Simple lathe DRO idea

[roofman]

What a simple but effective way of having a DRO for not a lot of money...i might even have a stab at one for my Harrison

Colchester Chipmaster & Bantam Lathe Digital Readout DRO -Needs no installation | eBay

An essential tool for your Colchester Chipmaster and Bantam Mk1 lathe. The scale is fitted with neodymium magnetic anvils on both ends allowing you to position either side of the saddle. This device is engineered to specifically fit only the Chipmaster/Bantam Mk1 lathe.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[mtt.tr]

They are great until oil gets into them

 

[roofman]

They are great until oil gets into them

Do you mean between the fixed and moving part or the digital window?

 

[mtt.tr]

The reader head.

I had a cheap one and killed it in months

 

[Pete.]

I had similar issues. They are OK if you can keep them clean and dry but oil or coolant stops them working.

OK as a stop-gap or for a particular purpose but a £300 DRO offers a wealth of advantages over their basic functions.

 

[Kram]

My three aldi very nears have been fine, one on tailstock, vertical slide another for general measuring. Occasionally condensation messes them up but a big squirt of wd40 into the battery space sorts them out.
Coolant may be a problem but swarf,oil and magnets are not.

Careful with magnets around a lathe. It will make the ways magnetic and swarf will start to stick! If you can, put the magnet on a non machined surface of the bed.