Taig
Micro Lathe
Digital Read-Out (DRO)
Last updated on
Tuesday, May 02, 2017 04:44:01 PM
Eastern US Time Zone
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Micro Lathe DROs,
Milling the Carriage,
Brackets,
Alignment, Scales,
Analog Positional Readouts
This DRO
modification has been removed for the lathe CNC conversion
but the information has been retained for reference.
Micro Lathe DROs
Taig Micro Mill DROs for the Z1- & X-Axes. Both scales have SPC
outputs.
The Z1-axis uses an eight-inch scale. The
X-axis uses a two-inch-range digital gage (manual) with a readout to 0.0005".
Its mounting stem is 8mm instead of the US standard
3/8" (9.525mm) diameter stem. The gage turns on & off
automatically.
When in the OFF mode, both scales still maintain their readings & will track
movement & zero button presses.
The OFF mode just turns off the LCD to nominally conserve the battery.
Milling the Carriage
The bottom/back
of the Taig mill carriage is rough cast aluminum.
It needed to be fly cut flat & parallel using the
RF-25 mill. Minimal material was removed.
Brackets
Detail of the bottom with the X-axis bracket attached to the
carriage using
two, pre-existing cap-head screws.
These two screws hold the gib in-place. Slightly longer 4-40 screws with washers were all that
was needed.
Two, ground down, M3-0.5 screws affix the transducer. If they are too long
they can touch the scale back.
Detail of the Z1-axis bracket top. Two, 10-32 button-head
screws with washers hold the two separate brackets together.
This design helps when aligning the scale & allows a quick disconnect if I want
to remove the carriage from the dovetail slide.
Both brackets are 1/8" thick aluminum.
In operation, the ratcheting-type carriage locking lever hangs down vertically
for access.
Alignment
Detail of Z1-axis scale bracket. Held to the aluminum base
plate with long, 6-32 cap-head screws.
10-32 button-head screws with washers hold down the OEM scale brackets.
Right Z1-axis scale bracket. Shims (thin washers) were used in the
final alignment.
Click on linked thumbnails
Scales
The X-scale plunger was precisely
set to be parallel to the cross slide.
Analog Positional Readouts
Micro Lathe DROs,
Milling the Carriage,
Brackets,
Alignment, Scales,
Analog Positional Readouts
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