[joeturner]

I'm thinking about putting a DRO on my G0704 (when I get it), and I'm wondering if there's much of a difference between scales from Wildhorse (where they sell the DRO-350) and ebay scales (namely from 800watt, e.g. this 8" scale). There is a very big price difference, and I know you usually get what you pay for, but these are both import scales, so could they be that different? Has anyone bought from this 800watt person before? The prices seem too good to be true to me.

[hoss2006]

I'm thinking about putting a DRO on my G0704 (when I get it), and I'm wondering if there's much of a difference between scales from Wildhorse (where they sell the DRO-350) and ebay scales (namely from 800watt, e.g. this 8" scale). There is a very big price difference, and I know you usually get what you pay for, but these are both import scales, so could they be that different? Has anyone bought from this 800watt person before? The prices seem too good to be true to me.

I built that DIY from Shumatech, fun to build and it really worked.
800Watt does have great prices, got my scales for the DRO from them.
Don't expect any kind of customer service though and shipping is a crap shoot.
I had to get Paypal involved once to get my stuff and it took a month the next time, but I did get it in good shape.
Just have to be real patient.
Some get their stuff really quick.
The prices do make it seem worth it.
Hoss

[joeturner]

Sweet! I'm kind of looking forward to making it!
As long as their on the same par, I can wait as long as needed. I assume the bad customer service means he won't group the shipments, right?

[hoss2006]

Can't hurt to ask but they're not real email courteous.
Hoss

[joeturner]

Ah, well even with shipping for each, they're still much much cheaper

On another subject, you wouldn't happen to know how easy it is to add the scales to the G0704 is. I don't have any experience with putting them on, so the easier the better And what size scales would be best? From what I can tell, the best sizes would be 8x24 for the table and then a 12 for the spindle–but I could be wrong.

[hoss2006]

photomankc did a nice job making and mounting scales on his similar mill.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102938
Think he used an 18 for the Z.
Maybe he'll pass along his mount designs if you say please.
Hoss

[DMF_TomB]

you can get at Grizzly
http://www.grizzly.com/products/0-6-...e-Scale/T21577
6" for $22.95
http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-R...raction/T23012
12" for $35
http://www.grizzly.com/products/24-R...raction/T23013
24" for $45

i prefer regular vendors rather than ebay. I got the 6" and 12" both work good and remote display is magnetic or screw down bracket. So getting the readouts in a comfortable spot is easy.
mounting i prefer a rubber band to pull bracket on readout tight to bracket on mill with zero space and no backlash but this of course is optional and can be done any way you want.

[photomankc]

There are some differences in them but it's really tough to know by pictures because they often use stock photos and not photos of the actual units. The one I got for the X axis is a real nice unit came from an ebay seller I don't remember now. Ruler is straight, it slides real smooth, keeps zero at power-off, and it has relative measurement ability on the little electronic display. I like it a lot and that relative movement ability is nice so you don't have to choose between doing math as you move or losing your zero mark.

The Z scale I got is another matter. Different EBay seller. It's ruler is banana shaped a bit, the head is kind floppy as it slides along, it re-zeros at it's current location when turned on, and it's very sensitive to any cant in mounting and will go berzerk if it gets too much pressure against the ruler. In short; it was a major pain in my @$$ getting it mounted and working right all along it's travel.

I ordered an 18" for Z but what I got is more like 20" so I have a lot of extra hanging off the bottom. Better to go a little long than to go short and end up limiting your travel because of the scale. I figured a 16" would work but I don't see many of those.

My mounting method was based on the ability to see the built-in displays since I don't plan to spring for a real DRO display with CNC in the mill's future. If you plan to go with a display then you may want to mount them differently. My X gets covered in goo a lot but I glued some felt into the space between the ruler and the reader head and that seems to do a decent job of keeping the crud out of it. I still need to come up with a sheet metal cover though. I figure it won't hold up to the assualt forever.

[joeturner]

you can get at Grizzly
http://www.grizzly.com/products/0-6-...e-Scale/T21577
6" for $22.95
http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-R...raction/T23012
12" for $35
http://www.grizzly.com/products/24-R...raction/T23013
24" for $45

i prefer regular vendors rather than ebay. I got the 6" and 12" both work good and remote display is magnetic or screw down bracket. So getting the readouts in a comfortable spot is easy.
mounting i prefer a rubber band to pull bracket on readout tight to bracket on mill with zero space and no backlash but this of course is optional and can be done any way you want.

Woah! I looked at those before, but then I just assumed the eBay ones would be cheaper–Which surprisingly is not the case. So, It seems like the Grizzly ones might be the best to get. However, they don't have many sizes which could be an issue. I guess the 24" could work for Z, and the 12" might work for for Y, but then I would probably end up paying more. I assume The Grizzly DRO's don't mount very easily, even though it's a Grizzly mill?

[photomankc]

Yeah, I just found my Y solution! Now, do they actually stock them? If they are too long I'm pretty sure you can cut the extra off without any ill effect on the scale.

[knudsen]

Check out igaging dro, almost as cheap as calipers, you don't have to fiddle with making brackets, and the display remote mounts. I've not ordered mine yet, but they do get good reviews. Amazon and griz has 'em. I figure about $100 for an x2, all three axis.

[joeturner]

Check out igaging dro, almost as cheap as calipers, you don't have to fiddle with making brackets, and the display remote mounts. I've not ordered mine yet, but they do get good reviews. Amazon and griz has 'em. I figure about $100 for an x2, all three axis.

Thanks, I think that's what I'll end up doing. I just wish they made a 16" or 18" for the vertical. Although the spec sheet for the G0704 says it only has 11" of vertical travel, but that would probably be cutting it a bit close if I got a 12". I guess it's only really $10 difference.

[knudsen]

I bought all the scales to do mine, and did the z axis, still going for the igaging. Blew up the top gear last week, so I've got bigger bridges to burn first Belt time.

Not seen them on a metal machine, but here's the reviews from a wood forum: http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/brand/286

[TroyO]

From what I've read on other forums, the Igaging scales don't work with the Shumatech.

Not sure if you were planning that or just to use the readouts that come with it, just a heads up.

[Flenser]

I used the igaging scales on my G0705 X and Y - I have plans for the hardened scales I had mounted previously. The one I mounted on the Y-axis appears to have some random backlash ~0.008. The X has none I can detect. I'm hoping I just have something wrong with the mount on the y-axis, but I haven't had time to check.

The thing that really bugs me about the igaging scales is how fast they turn themselves off, even when they are moving. I'm constantly having to turn them back on. I emailed the company about it and was told there's no way to turn off that "feature".

[photomankc]

Oh crap, so the remote displays turn off all the time and it's tied to when they are turned on, not even movement? Damn.

[joeturner]

Well that sucks–It seems you really can't win with these scales. Well, does anyone have experience with CDCO or Wildhorse scales? They're a bit more than I'd like to pay, but it sounds like it could be worth it in the long run.

[Enraged]

i bought some scales from mydigitaldog.com, i'll let you know how they turn out.

[joeturner]

How does one go about buying scales from mydigitaldog.com? I can't find a link to buy, and they aren't available at "WHOLESALE TOOL INC.", which is where they say you can buy them.

[knudsen]

I used the igaging scales on my G0705 X and Y - I have plans for the hardened scales I had mounted previously. The one I mounted on the Y-axis appears to have some random backlash ~0.008. The X has none I can detect. I'm hoping I just have something wrong with the mount on the y-axis, but I haven't had time to check.

The thing that really bugs me about the igaging scales is how fast they turn themselves off, even when they are moving. I'm constantly having to turn them back on. I emailed the company about it and was told there's no way to turn off that "feature".

That sucks. How long does it take for them to time out?