I added a DRO to mine but used the scale that is separate from the read out. Mounted the scale in the cavity behind the spindle. Up in the body of the machine. usually were drill presses mount a light. Totally out of the way. works good. My only complaint is these inexpensive DRO's all run on battery. Always seems like when I need to use it the battery is dead!
Thats a great way to do it. If I was going to do it over I would consider doing it like you did. I also agree on the batteries. The down DRO turns off automatically but the other two are battery eaters.
@@rb63 I got it on amazon but it came from "All Industrial". Amazon says it is no longer available. It has an auto shut off feature and retains the location even when it turns off. Batteries last about a year.
@@rb63 I just found it but it's out of stock. allindustrial.com/all-industrial-30072-6-y-axis-digital-readout-scale-vertical-bridgeport-mill-lathe-dro-output/
Bend a while Mark, but the dust is settling some what since my Brides passing in July. Nice neat custom retro fit and well done. I love that the RuFu 31 I upgrade to a couple yrs back was fitted with X-Y & Z on a DRO, but this video will a a great asset to those that are getting ther first column mill for sure. Keep on Keeping on. Promise to get back more often soon, Bear.
I need to add a fine adjust to mine like your front hand wheel does for you. I use the main quill lever and watch my Z axis DRO to get me there. Its fiddly and slow and easy to get it wrong.
Winky, you are too clever by half. Do you lay in bed dreaming up what ingenious plan you can do to your workshop machinery next ? Great outcome. Regards from Australia.
One thing I noted on my RF30 is that the quill can rotate a small amount, maybe one or two degrees. Had to design the Z scale mount so not to be affected. Have the original plastic cover protecting the scale.
Those things are awesome. I put one on my Lagun, I think it's just like the one you have. It was also a fun project, but I did mine a smidge differently than you. I put mine over on the side, and fabbed simple brackets to screw it to the side of the spindle.
Nice job. Too late now but I when I was installed the DRO on my tailstock I found it easier to make the display static and move the rail instead. I think that might have worked here for your mill and it would have been more compact and with less parts.
Great video! I was wondering if you had a manual you referenced to reinstall the original depth stop components? Recently got a similar mill but it doesnt have any of the depth stop peices, so im trying to find some good references for manufacturing them myself. Thanks!
I thought about making the one piece cover but the way I did it was much easier. The casting wasn't parallel and getting a good fit would be hard. Yep, works great
@@dans_Learning_Curve Well... not really but if I was more into this vintage car perhaps it would have. Your clever channel title did prompt me to look into your channel in the past however. A fixed up earlier model would have sparked my interest although classic cars are not really a major interest of mine. I'm sure my picture is only recognition. Maybe I need to make it a picture of a mill or lathe.
Thanks for inviting us to your shop to spend some time and share some knowledge. Always enjoyable 😉.
You bet
Awesome Winky! I’m going to do the same to my HarborFreight mill drill. I picked up a dro from Shars’s
I've been planning to do this for a long time. thanks for the nudge.
Enjoyed as always! Good editing Winky, you covered a lot of territory in 10 minutes and hit the high spots just right.
Thanks! Editing is tricky... too much info and people get bored and not enough is bad too.
I added a DRO to mine but used the scale that is separate from the read out. Mounted the scale in the cavity behind the spindle. Up in the body of the machine. usually were drill presses mount a light. Totally out of the way. works good. My only complaint is these inexpensive DRO's all run on battery. Always seems like when I need to use it the battery is dead!
Thats a great way to do it. If I was going to do it over I would consider doing it like you did. I also agree on the batteries. The down DRO turns off automatically but the other two are battery eaters.
What dro did you use?
@@rb63 I got it on amazon but it came from "All Industrial". Amazon says it is no longer available. It has an auto shut off feature and retains the location even when it turns off. Batteries last about a year.
@@rb63 I just found it but it's out of stock. allindustrial.com/all-industrial-30072-6-y-axis-digital-readout-scale-vertical-bridgeport-mill-lathe-dro-output/
@@rb63 Shars 6" Digital DRO Large LCD Readout Scale IP54
Thanks very much Mate. I am looking at putting a DRO on my Busy Bee mill and this is giving some ideas and a nudge to proceed.
Glad I could help
Excellent job winky, I had a time installing one like that on my kbc mill, but like you I figured it out.
Thanks! Yeah, the hardest part for me seems to be mounting it so that it has no side load.
Bend a while Mark, but the dust is settling some what since my Brides passing in July. Nice neat custom retro fit and well done. I love that the RuFu 31 I upgrade to a couple yrs back was fitted with X-Y & Z on a DRO, but this video will a a great asset to those that are getting ther first column mill for sure. Keep on Keeping on. Promise to get back more often soon, Bear.
Welcome back!
I need to add a fine adjust to mine like your front hand wheel does for you. I use the main quill lever and watch my Z axis DRO to get me there. Its fiddly and slow and easy to get it wrong.
I love the down hand wheel. I'll bet it is hard to get with it a couple throu.
@@WinkysWorkshop yeah PITA if not impossible.
Thanks for the time you spent ,ill follow your guide cheers
Your welcome. There are many ways to do this but it worked well.
Great video Mark
Thanks 👍
Nice job man. I got some great tips right there from you, I'll be trying to make a z axis dro mount. Cheers from Sweden.
Thanks you! Glad to help.
I am looking to mount a Z DRO. This is a perfect design... Thanks!
Go for it! It worked great but maybe you can improve on it
LOOKS GREAT, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT DRO? ALL THE ONES I'VE SEEN LIKE THAT READ VERTICAL..
Maybe eBay, I can't remember. Here's one I found on Amazon: amzn.to/3B5cVIC
search for vertical DRO 6 inch
@@WinkysWorkshop OK, THANKS
Yep, the video made it to publication! It worked!
Nice job thinking outside the mill head!
Thanks 👍
Winky, you are too clever by half. Do you lay in bed dreaming up what ingenious plan you can do to your workshop machinery next ? Great outcome. Regards from Australia.
Sometimes I do lose sleep over ideas but not in this case. I've been planning this for a long time. I thought about it every time I used the mill.
very crafty way to fix the problem.
thanks!
One thing I noted on my RF30 is that the quill can rotate a small amount, maybe one or two degrees. Had to design the Z scale mount so not to be affected. Have the original plastic cover protecting the scale.
Strange... mine did not rotate. I probably could have designed it better or differently but it worked great!
Luv shop enhancements….nice modification
Me too, thanks!
That will be real handy Winky.
Thanks... I like it!
Those things are awesome. I put one on my Lagun, I think it's just like the one you have. It was also a fun project, but I did mine a smidge differently than you. I put mine over on the side, and fabbed simple brackets to screw it to the side of the spindle.
Thanks, yes there are many options for mounting. Your method might be better
Glad I found this video. I just bought an older 40 so this gave me some insights into the workings of the quill.
Where did you find that DRO?
Maybe ebay, I can't remember. Search for "vertical DRO 6 inch"
Nice job. Too late now but I when I was installed the DRO on my tailstock I found it easier to make the display static and move the rail instead. I think that might have worked here for your mill and it would have been more compact and with less parts.
You may be correct. Interesting idea.
Well done as usual Winky. Thanks for the video.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Very nice! "I like it"...me too.
Right on!
Does the slight side twist in the spindle quill damage DRO or give inaccurate readings?
There was almost no twist but the read head being at the end of a bar makes any movement insignificant.
Where did you get the DRO? I'm looking to do the same thing.
Good question... I'm not sure. Either ebay or amazon. One person commented that they got one like it from Shars
Nice job.
Thank you! Cheers!
Cool channel name and some good content!
So good
Thanks~!
You'll get it, Winky I know you will, I have a powerful tool called faith! :)
thanks
Nice Mod Winky...
Thanks Don! I was thinking about you today while using an end mill. THANKS again!
Great video! I was wondering if you had a manual you referenced to reinstall the original depth stop components?
Recently got a similar mill but it doesnt have any of the depth stop peices, so im trying to find some good references for manufacturing them myself.
Thanks!
Thanks. This is all I had with mine. www.penntoolco.com/content/RF-30-manual.pdf
Crude or not, it works. That's what counts.
I thought about making the one piece cover but the way I did it was much easier. The casting wasn't parallel and getting a good fit would be hard. Yep, works great
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching... I hope the all is well at the flywheelers!
Spoiler Alert: If this doesn't work, you won't see this video!
Haha... funny but logical. Did you really want to see me fail to install a DRO?
improv jazz
yep
Do you ever look at people's profile picture and wonder why they have what they have? 🤔
Ha... I need more info on this comment.
@@WinkysWorkshop how about my picture? 😜
@@dans_Learning_Curve I see a cool old car! Ha
@@WinkysWorkshop is that picture enough to peek your interest and check out my small channel? This was my late father's car. 1958 Plymouth Suburban.
@@dans_Learning_Curve Well... not really but if I was more into this vintage car perhaps it would have. Your clever channel title did prompt me to look into your channel in the past however. A fixed up earlier model would have sparked my interest although classic cars are not really a major interest of mine. I'm sure my picture is only recognition. Maybe I need to make it a picture of a mill or lathe.