Hoping someone has installed one and I can get some information on purchase and feedback. I've done a bunch of research on youtube and ebay but nothing really sticks out. I'm hoping to get something better that the plain linear scale.
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DRO for a Smithy 1340
- Thread starter uchytil
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2015
- Messages
- 11,251
Any of the garden variety DROs would probably be fine. You might want to choose the smaller ka-500 scales instead of the more common ka-300 ones for a better fit. They cost a bit more though so maybe use a mix of small and large depending on the location on the machine. Aliexpress has many to choose from.
If you are on a really tight budget the capacitive Igaging units might be a good choice
-Mark
If you are on a really tight budget the capacitive Igaging units might be a good choice
-Mark
I really like the import DRO units I installed on my machines. Just the usual stuff, I think it says "Sino" on it... Glass scales, LED display head. It has the usual features like bolt circles/lines multiple tools/offsets etc.. There are seller names for ebay and aliexpress in various threads here.
I don't think we have a lot of Smithy users here, but it looks like there wouldn't be a good way to mount a Z scale. So you would be working with a 2 axis setup. Check lathe DRO install threads, most of those will translate pretty well to the Smithy I would expect.
I don't think we have a lot of Smithy users here, but it looks like there wouldn't be a good way to mount a Z scale. So you would be working with a 2 axis setup. Check lathe DRO install threads, most of those will translate pretty well to the Smithy I would expect.
There are a few people that have mounted them on the Smithy. Smithy sells the shooting star 3 axis but they want $700. One guy installed the magnetic type that you can cut to length and he has 3 axis but it only a +/- linear readout. I'm hoping someone with a Smithy and DRO will see this. The Smithy threads don't get read often so I posted here. We'll get there! The aliexpress thing is new to me so there's a start.
When I bought them, the import DROS went for about $100/axis, so a 3 axis would be about $300. That was for the larger glass scales up to some max length. It depended on the seller, but most of them would go up to about 3-4 foot. Smaller or more precise would be an added charge.
Magnetic are nice, but expensive. That said, I think dro pros sells them for about $700. If the one Smithy sells is glass scales, and that budget works for you, go with magnetic. They are small and easier to cut. I wasn't willing to pay it, the sets for my mill and lathe were less that that together.
Magnetic are nice, but expensive. That said, I think dro pros sells them for about $700. If the one Smithy sells is glass scales, and that budget works for you, go with magnetic. They are small and easier to cut. I wasn't willing to pay it, the sets for my mill and lathe were less that that together.