FILENAMES:

CBX_X-AXIS-DIRT_SHIELD_OFF.JPG 
CBX_X-AXIS-DIRT_SHIELD.JPG 
CBX_X-AXIS-ENCODER_MOUNT.JPG 
CBX_X-AXIS-END_BLOCK.JPG 
CBX_X-AXIS-MOTOR_END_MOUNT.JPG 
CBX_Y-AXIS-MOUNTING.JPG 
CBX_Y-AXIS-TOP.JPG

DESCRIPTION:

These are pictures of installation of a Shooting Star CBX
readout system on a Smithy 3-in-1 machine. Posted by Bill 
Whitley <bill.whitley@adtran.com>. Bill provided the following 
description:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Mounting the Shooting Star CBX to a Smithy  3/1

You have to drill and tap two holes for each encoder and one for 
each end (except the Z axis). Remember that you are drilling and 
tapping cast iron so drill the tap hole slightly undersize.

On the X axis carriage encoder, I attached the rack to the bed and 
the encoder to the carriage. I also installed a sheet metal cover 
above the encoder -it goes approx 3" on either side. You don't want 
to make it too large because it contacts the motor mount at the 
headstock end. The encoder needs to be about 2" from the bed in 
order to mount it on the underside of the carriage so I had to make 
some tapered standoffs that would handle the angle of the bed casting 
and give me the correct distance. I just took a piece of aluminum, 
about 1x1x2, and milled the correct angle to give a flat face for 
the encoder rack and shimmed the remaining distance with washers.

On the Y axis encoder, I attached the rack to the table of the carriage 
and the encoder to the base of the carriage. I also put a sheet metal 
cover on this for the whole width of the table. The one problem with 
this is that it sticks out 2" so that you have to use a tailstock 
extender for almost everything. Its not a problem but it does come 
into play.

On the Z-axis, I made a collar to fit around the base of the quill. 
The collar extends back under the mill head for 3" and had a stub that 
extends out from under the millhead to the right side (looking at the 
machine from the tailstock). I attached one end of the rack to the 
collar ( the other end is free - make sure you attach the fixed end to 
the collar) and the encoder to the millhead. You will need to make 
another standoff for the encoder. The Z axis is OK but the vibration of 
the quill makes the Z axis display unreadable while you are cutting but 
it is a big improvement over the macro dial on the millhead. I don't 
have pictures of the Z axis since it is off of the machine at this time 
- had to do some work on the millhead.

The hardest thing about the installation is making sure that the racks 
are EXACTLY parallel to the axis of travel. I mounted the encoders and 
moved the carriage to each end and then attached the racks
(shimming/trimming where necessary).

 The DRO makes a HUGE difference in using the Smithy. I can heartily 
recommend it and the service provided by Shooting Star.