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DavidR8's shop shenanigans

Well I could not have planned that if I tried. The scales just barely fit under the compound base.
PXL_20250505_233949016.MACRO_FOCUS.jpg
 
Well crap. I have to make a decision.

My plan was to put the scale on the tail stock side of the cross slide but the adjustable gib is on that side as are the oil ports and the gib lock.
PXL_20250507_020936511.MP.jpgPXL_20250507_020943224.jpg
On the chuck side, there's none of that but it will cover the holes for the follow rest mount.
PXL_20250507_020950734.jpg
Now I have never used my follow rest but I have used my gib lock and blocking off the oil ports seems like a recipe for not oiling.
 
Susquatch said:
It's called "inside". Put it inside your cross-slide. If I'm not mistaken, I see a taper attachment so you don't even need to worry about where to put the reader.
Click to expand...
There's no taper attachment on my lathe
But I don't really want to put it under the cross. And I already shelled out for this scale.
 
My vote would be the chuck side. Reason being you'll probably seldom use the follow rest, but you'll want to oil the machine all the time.
 
My lathe is similar in that regard. I used the existing holes on chuck side of cross slide & mounted my DRO plate there. It has a decent fitting guard over the scale. You can see the guard is close to oilers but still accessible. The right side of the cross table has the lock knob which I use all the time. It acts on the gib strip, also on that side. I thought about trying to integrate the following steady somehow bypassing the plate but its pretty tight in there & you don't want a load device hanging on a measuring device. I told myself when the time comes I need a travelling steady I will make something & utilize the T-slots on the cross slide, which I notice you have too (many do not). The need has not yet arisen for the work I do but I'm sure it will come up sooner or later. I have seen 'light duty stabilizers' mounted this way but I might be overly optimistic about replicating a real steady. hey - i have a 3DP now. Mockup Time!

1746587380438.png
 
Dabbler said:
If I were to mount a scale on my 12X37, I'd be hard pressed to choose a side. I use the follow rest, and would still want the gibb adjustment. A girl just cannot make up her mind! (evil grin here) :p
Click to expand...
I opted for the slim 21mm thick scales so I think I can actually still make the follow rest work by making a spacer.
 
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PeterT said:
My lathe is similar in that regard. I used the existing holes on chuck side of cross slide & mounted my DRO plate there. It has a decent fitting guard over the scale. You can see the guard is close to oilers but still accessible. The right side of the cross table has the lock knob which I use all the time. It acts on the gib strip, also on that side. I thought about trying to integrate the following steady somehow bypassing the plate but its pretty tight in there & you don't want a load device hanging on a measuring device. I told myself when the time comes I need a travelling steady I will make something & utilize the T-slots on the cross slide, which I notice you have too (many do not). The need has not yet arisen for the work I do but I'm sure it will come up sooner or later. I have seen 'light duty stabilizers' mounted this way but I might be overly optimistic about replicating a real steady. hey - i have a 3DP now. Mockup Time!

View attachment 64261
Click to expand...
The holes for my follow rest are below the read head so I think I can make a spacer to space the follow rest out away from the slide. It would only need to clear the 21 mm scale. Patting myself on the back for ordering slim scales.
I'll 3D print something first to get the design right then fire up the CNC!
 
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Does anyone use a snap-in, pinned or other type of quick release attachment method for the scales?
As I understand it, getting it into the exact same place when it’s installed or replaced Isn’t critical, but it needs to be locked in and not move once it is in place.
A quick release latch might allow for easy gib maintenance, oiling, or even follow rest usage etc.
 
FatherWes said:
Does anyone use a snap-in, pinned or other type of quick release attachment method for the scales?
As I understand it, getting it into the exact same place when it’s installed or replaced Isn’t critical, but it needs to be locked in and not move once it is in place.
A quick release latch might allow for easy gib maintenance, oiling, or even follow rest usage etc.
Click to expand...

That's A GREAT IDEA! But I've never seen one done that way.

You are right, it does not need to repeat.
 
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