Build digital readout
Build digital readout
(OP)
Have crankshaft grinder that just lost Trak digital readout. Company said no longer serviced. Need to build a 8 inch travel DRO. Thought about using digital caliper with RS232 readout but don't know about software. All I want to measure is Y axis. Any suggestions offered wold be more than appreciated.
racear
racear





RE: Build digital readout
Building a custom interface is a fairly ambitious project by itself. Here's a construction article for interfacing to cheap Chinese calipers;
http://www.pcmx.net/gauge
Name brand calipers use different formats. But you could just buy the mating microprinter and use that as a display.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Build digital readout
TTFN
RE: Build digital readout
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Don
Kansas City
RE: Build digital readout
Also worth considering is that the SPC cables are typically delicate, and the caliper batteries don't last long when transmitting data, so you will be buying cables and especially batteries regularly.
So far as I know, all calipers' SPC data is sent as ASCII text, so a terminal program should be able to display it and capture it.
You could also use a PDA as a display terminal. Again, you'll be dealing with expensive cables with delicate connectors, and batteries.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Build digital readout
Used a Mitutoyo 18" scale/readerhead with output to a single axis display. It was an off-the-shelf item.
THK rail & bearing blocks made it smooth and accurate.
Worked very well and has been trouble free for about 6 years. Haven't had to replace the small battery in the reader head yet.
The stop has some features that even the commercial version doesn't have.
Thanks
Gatz
RE: Build digital readout
This sounds like something I might be interested in. Where can I get some more info.
racear
RE: Build digital readout
Here's the Mitutoyo part numbers we used;
Scale...... 572-234
Cable...... 905694
Display.... 572-011A
Gatz