How to Cut (Shorten) Glass DRO Scales
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- While not recommended, this is how I shortened glass DRO scales that were incorrectly ordered. This is not intended to be a how-to video however it shows an option you may want to consider.
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By the way, us Texans are kinda like that. We get her done.
If that worked then I'm sure a tile saw would work too
It is possible, but do yourself a favor use diamond disk not a bloody band saw!, and start from the side of the glass which is sticking out.
Tell me where you can get class scales by measurement! Everything I see is fixed and not suitable!!
Dr T Rowe
Thanks for following along. Here is the link where I ordered a second pair for a different machine; these scales can be ordered by size. amzn.to/3SsqSui
That was interesting John. Haven't seen it done with a bandsaw. I ordered mine a couple of months ago and I worried that was going to happen so I kept repeating in the order and subsequent emails that I was only giving travel lengths. I really stressed it as I was like you and very uncertain just what they were really asking for. After I got them and only after it became apparent they were going to add the physical length of the slide which explained the travel length "plus" dimension.
I would think they would either hire someone who is conversant in the language needed or outsource it to someone in that country that can fluently speak the lingo. I can't believe that with all the smart people in China they have such a universal problem with communications and publications (manuals).
Good video. My installation will have to await the finish of other projects higher on the priority list but I hope that it will go smoothly. Your fix is an ace in the hole and an alternative to the diamond wheel method. At any rate they sure beat the $1800 versions sold by the name brands.
Take care. Doug
Doug, thanks for watching and for your detailed comments. The DRO is now installed and working great. However, you are correct about the lack of quality translation; the manual is pretty useless so I use online videos for much of the learning curve. ~John
Hi Doug,
I just received a set of glass DRO scales that are too long. My understanding of the ordering instructions is that use take your travel dimension and add 141 millimeters to get your scale size. The scales arrived 141 millimeters too long. Because of the language problem, in the future I'll only order from China as a last resort.
What was the bandsaw blade's tooth count? It appears that you cut from the narrow edge instead of the flat side, I am planning of putting glass scales on my mill to have the high visibility display. Like others who commented, it is amazing that the glass didn't shatter cutting down from the edge.
Thanks for following the videos. The tooth count was 14 tpi
WHY would you simply not offset the actual scale and then recenter the scale ?? Glass DRO's are and can be cut ,! End of story How the heck do people think these are cut and made in the first place .
I just received my DRO and Glass Scales and have the same exact problem. I’m already puckering up just thinking about cutting them. But I guess it can be done. I hope I have as good of luck as you had. Thanks for Posting, you have a new Subscriber 👍
I meant to ask is the glass really glass or plastic?
I cut the Scales just like you showed, and it worked👍 I had to cut 2 out of 3 Scales and I can’t believe it worked so good. I went in with a dremel and scored the Glass about 3/8” in from the cut, snapped that off and put glued the End Cap back on.
You are right about confusing. I bought 1 and the guy on ebay (seller) said it would cost 200 dollars for me to send it back in shipping fees. Mine didn’t work so he just refunded my purchase.
Hi John. I like many it seems got scales that were too long.. But inspired by your video I gingerly stripped mine down, which while it physically looks the same as yours it wasn't. The glass was parallel to the sides held in by small lengths of round rubber and some kind of adhesive in a slot. I removed the rubbers and gently wriggled out the glass and got it out intact. I cut it using a thin grinding wheel in a dremel type mini drill. When it put it all back together It all seems to work ok, I did use a 2 spots of hot melt glue at either end, but it semed secure without it. Just got to move the mill now to fit the scale behind the mill table. Regards from the UK
Hey John, great video. I had a similar problem with my Chinese scales but fortunately for me the X axis only sticks out about 1/4" past the ends and that was OK with me. Blocks the table drains but I don't use flood cooling anyway. Russ in Orlando.
Russ, Thanks for taking time to leave a comment. The DRO is installed on my mill and working great. ~John
Hey Bud, So I watched your Video on cutting these Scales I have to admit I was very Nervous. But I bit the Bullet and cut it on my Bandsaw and I have to saw it came out perfect. Thanks for having the Balls to Show that it can be done. I'm just glad I only had one to do. whew
What are tose 4 holes tapped to buddy?
It's been a while since I did the project and I don't remember the exact size; however, they were very small. I suspect any size screw/bolt would work. I suspect something along a 1-72 or 0-80 perhaps. ~John
engineer intern in the garage. boss orders the same exact wrong way. To the band saw monday morning! Thank you very much!
Cannot believe that you can cut thin glass with a bandsaw or any other type of saw without it shattering. I would have used a Dremmel type mini drill with a diamond dust cutting disc fitted to cut the glass having cut the aluminium with a standard hack saw. But you show that it can be done so well done sir. Great video.
Thanks John. I have a beautiful German DRO with glass scales on an older lathe that I am selling. I wanted to keep the scales but they are much larger than the lathe I want to mount it on. Everyone and I mean everyone said impossible to cut. I too have nothing to loose so thanks for the video.
I have the same problem for the same reason.
The dro has been sitting in a box for almost 2 years because I did not have the money or know-how to fix it.
Now that I do I gonna find the box and get it done. Thanks so much.
All I can say is with that kind of good luck you had better try buying a lottery ticket and see what happens! Not sure what the teeth count was on the blade but regardless surprised it cut glass.
Galen, thanks for watching. It was a stroke of luck for sure, but decided that I did not have many other options. The bandsaw worked perfectly. ~John
Hi John, I just found your channel! I just installed that same DRO on my mill and I had to cut the scales too. I did the same thing as you did, just threw it on the bandsaw. You would figure that by now, Mr. Allure would have gotten that 138 mm right!
I got some scales that are too long so I had to search for someone who already solved the problem. You are a life saver. By the way I am in Houston where are you?
Just now catching up on comments. I'm in Whitehouse, just out of Tyler. A bit up north from you. BTW: The scales are glass and cut fine with the bandsaw. Just hold your breath and go for it. ~John
If you have other questions, look under the about me tab for email address and I'll get back to you. ~John
Haha, classic case of measure 3 times and cut ONCE!! LOL
Glad it worked out for you.. :-)
Thanks for watching and for taking a moment to comment. ~John
I always measure once, cut three times then go back to Home Depot
THANK YOU...for sharing. Glad it worked out for you.
Thanks for watching. ~John
it worked for me :) was pretty nerve racking
Hello John, I just discovered your channel and subscribed. I'm a "one side" guy myself! Great video and thanks for posting!!
Thanks for watching and for following along. ~John
It did work for me as well although the glass did break a small piece off which has zero affect for me. Might’ve been a small 1/8 angle on it but the top travel side is still intact. It is actually the glass that rests inside the end cap. If you look they are suppose to be shorter so the cap can fit back on. Looks like I have more work to do.
Glen, congratulations on your success. I was unsure when I did mine, but everything still working fine. ~John
sumting i seen done on a youtube clip was that the guy took the dro a part , took off one side then the reader , pulled out the dustprotectors , and then took the glass out (there some little pieces of rubber gleud in the valey to hold the glass in the aluminium frame he took the rubber pieces out working from the top with a dentist tool ) after he took out the glass he cut the aluminium the normal way and used a dremel tool with a daimond blade to carve the glass at the right length and carefully snapped it at that spot
think its a good idea to do this at the side where it reads the highest number , the glass basicly has some reflective stuff printed on there that the reader detects so you do need to be carefull not to scratch it when you reinstall everything , he drilled and tapped the new holes for the end before he put the glass back in , made it a lot simpler
ok cutting it on the bandsaw worked , it didnt cut the glass , it seems that the dro glass broke at the spot where the sawblade hit , its still a risk as the glass can break in a different direction or in the wrong spot
Thanks for taking a moment to pass along a great suggestion.
HI John, I hope you are well.
I remember when this video was first published and made a mental note for the future. I just received my DRO with glass scales and the options were for scales that were 100mm too long or 100mm too short for my lathe. I went ahead and ordered the scale that was too long because I remembered this video. I haven't installed it yet as I am waiting for the weather to warm up a bit.
Thanks for all of your great videos.
Just wanted to provide you with an update. I followed your lead in packing the area around the glass with foam packing and cut it with my horizontal bandsaw. It cut it like a champ. The only issue that I ran into was that the glass was mostly flush with the cut and the cap for the DRO scale had a milled register. I milled the center of the register out and it fit like a champ. I decided to take the lazy route and instead of drilling and tapping the holes in the extrusion, I got out my trusty JB Weld and glued it in place.
Thanks again for sharing your experiences with us.
Blessings to you and your family.
It looks like I will end up having to do this. What was the tooth count of the blade you used?
Thanks for watching. I used an 18 tpi blade. Good luck, mine worked just fine. ~John
A great bit of Texan courage there.
I imagine the actual bits in the reader head that observe the glass scale are in a bit from each end, so a ratty end would not be a great deal?
Ray, thanks for watching. You are correct, the last 1/4 or so was a little crooked, however the readers work fine. ~John
For anyone following, I have a much easier way. After you remove the pickup and the yellow strips, you can pry the small bits of plastic by the scale with a small 90 degree pick. Mine were little 3/8" pieces (careful not to scratch or pry against the glass scale) After you get the bits out, the scale will just come out. (Make sure you mark it how it was installed, I put some black marker on edge.) Cut the housing with a cutoff saw, debur and clean. Mark the glass and score with a glass cutter, support it and snap it. (it was hard to score, but snapped easy. Put the glass back in and using a small putty knife, press the little plastic rods in place. I had no idea on if I could find a 2.2 mm tap, but the screws made their own thread in the soft aluminum. Thanks for the video to get me started. Hardest part was getting the reader back in.
Thanks for taking a few moments to pass long an excellent alternative.
Thanks - going to give it a go later this week !
I ordered one and ten sets of linear scales turned up
gives you some room to experiment
John,
Am I missing something but I cannot imagine cutting glass with a bandsaw blade without cracking or chipping the glass? Were you using any coolant?
Thanks ,
Bill
PS: Keep up the good work producing videos. Immanencely enjoy watching them.
William, luck was with me when I tried this. Actually, I did not use coolant or any type of lube. I did put some foam on each side of the glass with the thinking that may dampen vibration somewhat. I was surprised that it worked at all, I was expecting the glass to shatter but it cut without a problem. ~John
@@TinkerJohn_W5CYF The foam many lubricate the blade. With a Scroll-Saw we use clear package tape to attach the pattern. The tape lubricates the saw blade.
How fine is your tooth per inch configuration on your bandsaw?
John, I use 14 tpi blade on the bandsaw. ~John
Hi, I'm about to order the same set up as your d r o kit , I hate to ask a, silly question but is it real glass , when they say glass scale , I been an old school machinist a long time , my eyes are having a hard time reading those dials, so I'm going to have to do something, when I look on e bay the ads are bit confusing about d r o kit , thanks
Prentice, thanks for watching my videos and for your comment. Yes, the scales are actually glass. The glass is about 1/16 thick and about 3/4 inch tall. The glass is protected by an aluminum shield that prevents chips and tooling from fouling. ~John
@@TinkerJohn_W5CYF thanks for letting me know, I believe I may go ahead and order it and attempt to cut it. , take care 😁
Prentice, the glass slides can be cut to desired length before ordering so you don't have to cut. My mistake was I measured wrong. ~John
@@TinkerJohn_W5CYF thanks I did not know that, I just placed the order , but not shipped yet , I'll try to contact the seller , believe it is coming from California, thanks again , I really enjoy your videos, some good information ,
I picked up a new machine and had spare dro scales. 1 scale is about 5" too long. Much like you I had nothing to lose.
I followed your method and braced the glass with foam. And it worked. The only issue I had was the glass stayed intact on the scrap side. On the good side I had a chip about 1/4" back. Just about the distance I need to grind back to fit the end cap.
Thanks for giving me the courage to give it a go.
Thanks for watching and glad you had success. I also had a broken bit of about 1/4 inch, however the reader did not go that close to the end and I just left as it was. The DRO works fine. ~John
Hey John, thanks for the video. I just bought the 3axis for my g0619 mill. Will be working on mounting the scales in the upcoming weeks. It's not clear to me if the red plastic shim/ shipping bracket that holds the read head steady on the scale is meant to be left in or taken out after installation. As we know , the instructions are pretty poor. Thanks for your help!
It comes out.
Cutting mine now will let you know how it works. Looks straight forward and I will still have enough extra if a small chip occurs.
I'm about to do one as well. I know this was a couple years ago, How did it turn out for you? I'm going to try to use a dremal tool and see
I ordered 2 Ditron scales for my lathe and they are too long. Thanks for the video. I'm like you, I have nothing to lose, so I'm going to cut one. Please, wish me the best.
Thanks for watching. Here's to your success in cutting the scales. ~John
Were you successful in cutting the Ditron scales? If so, any tips?
John,
Never knew those scales could be cut. I'll keep it in mind if I find a deal on some long ones that I can cut and fit to my lathe.
Lonnie
Lonnie, thanks for watching. I did not have many options but this worked very well for me. The DRO is installed and working great. ~John
So 2 years later how's it working?
Still working fine., never missed a beat.