Taig Micro Lathe DRO

Taig Micro Lathe Digital Read-Out (DRO)
Last updated on Thursday, September 06, 2018 08:49:58 AM Mountain 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.