Buying a Digital Readout for a mill

[trains are bad]

As an equipment manager I have been charged with purchasing an DRO for the school mill. I don't have any idea how to proceed. It says

Clausing
Div of Atlas Press Co.
Kalamazoo, MI
model 8530

And looks rather ancient. I'm supposed to buy a 3-axis DRO for it, with at least +-.001" (the mill is probably worn beyond that anyway). If anyone knows of any place to start looking for one, or if it's possible, advice would be appreciated.

Also, I want to mill a Warp ULE automag body for eyes. Would it be acceptable to plunge a .125" end mill right down through both sides of the body, offset as required, or would it be better to come in from both sides and try to make them meet in the middle?

[ojhspyro89]

Ebay is your friend.

Clausing is a good brand of machinery. I operate an older Clausing which is fairly old, but still works. Hell I use a Lathe from 1946 at my home, and its flawless.

Mituyoto (sp) makes really good stuff, Im not sure if they make DROs though.


As for drilling eyes, if you have eye covers, go with drilling both sides seperate. If not, get an extra reach end mill thatll reach the distance. A normal one probably wont make through both sides of the body. Also, if your have problems with an endmill walking (oxymoron?) try coming up from the bottom and mill a flat to end up where your eyes will be at. Thatll leave room for some wires too.

[FiXeL]

Mitotuyo makes DRO's, we have one on an old mill at work.

Maybe Heidenhain has something that will fit your needs, we use their controls on our CNC machining centers at work, and they have DRO's for conventional mills and lathes.

As for drilling eyes, best bet would be doing them from both sides since a long mill will walk off and make both holes larger than intended.