Reading and fixing Chinese scales

[irving2008]

Certainly do-able. Of course, it does require a calibration standard of must higher accuracy than the scales (thinks: I have a magnescale strapped to the side of my lathe that's good to a few microns over its entire length).

Though frankly, for the RF30 type mill I'm using them on, they're probably good enough as they are.

Ditto for my MD30, the 12" claims 0.04mm across the full length, 0.01mm 0 - 100mm. Since nothing I make (to date) is bigger than 100mm....

Were you thinking of making a stand-alone display device or using a PC?

I was going to use 15 0.8" led 7-Segment displays and a couple of driver chips and a PIC, the displays are only 50p each and the PCB for it is simple enough. Doesn't warrant the hassle of a PC. Depending on the PIC I might add a USB port so a PC can read them too.

[BillTodd]

You might be able to save yourself some effort (I hate PCB layout) by using a EPOS display like this with serial input and large VFD

Or if you fancy tinkering...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/new-2-line-by-...item2c52e20dc2

[irving2008]

Hmmmm.... theres an idea...£4.99 isnt going to break the bank...

No doubt if I made it work somebody'd want to copy it


<edit>
Oh Google is a wonderful tool ... These are manufactured for Fujitsu (ICL as was) and are probably a RS232 serial interface (EPSON emulation) with a 12v 10W supply requirement. Shouldnt be too hard to figure it out. Only 9mm character height tho if these were the customer facing ones, 11mm otherwise..