zim Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Gents, I've not got a DRO on the knee of my mill - i know you fit them, as well as cheapy basic things. But what i'm looking for is a basic "clicker" counter that i can clamp near the handle. But i want it to count as it goes up and subtract as it goes down. We've been doing some boring lately that's involved moving the knee down 50 turns just to be able to get into the work piece to measure it. We've got a DTI attached so we know where we are but it's easy to loose count when moving the work up / down. Something like this : I do need to make one for the dividing head because that's really easy to loose count on where you're up to ! My machine is an Ajax, which is 99% the same as a bridgeport. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 In a previous life, we used a lot of these: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/4488729/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Automation_And_Control_Gear-_-Timers_And_Counters&mkwid=sZSqaFL4m_dc|pcrid|88056617643|pkw||pmt||prd|4488729&gclid=CNWcp8Gwi8wCFbYK0wod2gMOPQ For counting revolutions of an adjusting handle (up & down). If you used the DD52 type where it counts quarter turns, you could use a four pronged 'star' wheel, moved by a peg on the handle. Each turn of the handle would turn the counter 1/4 of a turn. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zim Posted April 13, 2016 Author Share Posted April 13, 2016 That looks perfect Si, only problem is i think it would be cheaper to add a Z scale to the DRO. (Don't think i'm being ungrateful) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Conventional baler bale counter any use? Will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Or just count like we do at work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Or just count like we do at work? That's all I do on the manual mill. Although it is a bit of a pain when colleagues decide to shout out random numbers while I'm counting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan bomber Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Then you need to keep a few bits to one side as ammunition to throw at them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 Then you need to keep a few bits to one side as ammunition to throw at them. Oh all sorts of things have gone flying across the room in revenge . Although the best one was dropping a bit of 5mm steel plate behind one while he was sat on the computer.... a new pair of pants were required Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I think bail counters only count up once the needle has gone down and up but don't count back down again? We use the same as Simon linked for positioning screws on machines at work. You can't zero ours though, I don't know if you would want to be able to do that so you know where you started? A search of honk Kong ebay listing would see a lower price I'm sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 My dad's hobby is flying model aircraft, some of which are powered by elastic bands. When he 'fuels' a plane for flight he uses a special device for winding the band a known number of turns. One of his mates showed him how to make a digital counter by hacking a tiny keying calculator from the Pound shop to be triggered by a Hall effect sensor. So to use this he enters something like 1++ into the calculator and winds the handle. Each turn of the winder effectively presses the = key, and the total increases by 1 per turn. This could also work for counting down. Ok its not the best solution, but costs next to nothing. I'm sure Si could advise on how to build such a device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 How many turns do you have to count? Another option, since you have a mill and an indexing head would be to make a toothed wheel which is moved around by the handle and just write numbers on the wheel? A much cheaper option http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1Pcs-4-Digit-0-56-Red-LED-Digital-Counter-Meter-DC12V-0-9999-Up-Down-Totalizer-/141802273136?hash=item210412f970:g:BTEAAOSwVFlUIled Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zim Posted April 14, 2016 Author Share Posted April 14, 2016 Some good ideas here, thanks. Agreed - it's when someone walks in and asks you a question mid way through counting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Some good ideas here, thanks. Agreed - it's when someone walks in and asks you a question mid way through counting. Have you any kind of reference position? IE the top face of the job? One of the things I do is to know where my zero position is, I can then wind the handle without needing to count until I'm somewhere near the position, I then know that its the nearest zero to that position? Does that make any sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.