- Joined
- Mar 15, 2019
- Messages
- 708
I have decided a DRO is needed for the lathe. It is a SB 10" with legs and no factory chip pan. I am working on a home brew chip pan though but figure I want to get the DRO mounted before I do that since I would just have to take it back off to get the DRO mounted.
The problem I am trying to figure out before I commit to a DRO is how to mount the scale for the cross slide most effectively. The height from the cross slide to the compound is just a little more than an inch and the glass scales are taller than this. I could turn the scale on the side which is only 7/8" of tall. This would have a couple of disadvantages. First the scale and read head would intrude into the space where the tail stock would need to be for some work and also expose it to damage from the tail stock hitting it. Second, it would have the opening to the side where a chip or oil could foul the scale or read head. I have seriously been scratching my head on just this problem for a couple of weeks.
I looked and came up with an idea to mount the scale under the saddle and just run an arm from the moving portion of the cross slide back and down to reach where the read head would be held at the scale. Has anyone ever tried this and been successful? Will it work at all? It would take some engineering to attach the ends of the scale on the bottom of the apron at one end and off the saddle at the back.
I guess I am just looking for confirmation before I commit to the DRO. Any help would be appreciated.
The problem I am trying to figure out before I commit to a DRO is how to mount the scale for the cross slide most effectively. The height from the cross slide to the compound is just a little more than an inch and the glass scales are taller than this. I could turn the scale on the side which is only 7/8" of tall. This would have a couple of disadvantages. First the scale and read head would intrude into the space where the tail stock would need to be for some work and also expose it to damage from the tail stock hitting it. Second, it would have the opening to the side where a chip or oil could foul the scale or read head. I have seriously been scratching my head on just this problem for a couple of weeks.
I looked and came up with an idea to mount the scale under the saddle and just run an arm from the moving portion of the cross slide back and down to reach where the read head would be held at the scale. Has anyone ever tried this and been successful? Will it work at all? It would take some engineering to attach the ends of the scale on the bottom of the apron at one end and off the saddle at the back.
I guess I am just looking for confirmation before I commit to the DRO. Any help would be appreciated.