New scales with old DRO?

[Rauce]

So I got a DRO with the my First mill. It’s old and from what little there is out there on the internet, likely mid 80’s vintage.

The head unit works fine, and the Y scale works. I tried plugging the Y scale into the X port and got a reading so that was my confirmation that the head works as it should.

Ultimately I’d like to move to touch DRO like I’m doing on the lathe but for sake of saving some money in the short term I’m wondering about getting new scales to work with the old head unit for a bit before buying another touch DRO unit.

The scales are very grimy on the outside and the foam seals have disintegrated inside the housing. They’re also very bulky and the X was installed on the front, which I don’t really like.

Has anyone attempted anything like this before? I thought I took a photo this evening of the label on the scales but I must have forgot… it does note the colour of the wires and what they correspond to, two each for A, B and Z.

 

[DavidR8]

Not sure how relevant this might be but are you able to determine the pin out of the old scales?

 

[DPittman]

It might be possible but a new DRO display isn't very expensive these days (from China) . But I guess if your putting on new scales then you don't have much to loose by trying them with the old dro. If it doesn't work you know that a new display will work.

 

[Rauce]

Yeah that’s kind of what I was thinking.

If it doesn’t work I’ll just go buy another touchDRO unit and share the tablet with my lathe.

The label on the scales seems to indicate the pin out. I’ll take a picture of that tomorrow. The connectors are weird though so I’d have to get a couple of female DSub 9 connectors to wire to the old ones to try it.

 

[Tecnico]

Are those scales glass/optical?

WRT TouchDRO compatibility you might want to post details of your current DRO/scales in Yuriy’s forum over on Hobby Machinist. You might find someone with info on your unit and insight on the scale I/O interface.

I do get the impression that what is considered physical & electrical “standard interface” has changed since your machine was made. The different connectors is a hint.

You might get a pleasant surprise if you do a cleanup of your existing scales too!

D

 

[Tom O]

@Dabbler what about the scale you were telling me about? Depending on where he is.

 

[Dabbler]

It is still in my front hall. Is it the same as his nonfunctional one?? I'd sure love for it to be gone!

 

[Rauce]

Here are images of the scale label and the connectors.

 

[Susquatch]

Depending on where he is.

It is still in my front hall. Is it the same as his nonfunctional one?? I'd sure love for it to be gone!

@Rauce is in the Toronto area.

 

[Dabbler]

I only noticed the thread because of a notification in post #6.

On reading all of the thread, this prolly won't help. The travel length of the scale is slightly under 15". and the connector is a DB25. A different generation of DRO.

 

[whydontu]

Here are images of the scale label and the connectors.

There’s a spot in Hell reserved for designers who use non-standard electrical connectors. I’m talking to you, Dynamics Research, and you, Apple, and you, Nikon.

 

[Tom Kitta]

DRO box is cheap. Just get a new one from Aliexpress. Most if not all work is done by the scales and scales count more then the box. Also new box will have a lot more functionality. What you have is ancient.