Author Topic: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO  (Read 4970 times)

Offline rockknocker

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Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
« 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



I've never seen this before and thought it was pretty smart.
Anything is possible when you forget what's impossible.

Offline John Rudd

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Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
« Reply #1 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



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
eccentric millionaire financed by 'er indoors
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Offline Lew_Merrick_PE

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Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
« Reply #2 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.

Offline Jonny

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Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
« Reply #3 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.


Offline drmico60

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Re: Harbor Freight Caliper as DRO
« Reply #4 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