax:1-800-745-5043 (the rep that i-Gaging put me in contact with) the prices range from $27-$50 each and is available in 6", 12", 24" & 35" lengths. The people over at Quint seem nice to deal with, sounds like a small office / home office company (as the lady handling billing/shipping and the fellow handling the technical questions both had the last name of Quint). When talking to them they mentioned having an Amazon store, but I can only find Quint Graphics on Amazon, who also carry Igaging, but I can't be sure they are the same people.
Below you will see photos of the installation, the brackets (cross slide mount, cross slide connector and display mount) were all made from 1/8 x 2" CRS. The cable keepers are key retractors from Sears Hardware (found near the key machine), I think they were at most $2 each. The rings are chain mail rings (another hobby) baby key rings, like the ones on the AAA mag lights would also work. The scale for the bed had to be shortened by 8-10", the scale backers are aluminum and the scale is fiberglass, so I carefully cut the scale from the backside making sure the hacksaw blade was horizontal when I got to the fiberglass, and went extra light when cutting the last 1/32".
The repeatability is there, before measuring the c'bores in the display mounts, I threaded for #8 screws, but it turned out that the c'bores were sized for #6 or similar metric screws, so I had to modify a group of #8 pan heads into what I think are called fillister head screws (small diameter heads). I did one, and set my zeros on both scales (y scale for the diameter and x scale for the final head height) and although I got distracted 3 times long enough that they displays auto-offed, 3 of the 4 measured the same diameter and 1 was 0.001 larger.
The next project is installing the other 2 scales I bought for my B'Port, and I may by another scale and install it on the tailstock of the SB9. Not sure if I will also add sheet metal guards over them to protect them from chips & oil.
Take care,
Rich C.
Though I know many of you could do a better job, here are the photos:
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