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Ditron DRO Sale on Ali

architect said:
You and @TorontoBuilder listed 4 axis numbers with the quill. How does that work with a 3-axis setup?
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It doesn't. You have to buy a 4 axis unit. You can get that with or without RPM.

When you buy 4 axis, Ditron (and several other makers including Touch) provide a feature where you can program the display box to add or subtract two of them. In my case, I add the 3 & 4th axis (Knee and Quill) to get a resultant Z. Because it has 4 lines on the display, I can also choose to display one of them all the time. So I chose quill & total.

With a 3 axis unit, you have to chose either quill or knee, and you cannot add them.
 
architect said:
I found the 4 axis on the separate page: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32951659566.html

You and @TorontoBuilder listed 4 axis numbers with the quill. How does that work with a 3-axis setup?
Click to expand...

Buy the 4 axis version, and get the rpm if you plan to calculate feed rates accurately, and if you plan to drill many repetitive holes to precise depths. It is more refined than the normal depth stop. That and the cost to add those features is peanuts up front, but the cost to change is a whole new DRO computer
 
Gonna give a plug for Yuri's Toys TouchDRO plus a cheap tablet.
The interface can be as simple as the LCD versions, but it really shines on retained measurements, circle and grid layouts, and various "getting close" alarms.
Plus it's about $300 all-in for the Bluetooth box that sits on the machine and cheap tablet, taxes in and shipped ($184 for the very easy kit, plus $80 for a 7" tablet.)
I have the Bluetooth heads on both my lathe and mill and (for now) share the tablet between them.
 
PaulL said:
Gonna give a plug for Yuri's Toys TouchDRO plus a cheap tablet.
The interface can be as simple as the LCD versions, but it really shines on retained measurements, circle and grid layouts, and various "getting close" alarms.
Plus it's about $300 all-in for the Bluetooth box that sits on the machine and cheap tablet, taxes in and shipped ($184 for the very easy kit, plus $80 for a 7" tablet.)
I have the Bluetooth heads on both my lathe and mill and (for now) share the tablet between them.
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I'll add to this and say that magnetic read heads are less than 50 bucks each on ali right now, and magnetic tape is 25 bucks a meter when you buy 3 meters.

Add touch DRO and you're laughing. I'm thinking of going this route for the surface grinder and another axis on my lathe tailstock
 
architect said:
FYI I don't seem to see the 4 axis option in your link. The one I found from their store also isn't the 1 micron version.
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I'll post a new for you in a second. Watch this post for an edit

Edit - here is the 4 axis with RPM.


C$280.38 | Ditron Large LCD Screen 4 Axis Digital Readout/DRO/LCD Display For Milling Boring Lathe Machines
a.aliexpress.com

Ditron Large LCD Screen 4 Axis Digital Readout/DRO/LCD Display For Milling Boring Lathe Machines - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
a.aliexpress.com a.aliexpress.com

BUT THIS ISN'T WHAT YOU WANT!!

What you want is the system in my first link. Then you want to start a chat with Ditron and ask about an upgrade to 4 axis, then ask about magnetic, then ask about RPM. You need to start a negotiation. This much easier to do bottom up than top down.

They will send you links to what you really want and can extend special pricing. This might mean you have to order something you don't want but what you do want will be in the box with three benefits. A lower price, a lower tax base, and a better system for less.
 
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architect said:
The linked model also are glass and not magnetic scales so not sure how getting these would be easily cut?
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When you buy scales just tell them what the (measured) end to end travel of your machine is and Ditron will figure out the finished length of the scale assembly. This works. I did 5 glass scales this way between my lathe and mill and favoured glass over mag. I did do two mag tape customs for places that didn’t have room for glass.

EDIT: When I contacted Ditron I told them what I wanted and they set up a custom Aliex page for it so I could click & buy exactly what we talked about.

I’ll give an upvote for TouchDRO while I’m at it, I have one tablet that travels between lathe and mill and this works fine. As also mentioned, TouchDRO picks up where the Chinese boxes leave off. On top of that you as a user can give input on what functionality gets added next.

See also Yuri’s page about buying scales, among other things he explains why he’s not big on magnetic scales with data to back it up. Sorry, I don’t have a link I’m on my iPad right now…..

EDIT: TDRO is 4 axis + tach + position by electronic touch sensor if that’s interesting to you.

D :cool:
 
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Tecnico said:
See also Yuri’s page about buying scales, among other things he explains why he’s not big on magnetic scales with data to back it up. Sorry, I don’t have a link I’m on my iPad right now…..
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I like Yuri a lot. He is a great guy to work with. I challenged him regarding the magnetic info he has. I also provided him with the results of my own testing. He was very open and willing to consider other input. At first he thought my scales were unicorns. But he did a lot of work subsequent to that and has retracted his opinion of magnetic scales. I don't think he has had time to fix that page yet. Or maybe he is doing extra due diligence.

At any rate, I can say that I duplicated his tests and got different results. He reviewed my results at length and accepted them. He has removed the earlier testing he did but hasn't updated his recommendation yet.

I strongly recommend magnetic over glass for reasons other than accuracy. When it comes to reliability and accuracy, it just doesn't matter. Glass and Magnetic are equals. Where magnetic shines is in ease of installation, and small size. If that matters, get magnetic. If not, get what you want.

I'm not sure I agree that the touch picks up where the Ditron leaves off. I've yet to see a feature on the Touch that doesn't exist on the others. It's easy to assume that if you compare to older stuff though. My experience is that Ditron is evolving quickly too. Both have WAAAAY more features than I need.
 
Darren said:
I negotiated a price of $600 all in with them for a 3 axis d80 with rpm system about a year ago. Another member got a similar deal. Mine is still in the boxes waiting for 'free time'.

I have a D80 on my Emco lathe and its been great.

EDIT, it was 2 years ago and it was 628 total, all in, after Fedex clipped me 28 bucks.
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Was this magnetic or glass scales? 1um?
 
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Price comparisons

I got 2 meters of 1um magnetic tape and three 1um magnetic read heads for $315USD when the CAD was not in the crapper as badly as now. This is for my chipmaster lathe and touch DRO

I got a four axis with rpm with D80 DRO and 4 magnetic scales for $830CAD, and a D80 two axis with rpm DRO and two scales for $498CAD
 
A30-4V W/H PROBING MODULE AND LINEAR SCALES AKM5-320MM,AKM5-220MM,AKS5-520MM,MAGNETIC SCALE AUMS5-120MM from Aikron for CA$487 plus CA$112 shipping. I couldn't make myself go through the Ditron negotiating process, reminds me too much of faffing about with Rogers. I don't trust companies that show one price and then give you another when you chat with them. Dishonest comes to mind.
 
gerritv said:
I couldn't make myself go through the Ditron negotiating process, reminds me too much of faffing about with Rogers. I don't trust companies that show one price and then give you another when you chat with them. Dishonest comes to mind.
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I hear you Gerrit. But I think it's important to recognize that cultures around world can be quite different. Some cultures think less of you if you don't negotiate! It's almost expected. Anyone who roams a Chinese market and pays asking price is asking for a good laugh behind their back.

And it isn't just China. Do you pay sticker price for a car?

It's easy to see why you think it's dishonest. But I've purchased chocolate in Holland......

Normally I don't haggle over low cost stuff. It just isn't worth it. But when I'm in Rome I do as the Romans do.
 
Susquatch said:
I hear you Gerrit. But I think it's important to recognize that cultures around world can be quite different. Some cultures think less of you if you don't negotiate! It's almost expected. Anyone who roams a Chinese market and pays asking price is asking for a good laugh behind their back.

And it isn't just China. Do you pay sticker price for a car?

It's easy to see why you think it's dishonest. But I've purchased chocolate in Holland......

Normally I don't haggle over low cost stuff. It just isn't worth it. But when I'm in Rome I do as the Romans do.
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I bought my VW thru a no haggle program, because IMO car dealers are low life criminals and I dont have the personality to sit thru their pressure games. I'd start beating on one of them...

But that said, I agree that Ditron expects to haggle in a fair percentage of transactions, which is why they give deals. IF I bought aikon tape and heads I'd have paid about $140 bucks more. I'm poor, too poor to waste over a hundred bucks for the sake of a little negotiation
 
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