Tony Wells link=topic=2019.msg20577#msg20577 date=1312410108 said:
You probably could just swap the connections at the DRO box to get the X where it belongs, but beware of 1:2 readings. Most read in diameters on an X axis, and 1:1 on Z, but it's probably configurable.
My DRO came set to default for a milling machine with Y for the saddle and X for the table. There is a setup procedure in the DRO manual which permits changing that to Mill, Lathe, Grinder or EDM configurations. It also permits changing what SINO calls "resolution" so that the cross slide will read 1:2 for diameter reduction.
I configured my crossfeed to 1:2 for lathe diameter on the crossfeed when I first got the DRO. The bed scale for the saddle is, of course, 1:1. Interestingly, the DRO unit itself has permanent markings on the face for X and Y. X is on top with Y underneath. That being the case, they provide small stickers to change the identifications to X for crossfeed and Y for the table. I thought that was rather tacky and confusing.
Furthermore, since I work alone with no supervision or QC ( ;D ) I prefer the mill configuration so I left it that way. Thus, there's no confusion when I switch from the mill to lathe, which is frequently and continuously.
So in my case, I call the cross slide the Y axis and the saddle the X axis, thus preventing confusion. This of course doesn't exactly amount to rebellion against the rules since in my shop, there are no rules. Of course there could be rules at some point in the future if I were to decide to make some. Alas, I fear that I would only be forced to break them from time to time if there were any.
Another issue that I discovered when I got the unit was that it has five (5) decimal places to the right (.0000X). Man, is that annoying! At the same time that I bought my unit a friend also bought one for his real Bridgeport. We both agreed that we don't really need the last two decimals. .001 is fne with me for 99% of the stuff that I do. There was also no way to change to fewer decimals in the unit.
That being the case, I made two pieces from aluminum that drop onto the top of the DRO unit and which cover up the last two digits. They are painted flat black and go under the plastic see-through cover. I gave one of them to my friend. They can also be moved to get the fourth digit or removed completely.
All in all, the SINO is a good solid unit at a great price. To show that I'm not afraid to spend money, the DRO that I bought for the Webb mill is a 2 axis Mitutoyo. It does the same measurements as the SINO at nearly twice the price. LOL.
