Newall DRO's: NMS300 vs. DP700

[sbosecker]

I am in the market for a DRO for my JET JTM-4VS Knee Mill (Bridgeport Clone).

I'm thinking a Newall brand unit and, at the moment I'm looking at the NMS300 vs. the DP700.

One difference - for a Milling operation - seems to be the DP700 can do Polar Coordinates while the NMS300 cannot do that on its own.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on the differences between these two devices.

Scott

 

[matt_i]

I have a couple of C80s (predecessor to DP700 I think) and other than one microsyn reader that went wonky on me after 6 years, the C80 was the absolute easiest one I ever used.

Also very much liked the self-aligning scale mounts. At least for me, it was a fear-sweat laden task to drill holes in a milling machine & a high end lathe with a handheld drill.....

As far as I know, only the "controller" is different from C80 to DP700. I believe the same Spherosyn and microsyn scale technology is used.

In any case, the bolt-circle feature is pretty handy. On the C80, after the basic parameters are set, one selects "next" via a right arrow, and then just (0,0) the XY axes. One can step back or forward either way thru all of the holes. The C80 also has a linear duplicate feature, either aligned with either X or Y axes but also on a sloped line.

 

[Riggerson]

I've never used the NMS300 but the DP700's I've used were really nice. But pretty much everything Newall is going to be high quality. I can't imagine needing to use polar coordinates. So I wouldn't worry about having that feature. I use the half function constantly and every so often the BHC function. Haven't needed to use a DRO for much more than that. CAD will get you the rest of the way there.

 

[sbosecker]

I have a couple of C80s (predecessor to DP700 I think) and other than one microsyn reader that went wonky on me after 6 years, the C80 was the absolute easiest one I ever used.

Also very much liked the self-aligning scale mounts. At least for me, it was a fear-sweat laden task to drill holes in a milling machine & a high end lathe with a handheld drill.....

As far as I know, only the "controller" is different from C80 to DP700. I believe the same Spherosyn and microsyn scale technology is used.

In any case, the bolt-circle feature is pretty handy. On the C80, after the basic parameters are set, one selects "next" via a right arrow, and then just (0,0) the XY axes. One can step back or forward either way thru all of the holes. The C80 also has a linear duplicate feature, either aligned with either X or Y axes but also on a sloped line.

I've never used the NMS300 but the DP700's I've used were really nice. But pretty much everything Newall is going to be high quality. I can't imagine needing to use polar coordinates. So I wouldn't worry about having that feature. I use the half function constantly and every so often the BHC function. Haven't needed to use a DRO for much more than that. CAD will get you the rest of the way there.

Thanks guys!

I’ve been chumming some machinist forums for feedback on the NMS300.

One individual indicated that the NMS300’s Feed Rate is only displayed in 6 inch/minute increments (0, 6, 12, 18, etc.)

I'm checking with a Newall vendor to see if that's correct but - to a newbie - that doesn't sound good. If that report is valid, would this be an issue?

Best regards,

Scott

 

[matt_i]

Hi Scott, I don't think the feedrate is really useful, personally. Its more of a bell & whistle they probably realized they had when "counting pulses" over a time-enforced scan.

Just saying the feedback thru the handles is what I use to control the speed of a cut and not the DRO.

Then again I don't have any power feeds and I don't use that mill for repetitive parts.

 

[bigguns69]

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-16-x-36-x-5-3-Axis-Digital-Readout-for-Mills/H6094

Another option for what it's worth.