I am ready to add a DRO to my Bridgeport mill, I mainly do hobby projects so I do not need a high accuracy / high dollar unit (realistically with the backlash I am lucky if I can get 0.005" accuracy currently). I have been looking on line and it appears China has flooded the market with low cost units. Most of what I can find on GJ search does not have testimonials from guys who have been using units. Can I get some real world feedback on DRO units you have been using, the good and the bad. Thank you for the help.
DRO for mill, real world feedback
- Thread starter duc916
- Start date
dutchgray
Well-known member
Not used their own brand personally but they get good reviews and ship to the USA.
www.machine-dro.co.uk
It's a complete kit for a Bridgeport, they do a 3 axis kit for a little more and also a separate quill system as well.
2 Axis Bridgeport 42 Table Mill Digital Readout DRO Kit - Magnetic Encoders (Mill not included)
Mill not included. DRO kit only. The M-DRO 2 axis DRO kit custom-designed to fit onto the original Bridgeport turret milling machine. A specific kit with CNC machined brackets and step by step, full-colour install guide to assist with the installation. The mill must have the spot faced threaded...
www.machine-dro.co.uk
It's a complete kit for a Bridgeport, they do a 3 axis kit for a little more and also a separate quill system as well.
I installed 3 of these on my Jet mill. So far, I'm happy with the performance.
A few observations, the bracket system is lousy and I ended up making my own bracket.
The readouts have coin batteries, but I also added a 3-way power cable and an AC adapter. Also, not sure why, but the readouts seem to turn themselves on at random.
The readouts are not backlit. Depending on where I'm standing, sometimes it's difficult to read the displays.
A few observations, the bracket system is lousy and I ended up making my own bracket.
The readouts have coin batteries, but I also added a 3-way power cable and an AC adapter. Also, not sure why, but the readouts seem to turn themselves on at random.
The readouts are not backlit. Depending on where I'm standing, sometimes it's difficult to read the displays.
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jmarkwolf
Well-known member
I have Dro-Pros with magnetic scales on my mill and lathe. They're not budget but mine have held up beautifully for years.
US veteran owned company, and sales/tech support all speak english.
US veteran owned company, and sales/tech support all speak english.
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
Love my DRO Pros after 5 yrs or so...
I have had two from Ebay on each of the Bridgeports I've owned and have no complaints. I've check the accuracy with a dial indicator and it's spot on. I've use the hole pattern option and it's also spot on.
The manual will most likely be terrible. I'm pretty sure it was Chinese and then they just translated to English without checking.
The manual will most likely be terrible. I'm pretty sure it was Chinese and then they just translated to English without checking.
M-DRO is a decent brand IMO. I have an older basic M-DRO display (not using their scales though) on my lathe that's like 12 yrs old now, still working fine. I purchased it directly from them, shipped from the UK when they had just the Allendale website. SRA-Measurement is a US distributor for them.
I have an Easson DRO (graphical display) on my mill/drill which has also been trouble free. M-DRO/Allendale also sells Easson but I did not get mine from them. I think Easson makes better units. I believe M-DRO is just a rebrand and Easson is not.
Can't really go wrong with DRO-PROs cause you will get great support and in the US but that comes at a higher cost.
I have an Easson DRO (graphical display) on my mill/drill which has also been trouble free. M-DRO/Allendale also sells Easson but I did not get mine from them. I think Easson makes better units. I believe M-DRO is just a rebrand and Easson is not.
Can't really go wrong with DRO-PROs cause you will get great support and in the US but that comes at a higher cost.
Jswain
Well-known member
Get one with the features you want, at the price you want to spend. Once you've used one, you will never want to be without.
mjdarg
Well-known member
The listings are no longer open, but I added a Vevor 2axis display and 2 scales to my XLO mill early 2021. Just a hobbyist but I’ve have no issues with it so far.
Jswain
Well-known member
And if you're going with a low cost unit I would check AliExpress. Sometimes the difference in $ between them and amazon/others is huge, sometimes not.
For me(north of the border) I can get carbide endmills from AliExpress for ~25% of what they are on amazon ish.
Buuuuut, buy it when you are ready & have time to install. If it sits in a box for 3 years and you don't test it then nobody is going to return it for you if there is problems.
For me(north of the border) I can get carbide endmills from AliExpress for ~25% of what they are on amazon ish.
Buuuuut, buy it when you are ready & have time to install. If it sits in a box for 3 years and you don't test it then nobody is going to return it for you if there is problems.
Grant Gunderson
Well-known member
I bought this unit off of EBay. It was one of the more featured mid priced options
Its bolt hole layout capability has been more useful than I had anticipated. No complaints what so ever with the head unit. I have had to replace a few of the optical scales over the years. It they are dirt cheap so not that big of a deal. I’d definitely buy another one and will probably put the same unit on my 10EE at some point, but will probably invest in better scales for that project. Almost all of the import units are made by just 1 or 2 Chinese companies so the scales are interchangeable. I’m sure the ancient Acurite that was on it was more reliable in its day but that head unit was dead on that be and had no smart features for computing layouts. Plus 1 scale for the Acurite cost more than this whole system with scales for all 3 axis (4 scales total)
Its bolt hole layout capability has been more useful than I had anticipated. No complaints what so ever with the head unit. I have had to replace a few of the optical scales over the years. It they are dirt cheap so not that big of a deal. I’d definitely buy another one and will probably put the same unit on my 10EE at some point, but will probably invest in better scales for that project. Almost all of the import units are made by just 1 or 2 Chinese companies so the scales are interchangeable. I’m sure the ancient Acurite that was on it was more reliable in its day but that head unit was dead on that be and had no smart features for computing layouts. Plus 1 scale for the Acurite cost more than this whole system with scales for all 3 axis (4 scales total)
oldmachinenut
Well-known member
I have the 3 axis Grizzly (Easson) DRO on my Bridgeport and I am very happy with it. The 1/2 function and hole spacing are both very handy.
PopcornSutton
Well-known member
I put a DRO on my first lathe, and hated it. When you're threading to a shoulder and trying to watch those number flicker, just can't do it. I sold that lathe but kept the DRO. Bought my mill, first thing I did was put a Mit digital scale on the quill. I suffered along for several years using dial indicators for the table, then one day decided to put that DRO off the lathe, on the mill. WOW! I still don't have a DRO on a lathe, but I would never want a mill without one now!
RoninB4
Well-known member
Haven't installed a DRO in many years so don't know if scales are still a choice between glass and magnetic. With either, protection from coolant and chips is critical. Following proper mounting procedures for the scales is also critical.
Be sure the DRO has the ability to adjust/compensate for lead screw wear and/or inaccuracy, especially if your machine is not new. All lead screws in machinery have error/inaccuracy built into them, the exception being a rarely used jig borer/grinder by Moore. The installation of the scales also requires verification. Just installing the DRO does not ensure accuracy, it must be evaluated and adjusted to ensure numbers that can be trusted.
From an opinion I trust:
"In order to calibrate any measurement device, your standards must be more accurate than the device being measured by a factor of 10. That precludes using anything other than gage blocks for certifying a DRO.
No caliper of any kind is anywhere near accurate enough for that task."
Be sure the DRO has the ability to adjust/compensate for lead screw wear and/or inaccuracy, especially if your machine is not new. All lead screws in machinery have error/inaccuracy built into them, the exception being a rarely used jig borer/grinder by Moore. The installation of the scales also requires verification. Just installing the DRO does not ensure accuracy, it must be evaluated and adjusted to ensure numbers that can be trusted.
From an opinion I trust:
"In order to calibrate any measurement device, your standards must be more accurate than the device being measured by a factor of 10. That precludes using anything other than gage blocks for certifying a DRO.
No caliper of any kind is anywhere near accurate enough for that task."
whateg01
Well-known member
Somebody looking for a budget Dro is not going to spend $10,000 to get their machine calibrated with tools that are four times better than the dro. Even just having a dro assuming a machine has where and the dro is not absolute **** is at least as good as the worn lead screws in the dials. And much more pleasant to use And much more pleasant to use
RoninB4
Well-known member
-You don't seem to know what I'm talking about but you're just certain it's going to take $10,000.00 to accomplish this? You're very underinformed about this and shouldn't post absurdities that might confuse those earnestly seeking to learn something. Anybody that wants to understand what I'm referring to can easily look it up, the poster above certainly didn't.
Grant Gunderson
Well-known member
All one needs to properly install a DRO scale is dial indicator to ensure it’s parallel to the tables axis. No Dro needs to be calibrated to match the wear in a machine’s screws. In fact installing a DRO is a really good way to ensure accuracy despite screw wear as the dro pick up on the scale tells you exactly where it’s at with zero impact from screw back lash.
Obviously a DRO is useless unless you properly tram in there head and the vise.
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