DRO for an AUD?

[Cato]

There are some kits about to add a DRO to a Boxford AUD like this for example. I've never used a DRO, and for the times I've used the AUD I haven't felt I'm losing out. So is a DRO one of those things you don't miss if you've never had one, but wouldn't be without if you have?

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I absolutely wouldn't be without a DRO on the lathe now I have one, it's a massive leap forward in ease of use and speed.

I took the z-axis scale off the back of my lathe recently to facilitate building a taper attachment and have found it deeply frustrating to not be able to just dial things in to a set length; combined with a toolpost drilling attachment, it's also fantastic for drilling blind holes.

The other huge quality of life improvement is having a tool library for all your toolholders so that you can switch between tools and maintain your measurements with the push of two buttons.


I also find I can get much better results out of carbide/ceramet tooling with the DRO...

My new workflow is to turn or bore to within ~0.5mm of finished size, then take a single confirmatory measurement before the finishing pass and dial it in as one final pass, which keeps the DOC for that pass well within the 0.3-1mm optimal DOC for my finishing inserts and gets best results.

My pre-DRO workflow inevitably involved having to leave more "meat" before finishing so it could take a skim pass to measure the true tool position of the finishing tool off and then take my final pass, with worse finish and tool life as a result.

 

[GraemeVW]

I absolutely wouldn't be without a DRO on the lathe now I have one, it's a massive leap forward in ease of use and speed.

I took the z-axis scale off the back of my lathe recently to facilitate building a taper attachment and have found it deeply frustrating to not be able to just dial things in to a set length; combined with a toolpost drilling attachment, it's also fantastic for drilling blind holes.

The other huge quality of life improvement is having a tool library for all your toolholders so that you can switch between tools and maintain your measurements with the push of two buttons.


I also find I can get much better results out of carbide/ceramet tooling with the DRO...

My new workflow is to turn or bore to within ~0.5mm of finished size, then take a single confirmatory measurement before the finishing pass and dial it in as one final pass, which keeps the DOC for that pass well within the 0.3-1mm optimal DOC for my finishing inserts and gets best results.

My pre-DRO workflow inevitably involved having to leave more "meat" before finishing so it could take a skim pass to measure the true tool position of the finishing tool off and then take my final pass, with worse finish and tool life as a result.

I've been thinking of putting a dro on the fortis when done for exactly the reasons you describe.

How have you got it set up to be able to measure blind holes drilled with the tailstock?

Also, can you explain more about tool library?
Thanks.

 

[Seadog]

I fitted a DRO to my AUD last year (Finally. I bought it in 2018 ). You can forget about backlash. I'm hitting dimensions with very little effort. Also in the process of adapting my TTA so that tapers can easily, and accurately, be dialled in.

 

[123hotchef]

I need a dro in my life too

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I've been thinking of putting a dro on the fortis when done for exactly the reasons you describe.

How have you got it set up to be able to measure blind holes drilled with the tailstock?

I bought a job lot of toolholders for my MultiFix and it came with some boring bar holders and MT sleeves to fit them.

• Put the holder on the toolpost,
• Set the DRO to that toolholder (so 0 on the x-axis is centred on the spindle)
• Move the cross slide to 0 and lock it
• Zero the z-axis with the drill touching the part.

Et voila!

It also allows me to power-feed the drill at its ideal feed rate with the carriage feed which is great for drilling big diameter holes.

No reason you can't make a holder like that to fit a different QCTP or to clamp into your 4-Way toolpost.

Also, can you explain more about tool library?

I could...

But honestly I'd be better referring you to the relevant This Old Tony video.

Obviously it works better with a QCTP, but if you consistently set up the tools you're using in the 4-way with the back of the tool against the side of the tool in the next slot round (or a stop you clamp in specifically to set the tool) there's no reason it won't work.

For reference, this is my tool storage setup (taken whilst I was still making it), which is if not necessary certainly really useful for keeping track of what holder has which offset in the DRO.

 

[GraemeVW]

View attachment 404324

I bought a job lot of toolholders for my MultiFix and it came with some boring bar holders and MT sleeves to fit them.

• Put the holder on the toolpost,
• Set the DRO to that toolholder (so 0 on the x-axis is centred on the spindle)
• Move the cross slide to 0 and lock it
• Zero the z-axis with the drill touching the part.

Et voila!

It also allows me to power-feed the drill at its ideal feed rate with the carriage feed which is great for drilling big diameter holes.

No reason you can't make a holder like that to fit a different QCTP or to clamp into your 4-Way toolpost.


I could...

But honestly I'd be better referring you to the relevant This Old Tony video.

Obviously it works better with a QCTP, but if you consistently set up the tools you're using in the 4-way with the back of the tool against the side of the tool in the next slot round (or a stop you clamp in specifically to set the tool) there's no reason it won't work.

For reference, this is my tool storage setup (taken whilst I was still making it), which is if not necessary certainly really useful for keeping track of what holder has which offset in the DRO.
View attachment 404332

Ok, the drill makes sense now. I didn't read your post properly and thought you had set up something from the tailstock.

Thanks for the link, I'll watch that later.
I have been thinking recently about a QCTP, instead if the incomplete 4 way I have, but I'll see how it goes.
Got more important hurdles to get over yet!