Product Micro DRO ideal for tiny machines, and embedded cross slide scales

[Susquatch]

I was also wondering about just buying the sensor and making my own mounts.

The mounts they provide are so rinky dink I can't really imagine using them anyway.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

I was also wondering about just buying the sensor and making my own mounts.

I asked Nicholas if he'd read this thread and perhaps answer some questions, but I'm sure he is busy and the UK time zone would also be an issue...

I'm hopeful though

 

[PaulL]

Does he have any sort of web site/presence? I want to read more about these.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Does he have any sort of web site/presence? I want to read more about these.

No.

And in my communications with him he stated that he is swamped. He is taking orders via an online forum by adding individuals to a wait list as he builds sets one at a time. He is machining brass housings for the pcbs and it is slow process.

I so wanted a set asap but that doesn't look like it will happen any time soon.

I hope he will visit this thread and provide more info, but he hasn't responded to my last emails.

I may just design my own pcb to match the chinese encoder heads. That way I can have plug and play experience... and get just the options I need in terms of connectors etc.

I may just buy one of these and see if it reads well enough using a flat orientation, or perhaps I can just download the spec sheet and see

 

[JustaDB]

He also has a minty RF45 that I may try and weasel out of him.

You suck...

 

[DavidR8]

You suck...

Well not so much as he wasn't willing to sell the mill.

 

[slow-poke]

I really like the size, that being said I would prefer to get the tape and roll my own PCB that has regular quadrature output. My ELS has provision for generic quadrature output DROs. Can someone point me towards a source for the magnetic tape?

 

[DavidR8]

I really like the size, that being said I would prefer to get the tape and roll my own PCB that has regular quadrature output. My ELS has provision for generic quadrature output DROs. Can someone point me towards a source for the magnetic tape?

Maybe this?
They stipulate that you have to tell them if you want the aluminum extrusion otherwise it's tape and reader only.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005087476488.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.2804389alXZTp3&algo_pvid=09647a62-a087-47ec-a75b-7bf32b58465f&algo_exp_id=09647a62-a087-47ec-a75b-7bf32b58465f-0&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21CAD%21202.72%2170.95%21%21%21%21%21%40210219c216814992650552763d06e5%2112000031595435063%21sea%21CA%211843620284&curPageLogUid=CUng7wH24tDo

 

[slow-poke]

Maybe this?
They stipulate that you have to tell them if you want the aluminum extrusion otherwise it's tape and reader only.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005087476488.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.2804389alXZTp3&algo_pvid=09647a62-a087-47ec-a75b-7bf32b58465f&algo_exp_id=09647a62-a087-47ec-a75b-7bf32b58465f-0&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21CAD%21202.72%2170.95%21%21%21%21%21%40210219c216814992650552763d06e5%2112000031595435063%21sea%21CA%211843620284&curPageLogUid=CUng7wH24tDo

This looks like it might work:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32982526751.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.15.4666180ftstyaj&algo_pvid=0cb0c7cb-5d55-46dd-8734-f6a9fa310442&algo_exp_id=0cb0c7cb-5d55-46dd-8734-f6a9fa310442-7&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21CAD%2115.38%2113.08%21%21%21%21%21%40212248ba16814998172726937d06d3%2166846836333%21sea%21CA%210&curPageLogUid=iRo34RCZysZc

The AS5311 also appears to have quadrature output, so that is one option for a reader, although I will look to see if there is something smaller and less expensive with just quadrature output and without all the extra features.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

I really like the size, that being said I would prefer to get the tape and roll my own PCB that has regular quadrature output. My ELS has provision for generic quadrature output DROs. Can someone point me towards a source for the magnetic tape?

If you will wait a bit I'll see if we can organize a group project to make pcbs with 2 or 3 options for connections

now with tapes you have a choice of pole pitches which impacts both the sensor resolution capability, but just as importantly it dictates the distance the read head can be from the magnetic tape.

the 1 micron systems from china use a 2+2 pole pitch and the read head can be as far as 1 mm from the tape.

I'm going to proceed to make a head that uses standard quadrature and will plug into the touchDRO or the chinese DROs without any required interface.

The beauty of this chip is that it reads from the flat face which should be aligned with the middle of the magnetic tape

 

[TorontoBuilder]

This looks like it might work:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32982526751.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.15.4666180ftstyaj&algo_pvid=0cb0c7cb-5d55-46dd-8734-f6a9fa310442&algo_exp_id=0cb0c7cb-5d55-46dd-8734-f6a9fa310442-7&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21CAD%2115.38%2113.08%21%21%21%21%21%40212248ba16814998172726937d06d3%2166846836333%21sea%21CA%210&curPageLogUid=iRo34RCZysZc

The AS5311 also appears to have quadrature output, so that is one option for a reader, although I will look to see if there is something smaller and less expensive with just quadrature output and without all the extra features.

that is 5mm pitch and provides lower resolution reading

I'm happy to order a large length of tape from Ditron and then part some out to others. with or without pcb based read heads

This is the tape you should get, except it does not come with stainless steel tape as well like the Ditron tape does

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33027671595.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.9.10331de1a662bs&algo_pvid=da04231a-3deb-4eff-8225-9d512be9dc08&algo_exp_id=da04231a-3deb-4eff-8225-9d512be9dc08-4&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21CAD%2140.56%2114.19%21%21%21%21%21%40210217c716815009743874974d0750%2167293836491%21sea%21CA%21789900399&curPageLogUid=lFo03Zcz2W79

 

[PaulL]

If you will wait a bit I'll see if we can organize a group project to make pcbs with 2 or 3 options for connections

Short run PCBs are so cheap now, and there's so few components to a read head....
I need to retire so I can do this stuff.

 

[slow-poke]

I order PCBs all the time, so if you want help with that side just let me know. I use Altium.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

I order PCBs all the time, so if you want help with that side just let me know. I use Altium.

my friend with whom I collaborated on the machining calculator orders pcbs all the time and then populates them with the surface mount components so this should be very easy for him.

The greatest expense will be the encoder chip which costs over $20 retail. If I get enough interest I'd be willing to bulk buy chips to get the price down a fair bit... that would require 50 to 100 chip order.

 

[PaulL]

Yeah, I'm all set up for SMT work at home as well. And I'm seeing short runs with 2 day turnarounds at ludicrously low prices now. Why didn't we do this thinking at the start of winter instead of the start of summer?

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Yeah, I'm all set up for SMT work at home as well. And I'm seeing short runs with 2 day turnarounds at ludicrously low prices now. Why didn't we do this thinking at the start of winter instead of the start of summer?

You dont know what you dont know....

But the saying is, there is no time like the present.

 

[TorontoBuilder]

Okay, I dont need anyone's pcb manufacturing services just yet, because I found the chip is available on a pcb development board for testing purposes. That pcb is huge in comparison to the final size I hope to make but at least i can get testing with less than a $25 expenditure.

https://www.mouser.ca/ProductDetail/ams-OSRAM/AS5311-TS_EK_AB?qs=Rt6VE0PE%2FOfQFCqoE7AuPw%3D%3D

Oh and I just figured out that I was assuming 4 pin output, but I am pretty sure I need 9 because the chinese read heads use all 9 pins

 

[JustaDB]

Well not so much as he wasn't willing to sell the mill.

LOL

 

[Susquatch]

Oh and I just figured out that I was assuming 4 pin output, but I am pretty sure I need 9 because the chinese read heads use all 9 pins

I seem to recall that not all db9 pins are used. But for compatibility, it's prolly best to use the same pinout as the Chinese DROs.

I only skimmed the datasheet, but it looks like not all 14 pins need to be used.

I certainly agree that being able to put a compact read head inside the cross-slide (and even inside the compound) is a terrific advantage - perhaps even as ground breaking as putting the tape in there.....

 

[TorontoBuilder]

I seem to recall that not all db9 pins are used. But for compatibility, it's prolly best to use the same pinout as the Chinese DROs.

I only skimmed the datasheet, but it looks like not all 14 pins need to be used.

I certainly agree that being able to put a compact read head inside the cross-slide (and even inside the compound) is a terrific advantage - perhaps even as ground breaking as putting the tape in there.....

the chinese read head pin out