Hi, I am new here and also new to cnc. I am buying a mill to convert to cnc and have been doing a lot of reading and research into how to go about everything. I know that software like mach 3 once set up will work to drive the equipment on desired paths using the reference data you input into it. Obviously backlash for instance could put the machine somewhere other than where mach 3 believes it to be, but mach 3 cannot know that so will just carry on its instructions and complete its routines presuming all is correct. So my question is whether it is possible to have linear scales on a mill like would be used with a DRO which could be used as a reference for exact position by mach 3 ? If this is possible then backlash would not matter because the software wouldn't be presuming it was on target but would actually know in real time its exact position and could work from it.

Ady.