Milling without a DRO

A lot of people have requested a video about milling without the benefit of a digital readout (DRO). I'm in the process of putting a new DRO on my mill so it seemed like an opportune time to make one. There are certainly more techniques than what I show here, so if you have any, leave them in the comments below. Thanks for watching!
Clayton's story: I teach at my local community college and one of my students, Clayton, never misses an opportunity to make fun of me and my videos. He says the most hurtful things. He told me he methodically disliked every video on my channel. He mercilessly makes fun of the way I talk and says I sound like I'm Canadian. What the heck is wrong with sounding like a Canadian? Nothing! Nothing at all! So, Clayton, all I can say to you is O Canada! you son of a...

[@billdlv]

Good tips. An old timer showed me a trick for when you need to change directions you can lock the table, take up the back lash, and reset the dial and stay pretty close to size.

[@angelramos-2005]

Hi Stuart.I´m new in your channel.I`m 74.My grand father was a teacher.My father was a teacher and my wife is a teacher.One of the subjects of conversation when ever I can is to say What can we do whith the bad boys? GOOD and EVEL are created equal and I learned that you don`t kill your enemy,you defeat him/her and put it in his/her own place.That gives a superior meaning to live.If you kill all your enemies(Yusuf) is nothig left for you to do.English is not my fist language but it is a very important part of my life and can`t live without it.Thank you for your videos that I think are very well done and I`ll be watching

[@procyonia3654]

Lay out lines and dykem go along way, most of the time you dont even need to measure anything until your going for finish sizes. Keep in mind a scribe is .01 wide or there abouts. On most of the manual tools I've run without readouts we put scales on like what you were talking. If you go that route, you also need to mount a reader finger on the fixed part of the slide. Adding a scale holder with dovetails that can be loosened to allow the scale to move freely so can move it to a round division when you start working can also reduce math errors. Devliegs used rods that look like ID mics for measuring if you got good at it you could hold

[@StuartdeHaro]

Nice tips, Matt. You're going to make me need to make a follow-up video.

[@procyonia3654]

@@StuartdeHaro I actually am keeping my machine tools without readouts in my hobby shop. Mainly because I enjoy the problem solving that goes into doing accurate work without readouts and because I work with CNC in my day job and I use my hobby stuff to engage a different part of my brain. In addition to what I mentioned earlier theres also toolmakers buttons, gauge blocks and some other old timey stuff and techniques you can do if dead on accuracy is necessary for the project at hand. We sent men to the moon with little more then vernier scales, slide rules, and craftsmanship. Though none of that stuff is fast lol. Loved your video, I look forward to anymore you make!

[@TheAyrCaveShop]

Thanks Stuart, Your tips and instructional videos are nicely done. I always learn something even on subjects I thought I knew.
Keep up the good work, Dean

[@roylucas1027]

Great video. I have a mill with dro and one I use as a drill press. The drill press mill has no dro and it humbles me every time I try to position something for drilling. It's a good thing to be humbled everyday. Thank you.

[@gangleweed]

I've been milling without a DRO for may years but once I installed one on my bench mill I'll never go back.

[@ryebis]

Liked just for the Clayton intro.

[@brianwarburton4482]

Excellent and very informative video. Thank you for taking the time to make this.

[@maliputate]

Hi Stuart. Just wanted to say a huge thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Your videos have been by far the most useful I’ve found (just about the only ones that aren’t some guy who bought a mill last week telling you they’re an expert. Haha!). I’ve been a musical instrument maker for a couple of decades but am relatively new to machining. These videos have exactly the info I need and have really helped me develop the correct skills quickly. I’d love to give something back. Is there are Patreon or beer fund or something?
Also, to put it politely, fuck Clayton! I hope he has a poor nights sleep and his breakfast is over cooked and flavourless.

[@danvandertorre9280]

redundancy with out a dro most people will be lost just like cell phones and computers we get used to convenience and lose track of other ways to get things done . god bless :)

[@turningpoint6643]

It depends on the coordinate accuracy required of course. But ALL feed screws will exhibit gains and losses throughout there travel range. The cheaper or more worn the machine tool then the larger the problem is. Moore Tools who arguably made some of the worlds most accurate jig borers, jig grinders and measuring machines couldn't make perfect feed screws no matter how much money and talent they threw at the problem. The could measure the inaccuracy's into the low millionths range but couldn't fully remove them during manufacturing even after grinding and lapping. Compounding the problem is those screws and nuts start to wear to less accuracy as soon as there put to use. Before dro's were invented they used high precision indicators and setting rods something like a micrometer setting rod but much more accurate for distance measurements larger than the indicators travel was. That side stepped the errors much like a dro does today.On some of the old jig borers and grinders you can see areas cast into the machine where the indicators were mounted and the distance rods were supported in a straight line. For most of us in a home shop were fitting one part to another so as long as the same technique is used for both any inaccuracy will be approximately the same for both. Accurate layouts prior to starting to machine and quick visual checks with a pocket scale can catch most miscounting errors when using the dials.
Your student Clayton is an obvious fool. Only one with that fools mentality disrespects those with obviously more knowledge and skills than they have. He's in for a rough life once he hits the real world. I suggest he get's a job logging or mining. They have proven methods for quickly straightening out the Clayton's of the world. :-) Then again if he's in a machine tool course he'll likely get to meet a few old school machinist's who are just as good if not better at that attitude adjusting. :-)

[@aaronsmith141]

RIP Clayton. 😂

[@keithriley3159]

Like learning to walk before you run, should you even be on a machine tool if you can't cope without a DRO

[@goldeee666]

good info. thanks for posting

[@johnstrange6799]

Good topic. Thanks.

[@vernonkarm8016]

good job.....

[@tcarney57]

Maybe being tackled so many times playing football caused Clayton some brain damage.

[@chrisstephens6673]

Does Clayton expect you to give him anything more than a D- in any test or coursework?