I'm in the planning stage of installing a DRO on my lathe and have run into
a problem with mounting the crossfeed scale.

Any number of obstructions are making mounting to the rear (tailstock) side
a real challenge while the front (spindle) side would be relatively easy. Is
it considered a no-no to mount the scale on the front side where it'll be
more exposed to swarf damage etc?

"John Kunkel" wrote in
:


Any number of obstructions are making mounting to the rear (tailstock)
side a real challenge while the front (spindle) side would be
relatively easy. Is it considered a no-no to mount the scale on the
front side where it'll be more exposed to swarf damage etc?




Yes..and no....
If you mount it on the headstock side, make sure to make a nice, clean,
low-profile STEEL cover for it to prevent damage.



--
Anthony

You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make
better idiots.

Remove sp to reply via email

http://www.machines-cnc.net:81/

I'm in the planning stage of installing a DRO on my lathe and have run
into a problem with mounting the crossfeed scale.

You didn't say what type of lathe you're mounting it on but this link may
give you some ideas that will help.

http://www.zietlowdesign.com/product...O-2_manual.htm

The mounting portion starts a little over half way down the page.

Their method could be used on the spindle side and in fact I almost did that
but in the end I decided against it because anything large in the chuck
could swing around and hit it. Plus, IIRC the larger 4-jaw chuck that came
with my lathe would have hit it if the jaws were open too far.

Best Regards,
Keith Marshall


"I'm not grown up enough to be so old!"


"John Kunkel" wrote in message
...
I'm in the planning stage of installing a DRO on my lathe and have run
into a problem with mounting the crossfeed scale.

Any number of obstructions are making mounting to the rear (tailstock)
side a real challenge while the front (spindle) side would be relatively
easy. Is it considered a no-no to mount the scale on the front side where
it'll be more exposed to swarf damage etc?

I had the same problem, so I went to a Newall Topaz DRO using their Microsyn
scale on the cross slide. It is a rod about 1/4" dia. Easy to mount, needs
support on one end only, swarf and liquid proof.
http://www.newall.com/Newall_US/4202.cfm

Randy


"John Kunkel" wrote in message
...
I'm in the planning stage of installing a DRO on my lathe and have run
into
a problem with mounting the crossfeed scale.

Any number of obstructions are making mounting to the rear (tailstock)
side
a real challenge while the front (spindle) side would be relatively easy.
Is
it considered a no-no to mount the scale on the front side where it'll be
more exposed to swarf damage etc?