Colchester DRO

[needleworks]

Hi guys, newbie question here so go easy on me
After years of working with drummonds, myfords, boxfords etc I have just taken delivery of a colchester bantam 2000. What I would like to do now, is fit a DRO to it.
As far as I can work out, the Z axis would seem to be quite straightforward, but on the crosslide, to fit the scale will mean covering up the gib adjusters and the crosslide locking bolt. Does any one have any tips or knowledge of how this would be best done. I`ve trawled the net looking for pics, and although there are lots of bantam 2000`s with DRO`s fitted, they all appear as though the adjusters are being covered by the scale !
Any advise greatly appreciated guys

[f350ca]

Howdy and welcome.
Not much choice but cover the adjusters, unless you mount the scale on the chuck side which I think would be a bad idea.
I had to cover the screws on my Colchester Student but figured once its mounted, its easy enough to remove when the gibs need adjusted, which isn't that often in a hobby environment.

On my Summit the cross slide is big enough that the scale sits above the adjusters.
If your cross slide lock is toward the front (mine doesn't have one) maybe you could move the scale to the rear and clear it. I see I mounted mine beyond the back of the cross slide, the scale was probably longer than the casting.
Good luck

[needleworks]

Thanks for the info buddy, my crosslide lock is pretty much right in the middle, so I will have to see if there`s enough space to stick the scale out behind it I think, and if the adjusters need to be covered, then so be it!

[stevec]

Needle, I hesitate to suggest, but could you space the scale away from the cross slide enough to permit access without restricting tailstock movement toward the headstock too much?
I'd hate too find out months or years down the road that you're scuppered because the tailstock can't get close enough in.

[f350ca]

Thats a problem Steve, even the scale steps the tailstock out. The bolt below that cable tie had to be added to prevent the tailstock hitting the scale.

[needleworks]

(10-10-2013, 05:56 PM)stevec Wrote: Needle, I hesitate to suggest, but could you space the scale away from the cross slide enough to permit access without restricting tailstock movement toward the headstock too much?
I'd hate too find out months or years down the road that you're scuppered because the tailstock can't get close enough in.

Yeah, I had considered trying this, but as you say, I don`t want to restrict the tailstock

[stevec]

Now, provided you don't have frills like taper attachments or the like you could mount the scale rearward of the cross slide provided your lathe isn't too close to the wall and you don't mind answering questions like "what the hell is that sticking out the back of your cross slide".

Actually the only reason I tolerate the DRO that came with my 16 x 60 is because it has a cross feed dial that reads in Dia. rather than Rad. My present "other" lathe reads in radius as have all the others that I have ever used.
On the mill, however, I consider the DRO essential.

[PixMan]

The DRO scale for X axis (cross slide) on my lathe is also stuck on "way out back" and doesn't interfere with anything at all.

OK, so there is a tiny sacrifice in how close the tailstock can get to the cross slide. A socket head cap screw prevents the tailstock from ever hitting the DRO scale.

[needleworks]

(10-12-2013, 01:23 PM)PixMan Wrote: The DRO scale for X axis (cross slide) on my lathe is also stuck on "way out back" and doesn't interfere with anything at all.

OK, so there is a tiny sacrifice in how close the tailstock can get to the cross slide. A socket head cap screw prevents the tailstock from ever hitting the DRO scale.

I think this is pretty much exactly how I`m gonna go with this buddy, if the scale can be positioned rearwards of the crosslide locking nut, I should be ok.

[paulmo101]

(10-12-2013, 01:23 PM)PixMan Wrote: The DRO scale for X axis (cross slide) on my lathe is also stuck on "way out back" and doesn't interfere with anything at all.

OK, so there is a tiny sacrifice in how close the tailstock can get to the cross slide. A socket head cap screw prevents the tailstock from ever hitting the DRO scale.

Hi Folks

Pixman - just wondering how the far end ( sticky out bit) of the scale is supported I cant see any support in the pics?

Cheers

Paul