Magnetic Scale DRO Dilemma; DRO Pros, M-DRO or Ditron?

[Eddyde]

Hi all,
I am shopping a DRO for my 13X40 lathe. I want to do 3 axis, so the compound, or top slide, as well as the X & Z. This gives little room for traditional glass scales, so I am looking at magnetic scales as the solution. However, the choices seem to be limited at the hobby level, The only retailer I could find here in the USA is DRO Pros, their 3 axis Electronica brand magnetic scales with a LCD readout is about $1,800... doable but quite pricy.

Hopping across the pond, there's a British company, M-DRO. They have a 3 axis, Easson Brand magnetic scales with LCD readout for about $1,000 USD. I have an Easson DRO on my mill so I know it to be a quality brand.

Then, traveling further East I find Ditron Brand, magnetic scale DRO packages, around $700-800, from various Chinese vendors on Ali Express. I bought my above mentioned Easson DRO on Ali Express, so I'm comfortable buying through them. But I don't have any sense of the quality of the Ditron brand systems.

I'm kind of leaning towards the Easson from M-DRO but would like to hear feedback from anyone who might have purchased from them?

Or may I be convinced the DRO Pros or Ditron are the only way to go?

Or are there any other solutions I have overlooked?

Thank you for your responses,

Eddy

 

[Winegrower]

If you ever need help you will be in much better shape with DROpros.

 

[mattthemuppet2]

our very own Jim Dawson did a DIY install on his lathe with Ditron bits'n'pieces. I was very tempted to do the same, but cheaped out and went with the standard glass scales instead.

 

[mksj]

I did a previous thread on purchasing these, I would recommend the Easson 12B/C. There have been a number of scale resolution complaints with the graphical Ditron with magnetic scales, the price difference is small going to the Easson. There have been a number of individuals that have purchase the Easson 12B/C from DRO-UK, arrives in about a week via air freight and all seem to be happy with it. Seems to end up being around $825 with shipping. You want to upgrade the X axis to 1 micron and maybe the compound. Personally I almost never use the compound and find more value to having the 3rd axis on the tailstock. My mill I have the EL700 four axis with mag scales, and also helped a friend put a 3 axis on his lathe. Nice, but not worth the extra 1K in my opinion. My lathe has the Easson 12C with 3 axis, I had 2 glass scales and added a 3rd mag scale to the tailstock.
Mark

Easson ES-12C LCD digital readout package including 3 linear magnetic encoders

3 Axis Easson ES-12C LCD graphic digital readout package with three magnetic encoders. The encoders offer a very compact profile size and can be cut to length to custom fit the machine being installed. The package is suitable for mills up to Bridgeport 42" sized machines or 30" between centre...

www.machine-dro.co.uk

Easson ES-12B LCD digital readout package including 3 linear magnetic encoders

3 Axis Easson ES-12B LCD graphic digital readout package with three magnetic encoders. The encoders offer a very compact profile size and can be cut to length to custom fit the machine being installed. The package is suitable for mills up to Bridgeport 42" sized machines or 30" between centre...

www.machine-dro.co.uk

 

[ddickey]

Go with the Easson. I have a kit from M-dro on the lathe and Ditron on the mill.

 

[davidpbest]

Listen to @mksj He speaks truth.

 

[darkzero]

I'm kind of leaning towards the Easson from M-DRO but would like to hear feedback from anyone who might have purchased from them?

I purchased my M-DRO branded DRO display from M-DRO almost 10 years ago. Back then they went mostly by the Allendale name. AFAIK M-DRO doesn't actually make any of their own branded DRO displays, mine is actually a rebranded Meister & PM/QMT now offers a similar looking model now. But that's irrelevant as you are looking at an Easson. I purchased from them because I wanted a lathe specific DRO without all the useless mill functions. I've never had a problem with my M-DRO or Easson. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Easson.

M-DRO/Allendale are good people & I would order from them again (I have purchased other things from them). But these days I see no reason to order from them being in the UK if you are in the US. M-DRO now has a US distributor which is SRA-Measurement (Well unless there are huge price differences, I've never checked prices at SRA-Measurement. Which BTW I have purchased from SRA as well but from another SRA products line, SRA-Solder).

 

[darkzero]

Or are there any other solutions I have overlooked?

Another vendor I've purchased DRO parts from is xioa1207 on ebay. Very easy to work with & was able to supply me with random SINO parts that I was looking for. He sells Easson too. All my orders came from China & were shipped DHL, arrived in less than a week. That was quite some time ago though.

 

[ddickey]

M-DRO 10% off ends midnight tonight. Use code BANK10

 

[Rcn11thacr]

What website do you use to get the 10% off by cob today?