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Call now! Toll Free Order Line & Tech Help 1-877-628-6028 DRO PROS 1-2-3 Value! - Easiest to use Digital Readout - DRO Kits start at only $599 - 3 Year warranty Our Kit and Part Prices always beat Heidenhain Newall Acurite Sargon & Fagor! Compare all of our Digital Readouts! Click HERE
Hints and Techniques from our Customers DRO KIT Installation - Notes, Warnings and Cautions The Readhead - What the readhead looks like The Threaded Holes - Size and tap sizes for mounting the scale Nuts & Bolts - Specifications of fasteners included with our kits Prepping the Scale - How to protect the scale so the readhead doesn't run into the end Dragging the Scale - How to ensure the readhead doesn't drag the inside of the scale Bracket Alignment - How to line the mill kit brackets up with the holes
Click HERE to read how to initialize 1 micron scales on the DRO PROS 2L Lathe Kit Click HERE to read how to initialize 1 micron scales on the DRO PROS 2M Milling Machine Kit Click HERE to read how to initialize 1 micron scales on the DRO PROS 3M Milling Machine Kit The "Blue Strip"- Between the scale and the reader head there is a blue strip which helps to maintain the correct distance between the reader head and the scale for installation purposes. This should be removed after installation.
Thanks to all our customers for taking the time to send us their pictures. If you would care to send us a photo of your DRO installation and ultimately benefit others who may be contemplating the same install, please send your photos to scott@dropros.com. Thank you!
Courtesy of Unknown with a DRO PROS 3M three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of R. Hartshorne with a DRO PROS 3M three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of K. Byrd with a DRO PROS 3M three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of J. Gillies with a DRO PROS 3M three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of J. Oseli with a DRO PROS 2M two axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of B. Martin with a DRO PROS 3M three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of T. Ancell with an Easson ES10-3M5 three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of J. Hicks with an Easson ES10-3M5 three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of H. Noble with an Easson ES10-3M5 three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of W. Pfeiffer with an Easson ES10-3M5 three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of (unknown) with an Easson ES10-3M5 three axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of R. Partridge with an Easson ES10-2M5 two axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of B. Ohlemann with an Easson ES10-2M5 two axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of D. Collins with an Easson ES10-2M5 two axis Mill Kit:
Lathe Kit Photos: Courtesy of R. Suttle with an Easson ES10-2L5 two axis Lathe Kit:
Courtesy of J. Dolde with an Easson ES10-2L5 two axis Lathe Kit:
Courtesy of K. Coker with an Easson ES10-2L5 two axis Lathe Kit:
Courtesy of R. Pleas with an Easson ES10-2L5 two axis Lathe Kit:
Courtesy of J. Holmgren with a Newall M20 two axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of S. Chase with a Newall M20 two axis Lathe Kit:
Courtesy of R. Wells with a Newall M20 two axis Mill Kit:
Courtesy of R. Snyder with a Newall M20 two axis Lathe Kit:
Courtesy of D. Hall with a Fagor Innova two axis Lathe Kit:
Hints and Techniques from our Customers
Sometimes it's best to let your customers do the talking (Please click on Mikes' letter to the right for the full install story and photos). Look at what Mike Grey of AWMS Inc. had to say about his DRO PROS Installation:
18 Jul 2010 DRO PROS, You were most helpful when I was looking to purchase a DRO for my lathe - so thought I would drop you a line and let you know how things turned out as well as offer some other information. I suggest you consider adding a spot on your web site that shows customer installs of your products on various machines. The way others solve the problems of installation would be helpful for ALL users. Particularly, if the installation is on a similar machine. Should you choose to do so, here is my contribution. Sincerely, Mike Gray
DRO KIT Installation - Notes, Warnings and Cautions
Between the scale and the reader head there is a blue strip which helps to maintain the correct distance between the reader head and the scale for installation purposes. This should be removed after installation.
Note: To give the best protection, the scale should be mounted with the yellow rubber seals (lips) facing down. Note that this is not always possible. The scale performs equally well mounted in any direction. It's just that optimally, the best protection is afforded with the opening facing down or away from the cutting tool.
The travel length of the glass grating scale must be longer than the maximum travel of the machine, there should be at least 10mm clearance (approximately 1/2") between the ends of the glass scale and the maximum travel of the machine as shown in the following figure:
It is very important that the scale body be aligned parallel to the travel of the machine slide. For scale travel less than 950mm, the maximum parallel error between the scale and the machine slide must be less than 0.15mm. For scales longer than 950mm, the maximum alignment parallelism error must be less that 0.1mm:
The clearance between the reader head and scale body must be kept between 0.8mm - 1.5mm. If a dial indicator is used to align the scale, it is important to ensure that the angle between the dial indicator lever tip and the surface measured is less than 3 degrees to avoid a cosine measurement error. lf a vertical dial indicator is used as per the following figures shown, it is important to ensure that the dial indicator is perpendicular to the measured surface to avoid any error:
The opening of the scale must not be installed as to be directly exposed to swarf, oil, water, dust or other foreign products. The provided protectant covers should be installed.
The scales should be installed on a level, machined surface.
In cases where machined flat surfaces are not available, an installation block or strip should be used to provide a flat datum for the installation:
There must be a clearance of at least 3.0mm between the scale and the scale cover:
All cables should be fixed, but still allow for the maximum amount of machine travel. If fitting the Z axis, the scale should be installed on the side of the column, ensuring that the open side of the scale is away from direct swarf and coolant. The bracket is mounted on the knee, and should wrap around the scale to allow for the cover to protect the scale.
DRO KIT Installation - Parts and Pieces
The first thing we recommend is to get familiar with the scales. First, let's go over the parts of a scale. The main housing is referred to as the scale body. The reader or readhead is actually inside of the scale, and is self-guided by five ball bearings along tracks inside the housing. The outside piece is the "trolley" and simply pushes and pulls the readhead along the length of the scale body. The "joint" between the trolley and the readhead is a metal arm which terminates at the readhead in a kind of ball-and-socket joint. The point of this all is that the readhead is self-aligning, meaning that the outside trolley does not need to be in perfect parallel alignment with the scale body.
When looking at a scale for the first time, the first thing that catches most peoples eyes is the 'blue plastic piece' between the trolley and the scale body. It is intended to keep the readhead from moving during shipping, but also serves as an excellent tool for determining the offset or distance the trolley should be mounted away from the scale body. At the end of the day, it will be in the trash, but for now, don't discard it.
The first task will be to mark the scales in a way that would visually warn us if the readhead is nearing the extreme end of the scale. The arm between the trolley and the readhead is delicate, and if the scale is forcefully run into the end of the scale, it will break.
First, remove the two screws holding the blue plastic piece to the scale body:
Now, run the trolley back and forth along the scale with the 'blue plastic piece' still attached to the trolley. Notice the movement should be smooth and unrestricted. Move the trolley to the extreme end of the scale until it 'bottoms out' or hits the end. Don't worry, as long as the readhead is not forcefully struck against the end of the scale, it will not be damaged. Make a mark from the trolley to the scale body. Exactly where is not important, but most folks choose to mark from the center of the trolley as we did.
When installing scales, the most important thing to remember is that there is not “one right way”. When faced with the task of mounting scales, it is very common for different machinists to come up with several different mounting plans, depending upon their experience, time allowed for installation, and individual creativity. Remember, installation is more about creativity than it is an exact science. Which direction you mount the scales, or which holes you use, depends entirely on what you believe best fits your particular circumstances. The scale endcaps have two holes, neither of which are threaded. The larger, oblong holes allow a 6mm bolt to pass through it, while the smaller round hole is clearanced for a 5mm bolt. The trolley has two pass-through side holes which are tapped with an M5 x .8 thread. The 4 smaller holes are blind holes, and are tapped with an M4 x .7 thread.
Click on the following image to view the Scale Hole Sizes and Threaded Dimensions:
Depending on your particular kit (ie lathe vs mill, 2 vs 3 axis etc), your DRO kit will contain a mixture of metric hardware. These are the most common size components in our kits: Socket head cap screw M6 - 1.0 x 30 Socket head cap screw M6 - 1.0 x 25 Socket head cap screw M5 - .8 x 30 Socket head cap screw M5 - .8 x 10 Lock washer M6 Lock washer M5 Flat washer M6 Flat washer M5 Hex nut M6 - 1.0 For tapping your machine, we recommend having a couple of M6 & M5 plug taps on hand: ENCO (1-800-873-3626) has M5x0.8 plug taps for $3.29 each as part number 311-4141 ENCO (1-800-873-3626) has M6x1.0 plug taps for $3.76 each as part number 311-4181
Next, move the trolley to other extreme end of the scale. Note the marks now 'split'.
Once the trolley is bottomed out against the opposite end, make another mark on the scale body opposite the mark on the trolley.
It should now look like this:
The point of this exercise is that you now have a visual backup of when the trolley would physically hit the end of the scale. After properly mounting your scales, the green mark should always stay between the red marks at all times as in the following illustration:
It is best to mount the scale body first. After choosing a flat surface, drill and tap the appropriate size holes. Bolt both ends of the scale into place, leaving one end just loose enough that it can be 'tapped' into parallel. Run a dial indicator along the top surface of the scale, making sure the scale does not rise or fall as the machine moves. THIS IS IMPORTANT. Make sure the scale is true BEFORE you mount the readhead/trolley assembly.
Next, mount the trolley. It is important to obtain just the right distance or spacing between the underside of the scale and the trolley. This is where the 'blue plastic piece' comes in handy. If you mount the trolley such that the blue plastic piece is snug under the trolley, the spacing will be perfect.
Note the following picture where the 'blue plastic piece' is snugly between the trolley and the body of the scale:
Inside the scale, this is what the readhead looks like when the scale is properly mounted:
Note the underside of the readhead is not touching or 'bottoming out' on the inside of the scale body.
The following pictures illustrate an IMPROPERLY mounted scale where the 'blue plastic piece' is left loose between the trolley and the body of the scale:
Inside the scale, the underside of the readhead is physically dragging along the length of the scale body. Physical failure of the scale will occur almost immediately as the readhead will be physically deformed as it drags the underside of the scale:
Now while we say the blue plastic piece needs to be snug, don't make it too tight. The clearances are great enough here that you really do not need to 'mic it out'. Mount the trolley with the 'blue plastic piece' snug and all will be fine. If you look at the above left photo you can clearly see the blue plastic piece is not even close to snug, it's simply laying there and would easily slide out if the scale were tilted to the side. The point here is that there is plenty of room built into the scale for movement and to not get too wrapped up with this. The only real catch here is to make sure the scale body is parallel to the machines movement, and make sure to mount the trolley so that it doesn't run into the end of the scale.
Note also that most trolleys are a bit wider than the scale on on side, meaning that if you were to mount the scale against a perfectly flat surface, the trolley would be pushed out of alignment. Note in the following picture how the trolley is wider on the left side of the scale than it is the right. If the scale were forcefully mounted against a flat surface on the left, the trolley would be forced out of alignment or pushed well to the right. Forcefully pushing the trolley out of position will decrease its' life expectancy greatly!
For some reason it is extremely common to try and align the mill brackets with the two large hexagonal openings on the side of the trolley. The brackets are designed, however, to align with the four tapped holes on the underside of the trolley, not the two hexagonal shaped holes on the side. Of course, if it makes better sense to secure the trolley via the side holes, then go ahead and do it. Modifications are encouraged! Take a look at the following pictures:
While your particular mill may look altogether different, the basic concepts remain the same. The first step is to determine which scale to mount first, and where to mount it. Today, we've decided to mount the Y scale first as the X scale will pass over the top of the Y scale. Looking at the right side of our machine, we see that the gib adjusting screws and table lock mechanism would present a challenge to mounting a scale on the right side:
In contrast, the left side of the mill is relatively unobstructed, making it ideal for mounting the scale:
But while the area is relatively unobstructed, the side is not machined square:
To compensate for the sloped surface, we'll install a backer bar. On either end of the bar, top and bottom, are grub screws. These screw in or out, as needed, to level the bar:
Mark and drill the mounting holes for the backer bar:
Attach the backer bar using the supplied bolts:
Insert the grub screws on the backer bar:
With a dial indicator, ensure the backer bar is square and perpendicular to the machine slides:
Adjust the grub screws as needed until the backer bar is square and perpendicular to the machine slides.
The backer bar is now installed; level and parallel with the movement of the table:
Next, fasten the scale to the backer bar:
The scale is now installed!
Next, we'll ensure our scale is parallel with our work surface. First, make sure the mill table is brought all the way to the rear. Install a dial indicator so that the indicator tip rests against the top of the scale:
Now move the table to the front of the machine:
If there is any movement of the dial indicator, loosen and adjust the scale end bolt as needed. Repeat until the scale is perfectly aligned.
Next, we need to mark the scales in a way that would visually warn us if the readhead is nearing the extreme end of the scale. If you have not done this already, here's how to do it:
Make a mark from the trolley to the scale body. Exactly where is not important, but most folks choose to mark from the center of the trolley as we did.
Next, move the trolley to the end of the scale:
Mark the end of the scale above the mark on the trolley:
Next, move the trolley to other extreme end of the scale. Note the marks now 'split':
With the trolley touching the opposite end of the scale, make another mark on the scale body opposite the mark on the trolley.
The point of this exercise is that you now have a visual backup of when the trolley would physically hit the end of the scale. After properly mounting your scales, the green mark should always stay between the red marks at all times:
Now place the trolley bracket against the saddle where you intend to mount it:
Drill the mounting holes for the trolley bracket:
Now fasten the bracket against the saddle:
The first trolley bracket is now installed!
Next, place the second trolley bracket in place:
Loosely fasten the two bracket bolts:
Insert the trolley bolts through the bracket, into the trolley carriage:
Tighten the trolley bolts. Make sure the trolley is not twisted as the bolts are tightened. Adjust the bracket as needed:
Now tighten the bracket bolts. Again, make sure the trolley is not twisted as the bolts are tightened. Adjust the bracket as needed:
All that remains now is to verify the scale runs true with the proper spacing:
Run the table to the back of the machine:
As you move the table to the rear, make sure to check the spacing of the blue plastic piece. It should be snug, but not overly tight, not overly loose. Optimally, it should look like this:
At no point should the blue plastic piece bind or become loose. A misaligned scale will look like this:
Note the gap between the blue plastic piece and the scale body. It is imperative to keep the blue plastic piece snug along the full travel of the scale. Please refer to the Getting Familiar with the Scales - Parts and Pieces section for more information regarding this issue.
If the blue plastic piece indicates the scale is out of alignment, loosen the scale end bolt and adjust the scale as needed:
Next, run the trolley to the other end of the scale. Again, check the blue plastic piece alignment both during and after the trolley is moved. Loosen and adjust the scale end height as needed:
Congratulations, the scale is installed - now don't forget to remove the blue plastic piece!
Scale "Read Direction"
It makes no difference which way the scale initially reads. Scale 'read direction' can be easily changed in the parameters menu after installation. Mount the scale in the position / direction which makes the most sense. In most cases, mount the scale with the cable exiting to the rear of the machine, away from the cutter. Please keep in mind every installation is unique, so there is no one "correct way" to mount scales. Referencing the Customer installation photos provided above may help immensely by seeing how our other Customers chose to mount their scales.
For general reference, we provide the following diagram. Remember, scale read direction is, in the end, a matter of personal choice:
To install a readout on a lathe the following tips can be used. To mount the cross slide scale, select a flat surface that is suitable and clear of the traveling parts of the lathe. The scale should be mounted insuring that that it is parallel and square to the slide.
When mounting the reader head, ensure it travels inline and square to the scale to avoid any damage to the scale.
Testing for parallel can be done by either a dial indicator or a precision level.
The longitudinal scale should be mounted on the back of the Lathe (Fig 1) with the open side of the scale facing down and must be parallel to the bed. The reader head is mounted to the saddle (Fig. 2 & 3) via the brackets provided. Some modification may be required for some lathes. Covers should be mounted over the slides as per Fig.4.
Note: Between the scale and the reader head there is a blue strip which helps to maintain the correct distance between the reader head and the scale for installation purposes. This should be removed after installation.
Scales At DRO PROS, we only sell true five bearing glass scales with our kits, and with over 70 different size scales to choose from, we fit your machine right! For .0002" resolution scales up to 39.3" in capacity (models 100mm - 1000mm), the scales are included in the price of the kit and there is no surcharge. Simply tell us what size scale you'd like and we'll send the correct length scale. For scales greater than 39" capacity (our oversize scales), there is a small surcharge based on length when purchased with a kit. Please refer to the chart below for more details:
Why does DRO PROS post their digital readout part prices online when other companies don't? That's because if you were to find out what other companies are going to charge you for parts when you need them, you might not buy their digital readout kit in the first place! Our part prices always beat Heidenhain, Newall, Acurite, Sargon & Fagor! At DRO PROS, we're proud to show off our low part prices. Go DRO PROS!
Why should I buy from DRO PROS? We speak English - We answer our phones - Same day shipping
Our goal is to make customers for life. We feel that, in the long run, treating customers right will yield much more than simply "going for the sale". In accordance with that, we have attempted to pass on some ideas to help you, the customer, in completing your purchase decision:
Price. Probably the most talked about factor when buying a digital readout. Price can also be the most misleading, and perhaps worst way, to judge a digital readout kit. We've all heard the old adage, "You get what you pay for." Before the internet, it was true, price did generally correlate directly to value. But that was yesterdays economy. All resellers obtained their goods the same way, and therefore incurred the same costs. In today's economy, the market has changed drastically. At DRO PROS, we import and sell directly to you. Unlike our competitors, we do not have Western and Eastern sales divisions and multi layers of management to support. One location, one cost, and the savings get passed on to you!
Intuitiveness or "Ease of Use". Probably the most important, and hardest to determine factor when buying a readout. Think in terms of after the sale. Even if you get an absolute 'rock star' bottom line price that would make William Shatner proud, if the digital readout is not user friendly, you still didn't get a 'deal'. The whole point of getting a digital readout is to make your work easier and more enjoyable. If the digital readout is poorly designed, too complicated, if the display isn't bright enough, or in other words is 'user unfriendly', you'll regret your purchase decision every time you turn it on. It simply won't matter what you paid, it's not worth it!
Support. Most likely the second most important, and perhaps most overlooked factor when buying a digital readout. Imagine trying to reach a technician when you've bought a digital readout from an overseas reseller! Yet every day, people "save" $50 and buy products on eBay without stopping to think what will happen when they need service or tech support. Some digital readout resellers don't even publish a phone number! While our competitors continue to pare down or even totally eliminate their customer support, we continue to expand our Customer Service. We've completely re-written our manuals, top to bottom, to better serve you, the customer. Our Live Demo feature allows us to interactively guide you to the best decision based on what you do. Our Video Tutorials are the best in the industry, and are available free for you, our customers. Our tech help is the best in the business - our techs all know our readouts inside and out. Nobody knows digital readouts like DRO PROS!
Warranty. Of course, all DRO PROS digital readout kits come with a standard, 3 Year USA digital readout warranty. Something not quite working correctly? Call us, don't get redirected overseas by the other guys!
Parts. Can you believe some resellers don't carry parts? That's right, buy from the "other guys", break a scale, and you get to replace the entire digital readout kit! Don't assume you can just go buy a different brand scale, either, because most manufacturers use different connectors on their scales. If that wasn't enough, even among those with a common connector, such as a DB9, most are hard wired differently. Finally, don't overlook the cost of parts. At DRO PROS, an 800mm replacement scale will cost you $197. A similar scale sold extensively by a European company will cost nearly $700! Finally, we have a massive inventory of parts, so rest easy - a replacement part is only a phone call away!
The Best Value. We literally search world-wide for the best value digital readout products on the planet. If there was a better digital readout package to be sold, we would be selling it. Yes, we've seen cheaper units on eBay, but there is a reason they're cheaper. Think poor quality, no parts, no manual, non-existent customer service, poor product fit/finish etc.
Customer Service. We pledge to never "over sell" you on a product that won't work well for you. Our philosophy is to try and save you money and get the best value kit tailored to the machinery you have. Many of our customers are surprised when we recommend against buying a more expensive brand. Again, our philosophy is to build customers for life. Give us a call and let us save you money!
Shipping. Most orders ship the same day, the next at the latest. We do not 'drop' ship, we have our own massive warehouse of inventory right here on site. We use FedEx, you'll get a tracking number emailed to you immediately, and we cover all shipping insurance automatically.
The Company. DRO PROS is a veteran owned, American company. We enjoy selling quality products at competitive prices. We believe that providing the best customer service is the key to success. No other company spends more time on the phone with customers than we do. Even in a down economy, our company continues to thrive and grow. We look forward to earning your business!
The Bottom Line. Our line of digital readout's are simply the most user friendly readouts on the planet. Because of our direct marketing structure, they're also extremely affordable. Coupled with our extensive customer service and affordable parts, our Digital Readout products are simply the best value on the planet.
Shipping:
Domestic Shipping to
the United States:
All digital readout shipping is done
via FedEx for a flat rate of $43. You'll get a tracking number emailed
direct to you from FedEx, enabling you to track your shipment door to door!
We cover insurance against any potential shipping damages, so no hidden fees
here! International Shipping outside the United States: All of our DRO shipping is done via the United States Postal Service. We charge a flat rate of $80 shipping to Canada and $140 for International shipping.
3 Year Warranty:
All
DRO PROS
brand digital readouts come with a written, 3 year warranty.
At DRO PROS, we take care of our customers. Have an issue or need some help? Let us take care of it with a toll-free call to California! Call us now TOLL FREE within the United States at 1-877-628-6028! Customers outside the United States can always reach us at (707) 452-8437
Professional Digital Readout kit packages start at only $599! Our Kit and Part Prices always beat Heidenhain Newall Acurite Sargon & Fagor! Call Toll Free now at 1-877-628-6028 for all your digital readout needs!
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