DROs

[Nor'Easter]

I just bought a Wells Index 747. I want to get a DRO on it with XYZ axis' and one that can one day run power feeds on the X and Y axis'.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[helterskelter]

acu-rite is top notch if you can swing it. There are lower priced options available at dropros.com.

 

[larry_g]

I just bought a Wells Index 747. I want to get a DRO on it with XYZ axis' and one that can one day run power feeds on the X and Y axis'.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Can you explain the "one that can one day run power feeds" statement?

Digital readouts only give you the position of the axis's and have no control capabilities.

I documented my install here; http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273996

lg
no neat sig line

 

[fnieto]

Check out DROpros online.

 

[Nor'Easter]

Can you explain the "one that can one day run power feeds" statement?

Digital readouts only give you the position of the axis's and have no control capabilities.

I documented my install here; http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273996

lg
no neat sig line

Yes I can. The machinist I have used for any previous work has a knee mill with power feed on the xy axis', and a prototrak DRO that can be used manually. It will also run the power feeds for basic operations. For instance we've used it to face the centering surface on circular driveshaft flanges. You input the pattern the machine needs to run, your tool diameter, etc and off it goes.

 

[dr_clyde]

That's not a DRO. That's a full blown CNC controller. A DRO simply measures the position of something relative to a datum.

 

[zkling]

You are talking about one of the 2 axis converstaional CNC controllers. It has CNC on x and y for bolt hole patterns and such, but Z is just a dro.

 

[Nor'Easter]

That's not a DRO. That's a full blown CNC controller. A DRO simply measures the position of something relative to a datum.

Ok, fair enough. Either way it still provides DRO for manual purposes.

So, any recommendations on a system I could put on this mill?

 

[larry_g]

http://www.acu-rite.com/pdf/anilam/ANILAM_3000_Support/3000M/3000M_Brochure.pdf

http://www.southwesternindustries.com/protoTRAK-CNC/prototrak-smx

So something like the above is what your looking for?

lg
no neat sigline

 

[JoeFin]

Ok, fair enough. Either way it still provides DRO for manual purposes.

So, any recommendations on a system I could put on this mill?

Your looking at $20K by the time you have it fully converted over. Ball Screws, Servos, HMI, and Controller

 

[Nor'Easter]

http://www.acu-rite.com/pdf/anilam/ANILAM_3000_Support/3000M/3000M_Brochure.pdf

http://www.southwesternindustries.com/protoTRAK-CNC/prototrak-smx

So something like the above is what your looking for?

lg
no neat sigline

Yeah, I guess so. All I remember was that the controller was made by prototrak, and it was not on a prototrak mill.

 

[zkling]

Esentially what you are asking is how to do a CNC conversion. Lets start with what is your budget and goals for the machine?

Your looking at $20K by the time you have it fully converted over. Ball Screws, Servos, HMI, and Controller

You can do it much cheaper than that, especially if he doesn't want a conversational control and is willing to run G code via a pc based controller.

 

[JoeFin]

You can do it much cheaper than that, especially if he doesn't want a conversational control and is willing to run G code via a pc based controller.

Yes you can get them to move but ...

Not too enthusiastic about Gecko Drives and home brewed PC/Controller options myself. For 1 you can not defeat the "Time Sharing" functions in Microsoft products, so that leaves Lenox. That is of course unless you don't mind running really slow with erratic look ahead, cutter comp, and safety functions.

Even with the Lenox option you'll have to devote 100s of hours to writing code trying to improve reliability and performance

What your really buying with an industrial grade controller is the OS. It may be PC based but there will be the company's BIOS and OS running through out.

And the key to all of it is "Repeatability". So when you can land a drilled hole repeatable within +/- .0004" your just about there

 

[Nor'Easter]

Sounds like the right guys are in here!

Right now I really just want to get a DRO on it. However I (assumed) I might be able to get a portion of a system that I can currently use as basic DRO and eventually add the rest so that I can set it and walk away. Maybe that is an unrealistic goal?

 

[ez-duzit]

Larry--thanks for posting the link to your DRO install. I have an Index Super 55 vertical mill to which I'd like to add a DRO.

Have no need for any fancy CNC. I can calculate my own bolt circles. And I have a rotary table.

A photo of mine, as found.

 

[toolchaser]

I have an Index with a DRO I got from CDCO. Easy install & works very well, esp. for the price. Proto -Trak will retrofit a lot of different brands of mill with CNC, but for the same money I would seek out a used Proto-Trak with CNC. The 2 axis mills are not that hard to find. The one I used to run was 2 axis & had more metal in it than a BP. The 3 axis Proto-Trak used to drive the quill for the Z instead of the knee (not as rigid) but that may not be the case with the newer ones

 

[dr_clyde]

It would be expensive and more difficult to find a CNC controller to use just as a DRO. If you want simple DRO functionality, look at DROpros. They are great for the money.

I have an Accu-rite on my mill and love it, but it came with the mill and new they are $$$.

I would stay away from older Mitutoyo. I can't comment on the new ones, but I had a lot of problems with the one on my lathe.