Wireless Mill Digital Readout (DRO)

[MetalDesigner]

Helped an online friend a while back design a 3D-Printed electronics box for a Bluetooth wireless Digital Readout (DRO) that uses any 'Android' type tablet and the TouchDRO App ...

As a Thank You he sent me one of the blu-DRO electronics enclosure units.
al@blu-dro.com ... http://blu-dro.com



It came in nice looking Dark Blue 'blu-DRO' box, but just for the fun of it I drew up and 3D-Printed a box on my 3D-Printer when I was 3D-Printing the Android Tablet mounts ...

For More info about Yuriy's very well done TouchDRO App:
About Me | Yuriy's Toys



It works seamlessly with the inexpensive AccuRemote Digital Readouts I already have on my Milling Machine.
https://ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.co...gital-readout/

Updated Website Post showing the blu-DRO on my Milling Machine:
https://ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.co...-wireless-dro/



I purchased an inexpensive EMATIC brand Android type 7" tablet for $49 to use with the blu-DRO electronics box ...



Used SolidWorks CAD software to draw my tablet mounts and 3D-Printed them ...




I installed the Unit onto a Metal Plate connected to a swivel arm on my Milling Machine and I am very pleased with the results

Video Link: https://twitter.com/MetalDesigner/st...06214675001344



I can mount the blu-DRO box on the back of my mount plate and pull it off in seconds and mount it on my lathe ... but being wireless connection to Tablet/Screen one would probably mount the blu-DRO box on the side of the mill out of the way.

Even better as soon as more blu-DRO electronics box units are available I am going to get another blu-DRO electronics box and mount on both my Lathe and Milling machine because then there will be no cords running out on the swing arm that holds the Android Tablet. (Same tablet works on both Lathe & Mill and slips into 3D-Printed holders on each machine in just seconds because it is wireless)

Don't need a power cord on tablet because it works off the battery all day ... and I take it inside during night time and plug it in.



Bonus is I can read my email out in the shop ... and View PDFs of Mechanical Drawings on the Tablet ... and can view Machinist Speed/Feed Apps on the same tablet I use as a DRO

At first I thought the blu-DRO had to be plugged into the Android Tablet with a cord ... then he informed me it was Wireless and uses Bluetooth so I could mount the electronics way out of the way of fluids and chips and plug in the 3 AccuRemote cords into the electronics blu-DRO box... and then that frees up to mount the wireless tablet on a swing arm or where ever one wishes to mount it.

I thought is was great BEFORE found out it was wireless, but now it is amazing!!

I think the blu-DRO 3D-Printed electronics enclosure will be a great inexpensive option for those individuals that do not wish to put together the electronics themselves.
( Myself being one of those people )



CHEERS!!

[DIYer]

Thanks MetalDesigner! We've added your Wireless DRO Mounts to our Digital Readouts category, as well as to your builder page: MetalDesigner's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Wireless DRO Mounts by MetalDesigner

tags: 3D printing, wireless, mount, DRO

[Paul Jones]

Now that is a very cool setup using the wireless capability (I also got a good laugh about you reading your email in the shop )
Thanks for the posting, Paul

[C-Bag]

Wow, that's cool beyond belief! When do you think the blu DRO's will be available to us mortals? And how much?

I've been contemplating adding X & Y DRO's to my drill/mill and the mess of wiring was not appealing at all, not to mention the small readouts. This could be a real game changer.

[MetalDesigner]

Thanks for the note Paul
Every time walk out into my workshop and see the DRO, I think how cool a setup it is ... and another laugh for you is I helped Al draw up the original box idea for 3D-Printing many months ago and only until I put it on my Milling Machine did I realize it was BLUETOOTH wireless ... Thought it was a great inexpensive option before when thought it plugged into the tablet, but finding out it is wireless is amazing because can mount the blu-DRO box on the side or back of mill!

Put a post on my Website with Links for more TouchDRO details; https://ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.co...-wireless-dro/
and http://www.yuriystoys.com/p/about-me.html

CHEERS!!

[MetalDesigner]

Wow, that's cool beyond belief! When do you think the blu DRO's will be available to us mortals? And how much?

I've been contemplating adding X & Y DRO's to my drill/mill and the mess of wiring was not appealing at all, not to mention the small readouts. This could be a real game changer.

Thanks for the Note ~ Added more info on Small Workshop Website: https://ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.co...-wireless-dro/

To answer your question I think Al is selling them on eBay (Maybe just search 'blu-DRO' on google or ebay) ... Think it depends on when he gets in electronics parts as to when he sells them ... The computer-board electronics stuff is beyond my intelligence *grin* ... I just helped with the original 3D-Printing STL files for the electronics box.

As a old welder that just happens to own machining tools, I already had the inexpensive AccuRemote Digital Readouts on my Milling Machine and Lathe, so it was just a matter of plugging the AccuRemote's 3-Axis cords into the blu-DRO box and then the Tablet is wireless.
( Pretty sure the electronics was designed to work on iGaging DROs as well)
Just type a search in AMAZON for ' Remote Digital Readout ' and you will see the sale prices.


I am jumping up and down happy if I get 0.001" accuracy for the parts I make for my projects, so buying the 3 individual Axis Units of AccuRemotes on Sale on Amazon for about $120 for all 3 ... and then just a $49 for the tablet is certainly a great deal for all the functions the Tablet App DRO App provides... and I can use the same tablet on my Lathe & Mill because it is wireless and I just pick it up and walk over and put it on the other machine in seconds.
Normally a fancy expensive DRO unit that is 0.0001" accuracy would be 5 to 10 times the cost of this blu-DRO setup, but my machines don't even get 0.0001" accuracy therefore the AccuRemotes 0.001" is the same I can read on my digital calipers.



If I need a part to 0.0001" accuracy I take it to my local machine shop. *grin*

I don't have anything to do with the blu-DRO sales but I did find this in a search online:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/blu-DRO-Blue...cAAOSwHjNV-CLW

CHEERS!!

[C-Bag]

The only blu-DRO went at auction for $106, do you know if this is what his plan is? To only auction? He doesn't seem to be offering them anyplace else. Guess I'll just keep an eye out. Thanks for the post.

[MetalDesigner]

The only blu-DRO went at auction for $106, do you know if this is what his plan is? To only auction? He doesn't seem to be offering them anyplace else. Guess I'll just keep an eye out. Thanks for the post.

I was just looking at a cool tubing bender on this website ... Lots of fun stuff, glad people share ...

ANYWAY... To answer your questions ~ A lot of those eBay things now are a set price ... Heck at $106 I'll buy another one for a friend of mine in-trade for some metal casting work I need done *grin*
... but I really don't know cause I did the 3D-Printing STL files months ago and then this blu-DRO shows up in the mail with a Thank You note ... Too Cool!!!

I sent him an email today to ask for when he will be selling them online again and an updated web-link ... If I had to guess it is a matter of they sell out and then have to wait to get in more electronics parts ... I believe when we talked months ago his Goal is to keep everything inexpensive so more people can have them, which I think is pretty cool of him ...

I helped Keith Rucker ( Vintage Machinery Museum YouTube Channel ) with his 3D-Printed Metal Casting Mold Shape items and that is why Al asked me to help with the 3D-Printed box because then there was no CAD Engineering cost cause I did it gratis, and no injection mold setup cost because only has to 3D-Print the boxes as the orders come in ... That is why I helped him gratis because the goal was to keep it inexpensive ... the Unit he sent me was a bonus!! It really is cool!! ...

As a side note ~ The fancy DRO that was offered with my Milling Machine when I bought it cost as much as my milling machine but this thing does all the same stuff and it uses wireless BLUETOOTH ... actually I am surprised to find out it was only $106 to control a 3-Axis DRO, now I know I will buy another one for my new metal lathe.

I will post the web-link on here that he gives me when he gets back to me.

CHEERS!!!

[MetalDesigner]

Wow, that's cool beyond belief! When do you think the blu DRO's will be available to us mortals? And how much?

I've been contemplating adding X & Y DRO's to my drill/mill and the mess of wiring was not appealing at all, not to mention the small readouts. This could be a real game changer.

I added some more photos with the blu-DRO Electronics Box mounted to the back-side of my Mill and the tablet & TouchDRO App are completely wireless ...
https://ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.co...-wireless-dro/



. . .



CHEERS!!

[MetalDesigner]

Here are some updated photos showing using that blu-DRO control unit my friend Al sent to me to machine a Aluminum Casting on my Milling Machine ... it works with the free TouchDRO App that works 'wireless' on any Android OS tablet.

I 3D-Printed the Vise Split-Patterns to create a sand mold hollow shape to pour in the molten Aluminum ... The castings were made by my friend SuperDave.

The two Machinist Vises I usually use were at a different workshop, so I had to rig up this bizarre little ‘Cat-in-the-Hat’ milling hold down setup using my drill-press vise.

Setup worked to get the test cut measurement needed, but I was about to the point of getting out the duct tape ��

… The important thing is the blu-DRO worked flawlessly!! Thanks AL!!

Great Aluminum Castings SuperDave!! Thank You!!




For more photos click Here:
https://ctmprojectsblog.wordpress.co...-wireless-dro/

Video Link of Milling Machine: