Digital read out

DROs have a lot of functionality, providing computation of common operations. The following list was taken from the user manual of a digital readout manufacturer's product:

• Imperial (inch) and metric interchange.
• "1/2" function: takes the value of an axis and divides it by two, used to find the center of a workpiece.
• Preset dimensions: axis values can be entered directly, used to match measured value.
• Absolute or Incremental modes: position of a feature given on a blueprint is given by one of two methods:
  • Absolute: which means the coordinate is relative to the part's absolute zero (usually one of its corners or its center).
  • Relative: meaning the coordinate is referred to some other feature, usually the last one machined.
• Bolt holes: drilling or boring of several holes along an arc without using a rotary table.
• Inclines: compute a cut or series of holes across an incline or diagonal.
• Memory: stores hundreds or thousands of points.
• Calculator: a scientific calculator is often included.

Made from strips of high-quality glass with evenly etched marks just like the marks of a ruler, but very small (typically 5 μm apart, but in some instances can be smaller, such as 1 μm for a lathes cross slide). Two optical sensors (phototransistors or photodiodes) are placed very close to each other to make a linear incremental encoder. When the machine axis moves, the dark marks move under the optical encoders triggering them in succession. If movement is from, for example, left to right, encoder A is triggered first and encoder B afterwards. So the computer can know that the scale moved 5μm to the right. And, if encoder B triggers first and A does as follow the computer knows it was in the other direction.

Commercial models are enclosed in an aluminum "box" with a rubber protection on the side where the encoder slides. Used primarily where shielding from coolant and chips is necessary or where a resolution of 5μm (0.0002 in) or better is required (surface grinders).

Instead of glass, a printed circuit on a stainless steel ruler is used to trigger at least two microelectronic hall effect sensors. Resolution is limited to 10 μm (0.0005 in) but shielding from coolant and flying chip is not a requirement. These scales are very resistant to everyday shop contaminants and debris. Electronic scales are much cheaper than their glass counterparts.

Electronic scales are available with built-in displays so they can be used independently.

The ball scales produced by Newall use an electromagnetic field to track ball bearings in a tube. They sell under the trade name Spherosyn and Microsyn. They work only with Newall DROs.

Magnetic scales use an embedded magnetic strip to track position. Benefits include being coolant and dust proof. Unique to magnetic scales is the ability for the user to cut, or shorten them, to a desired length.

These models use a rack (toothed metal strip) that meshes with a gear that turns a rotary encoder. Claimed accuracy of 0.002 inches per foot, though users frequently report it Is much more accurate, with no measurable deviation over several feet of travel. Debris getting between the gear and rack is a concern.

Vertical quill DRO

This is a speciality DRO system composed of a computer and an electronic scale in one small piece of equipment. Usually battery operated. Installed on the quill of a milling machine (hence its name). At this part of the machine coolant splash, flying chip and accidental shock are day-to-day events, therefore it is a very bad place for a glass scale used in conventional DROs. It also gives the operator a lot of comfort by being placed right in front of his eyes next to the controls that adjust the machine and it has not a single wire that can get trapped in the cluttered quill area.

A very common setup is to have a regular DRO with glass scales on the milling machine's table and a separate vertical quill DRO. This gives a resolution of 0.005mm to the table position and 0.01mm to the quill. Both exceed by far the expected "0.04mm accuracy of the milling process" [1]

It is very much like the vertical version, except in that it is designed to be installed in a horizontal position. The only difference is the orientation of the display and the buttons to be seen and operated horizontally. This device is not for standard shop equipment. It is used in research and calibration of other measuring equipments.