Recommended DRO Scales
We don't sell DRO scales directly to avoid unnecessary markups and shipping costs. Instead, you can purchase the scales directly from the supplier. Based on our experience, testing, and feedback from TouchDRO customers, we have compiled a list of recommended scales and suppliers. If you haven't decided which type of scale is right for your machine, start with our DRO Scale Selection Guide.
Optical/Glass Scales
Optical DRO scales (also called "Glass Scales") offer the best balance of price, accuracy, and reliability, and are virtually maintenance-free when installed correctly. For most hobby and small commercial shops, brand-name Chinese optical scales in the $130-$200 range (shipped) are a great choice. Avoid scales under $70 shipped — these are usually quality rejects with a high rate of problems.
Recommended Optical Scales
| Models | Rating | Price Range | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acu-Rite | SENC 150 (full size) SENC 50 (miniature) |
$600-$1200 | "Gold standard" of DRO scales, but expensive. Excellent accuracy, reliability, and after-sales support. Usually come with a single reference mark in the middle of the scale, but other options are available. MSC Direct has good prices and availability. |
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| Ditron | All optical scale models | $150-$300 | Good quality control and after sales support. Very good accuracy and reliability. Reference marks every 50mm (Single mark available upon request). We hear a lot of good feedback about Ditron from our customers. There are many fakes on the market. Best to purchase from the official Ditron store on Amazon or eBay. |
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| Aikron | AKL -
full size AKM - medium AKS - miniature |
$80-$400 | Good quality control and after sales support. Very good accuracy and reliability. Reference marks every 50mm. We hear a lot of good feedback about Aikron from our customers. Purchase directly from Aikron's website. Shipping to the USA can be expensive. Shipping rates to the EU seem to be better. |
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| Sino | KA500 -
medium KA200 - miniature |
$80-$400 | Genuine Sino scales are good, but most Sino scales on AliExpress/eBay are counterfeit. Very good accuracy and reliability. Reference marks every 50mm. Overall good feedback from TouchDRO customers, but many issues with Sino scales from AliExpress. Best to purchase from the official Sino store or the official Ditron store on eBay (KA-300). |
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| Vevor | Full size glass scales | $70-$150 | Vevor sells rebranded scales from unknown manufacturers. Due to poor quality control, the accuracy can range from very good to unusable. Vevor's after-sales support is notoriously bad. |
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| ToAuto | Full size glass scales | $70-$180 | ToAuto sells rebranded basic optical scales on Amazon.
Quality control appears to be a bit better than Vevor, but cosmetic fit and finish is average. |
Magnetic Scales
Magnetic DRO scales use a magnetic encoder tape read by Hall effect sensors. They are more compact than glass scales and easy to cut to length, but inherently less accurate. High-end models (Newall, Sony, etc.) typically achieve ± 10μm over 1m; inexpensive Chinese models can have cyclic errors measuring in tens or even hundreds of micrometers.
Recommended Magnetic Scales
| Models | Rating | Price Range | Accuracy | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newall | MAG-TS SpheroSyn TTL MicroSyn TTL (models xxx-TT) |
$600-$1000 | ±10μm over 1m of travel. The error is very gradual with undetectable cyclic component |
Arguably the best magnetic scales on the market. Excellent after-sales support. Exceptional environmental protection; can work fully submerged without loss of accuracy. Scales come without a DB-9 connector, which you will need to solder to match the DRO pinout. |
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| RLS (Renishaw) |
Reader - LM10/LM13 Scale - MS10 |
$300-$450 | ±10μm over 1m of travel. The error is very gradual with minor cyclic component. |
High-end scales with a relatively affordable price. RLS scales are configured and built to order. Recommended configurations: Scales are made in Slovenia, but RLS ships worldwide. |
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| EMS (Electronica) |
Magna S1/S2 MagnaSlim |
$250-$350 | Stated accuracy is ± 10μm over an unspecified distance. The scales have moderate cyclic error. |
Very good value - performance close to RLS but price is about 25% lower. Scales are made in India. 1μm and 5μm models use the same scale and reader and differ only in factory-programmed interpolation factor. 5μm scales recommended; there is no real benefit to buying a 1μm model. In the USA, DROPros is the main supplier: Phone: 707-452-8434 Website: www.dropros.com Email: sales@dropros.com They offer excellent support, but often don't have individual scales in stock. |
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| Precision Matthews |
MagXact | $900 for set of 3 |
Same as EMS | These are rebranded Electronica/EMS Magna S1 scales. Precision Matthews has excellent after sales support. Purchase from www.precisionmatthews.com |
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| Machine-DRO | EH-01 EH-05 TP-05 tape Cover strip |
$200-$350 | Stated accuracy is ±10μm over 1m. The scales have low cyclic and random errors. |
Scales appear to be custom made for Machine DRO. Fit and finish are good. TouchDRO customers’ feedback about M-DRO is mostly positive. EH-01 and EH-05 differ only by the factory-programmed interpolation factor. 5μm scales recommended; there is no benefit to buying a 1μm model. Pinout compatible with Ditron/Sino. Machine DRO is located in the UK, but ships worldwide. |
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| Ditron | DMR-2000 (1um Full Size Scale) | $165-$475 | Stated accuracy ±10μm over 1 meter; tested were within ± 10μm over 1m. |
The fit and finish and quality control are very good. Ditron offers reasonably good after sales
support. Readings are repeatable. The error is gradual, but not linear. Recommended to purchase the scales from Ditron's official store on Amazon. Sellers on AliExpress often use low quality magnetic tape to cut costs. |
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| Ditron | Full Size Magnetic Scale (5μm) and Slim Scales (1μm and 5μm) | $165-$475 | Stated accuracy ±10μm over 1 meter; as-tested accuracy was ±16μm over 1m for 1μm scales, and over ±27μm for 5μm scales. The error is non-linear. |
These scales are not suitable for precision applications. |
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| Aikron | MSR2000 (1um) | $135-$270 | Stated accuracy is ± 25μm Scales have very pronounced cyclic and random errors | Fit & finish, and quality control are very good. Aikron provides good after sales support. The scales are very forgiving to misalignment. Readings are repeatable. 5μm scales not recommended. Pinout compatible with Ditron/Sino. |
Capacitive Quill Scales
Capacitive scales are a practical choice for measuring quill travel on a milling machine or tailstock quill on a lathe. Their compact form factor fits spaces where glass and magnetic scales simply won't, and the recommended models below all work well with TouchDRO for this purpose.
TouchDRO TDA-410 and TDA-420 adapters support BIN6 (used by many Chinese calipers and scales) and Mitutoyo SPC (used by Mitutoyo, Starrett, iGaging Absolute DRO and some others).
Recommended Capacitive Scales
| Models | Rating | Price Range | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitutoyo | 053906B | $320-$350 | Good: Very repeatable Excellent quality and reliability 5V signal level immune to noise Bad: 10 Hz refresh rate 0.0005"/0.01mm resolution Can't be powered externally Screen must be on to send data Requires a TouchDRO Mitutoyo converter and a Mitutoyo 905338 connection cable. This scale is sold by many vendors. |
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| iGaging | Absolute DRO+ | $70 | Good: Less expensive than Mitutoyo Ground stainless steel frame 3V signal level less sensitive to noise Can be powered externally Up to 50 Hz refresh rate Bad: Inconsistent quality control Requires a TouchDRO iGaging converter to connect to TDA-4xx adapters. These scales are sold by AnyTime tools on Amazon. TouchDRO customers had mostly positive feedback about this vendor. |
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| iGaging | EZ-View DRO+ | $50-$70 | Good: Easier to find than the Absolute DRO+ model Bad: Very poor noise resistance Plastic and aluminum construction Susceptible to data glitches Uses the same TouchDRO iGaging converter as the Absolute DRO+. Supported since firmware V3.5 (February 2026). Available from Amazon. |
Frequently Asked Questions
[Expand]Glass vs. Magnetic: Which should I choose for a mill/lathe?
If you have the room, start with glass (optical) scales. They are the gold standard for a reason: they offer the best balance of price, accuracy, and reliability. When installed correctly, they are essentially maintenance-free. Go magnetic only when space forces your hand—like on a quill, a tight lathe cross-slide, or if the scale will be totally buried in chips and coolant. Just be aware that you'll need to verify their accuracy after the install.
Should I pay extra for 1µm scales instead of 5µm?
For most hobby or small-shop work, 5µm glass scales are plenty. Their "real-world" resolution actually matches what's on the box. Magnetic scales are different. Many "high-resolution" magnetic systems use interpolation that can be misleading; the effective resolution is often closer to 10µm. However, if you are buying Chinese magnetic scales, the 1µm versions are often meaningfully better than the 5µm models, so the upgrade can be worth it there.
Are those "$70 shipped" glass scales from AliExpress worth it?
Usually, no. If a deal looks too good to be true, it is. Scales sold at that price point are often factory rejects or overruns. Customers have reported everything from incorrect pinouts to arrived-damaged encoder glass. Saving $30 on a scale isn't worth the headache of a "dead on arrival" part or a machine that won't hold a dimension.
How do I avoid counterfeit scales (Sino, Ditron, etc.)?
Stick to official stores or reputable vendors, not random pop-up listings on eBay or AliExpress. Brands like Ditron and Sino are frequently faked. If you're buying from a source you've never heard of, you're rolling the dice on whether you get the real thing or a cheap knockoff with a stolen logo.
If I install magnetic scales, do I need to "prove them out" afterward?
Yes—always. You should never assume a magnetic scale is dead-on out of the box. Inexpensive models can have significant "cyclic errors" (tiny errors that repeat over the length of the scale). Even with high-end brands, you should thoroughly verify them against a known standard on your machine once they are mounted.
Can I use capacitive scales? What are the tradeoffs?
You can, and they can be a practical choice for things like quill travel where space is non-existent. But they aren't ideal for primary axes. The tradeoffs are lower resolution and a much higher sensitivity to electrical noise (EMI). If you use them, keep them on secondary axes and be meticulous with your grounding.