MadModder

The Shop => Tools => Topic started by: rockknocker on September 25, 2014, 03:58:25 PM

Title: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
Post by: rockknocker on September 25, 2014, 03:58:25 PM
I just ran across this project on HackaDay and wanted to share it with this group.

This fellow used an inexpensive digital calipers from Harbor Freight as a DRO for his small lathe. The calipers were modified to allow for mounting and brackets were fabricated to mount them.

http://robertsprojects.blogspot.com/2011/02/mini-lathe-digital-readout.html (http://robertsprojects.blogspot.com/2011/02/mini-lathe-digital-readout.html)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WOa7b8wFiTc/TUnFkG1oRTI/AAAAAAAAAZc/pv_xLLXS9b0/s400/DSCN2017.JPG)

I've never seen this before and thought it was pretty smart.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
Post by: John Rudd on September 25, 2014, 04:35:18 PM
I just ran across this project on HackaDay and wanted to share it with this group.

This fellow used an inexpensive digital calipers from Harbor Freight as a DRO for his small lathe. The calipers were modified to allow for mounting and brackets were fabricated to mount them.

http://robertsprojects.blogspot.com/2011/02/mini-lathe-digital-readout.html (http://robertsprojects.blogspot.com/2011/02/mini-lathe-digital-readout.html)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WOa7b8wFiTc/TUnFkG1oRTI/AAAAAAAAAZc/pv_xLLXS9b0/s400/DSCN2017.JPG)

I've never seen this before and thought it was pretty smart.

What makes it even better is that HF had these calipers on offer for less than $10 recently when I visited
Title: Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
Post by: Lew_Merrick_PE on September 26, 2014, 12:12:02 AM
Try http://www.amtools.com who used to be 800watt on ebay.  The site was, as of a minute ago or so offline for updating.  I have placed several orders with them that were all honored and delivered promptly.  The small DRO I use on my lathe tailstock ran about USD12 with shipping a couple of years ago.
Title: Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
Post by: Jonny on September 26, 2014, 12:40:53 PM
Scales are calipers without the internal/external measuring but they don't do them in decent lengths at affordable prices.
Have used Aldi verniers £5 to repair X and Y scales electronics, just a straight swap when they pack up.

Bought a load of verniers some years back from Chester when they used to have sales prices £1 boxed, some were over 3ft long in wooden box(well over £120 each). 2 out of 3 worked. Used to use them before I had a proper dros on the mills.

Title: Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
Post by: drmico60 on September 26, 2014, 04:17:10 PM
I have modified a digital calliper to act as a carriage dro, see:
http://mikesworkshop.weebly.com/carriage-dro.html
Although the calliper is only 150 mm it can be moved to almost any position on the lathe axis so length is seldom a limitation
Mike