FILENAMES: Deckel_FP2_DRO_1.jpg Deckel_FP2_DRO_2.jpg Deckel_FP2_DRO_3.jpg Deckel_FP2_DRO_4.jpg DESCRIPTION: These are pictures of a DRO mounted to a Deckel mill. Posted by Alan Hantke . The following description was provided: ================================================================= Although I agree with the perspective that ultimately mounting a DRO makes it an integral part of the machine, I personally still have a hard time drilling holes in my Deckel. The reason is that invariably the DRO will break before the machine and then I'm stuck with more holes. Do they hurt anything? No... but I still don't like it. This is why I thought long and hard about how to mount a DRO without drilling any holes. The pictures show how this was done, but I'll give a quick description.... Display Unit: (hey, does anyone have a manual for this Mitutoyo?). As you can see, this is mounted on the back power feed stop rail. Because it is outside the range of the head, however, it does not impinge my ability to set a power feed stop. Yes, the head moves with the Y axis, but this isn't a problem. I could have also done something with an arm, but the approach I used has proven to be fine thus far. Y axis: An adapter plate was made because the scale was a little too long. This plate uses the tee slot on the front side, as shown. The reader head screws into another adapter that ultimately screws into the factory holes for the optical head. X axis: There were two different ways I could go... Under the table, which would leave the vertical table totally free but would limit my ability to set the X axis stops OR... on the table, in which case I can access the stops. My choice, of course, was to access the stops. The FP2 tables are such that all three of my horizontal tables (fixed, flipped fixed, and universal) can mount above the DRO Tee slot. This is not true with an FP1. I also made a small aluminum block that I JB-Welded (any epoxy would do) to the knee; I "roughed" the paint up a bit first. The block mounted on the knee has a slot milled onto it and a tapped hole in the center. The scale head's mounting plate has a slot milled such that it is a near zero slop fit for the knee block. The black knob, of course, is the screw that holds the pieces together. All this holds the reader head very solidly but allows for easy removal of the whole scale should I need a flat vertical surface. I should point out that everything was surplus here, and that is why the block is mounted a bit "low" on the knee. I wanted surface area for the glue but didn't want to contour the glue interface area area because alignment would have been that much harder. Yes, ideally the bracket onto which the reader head mounts should be a bit longer! Alan