What is TouchDRO?

TouchDRO is a digital readout (DRO) system that replaces the traditional DRO console with an Android tablet. A dedicated adapter reads your machine scales and sends position data wirelessly to the tablet. The TouchDRO app displays your readouts in a modern touchscreen interface and makes layout work and complex setups faster and less error-prone.

You can use TouchDRO to build a new DRO setup with modern scales, or connect the scales you already have. TouchDRO works with most common glass, magnetic, and capacitive systems (including many older installations), and it lets you mix and sum different scale types on the same machine.

How it Works

The main difference between TouchDRO and a traditional DRO is that TouchDRO doesn’t use a single all-in-one console. Instead, it splits the system into two parts—an encoder interface box that reads your scales, and an Android tablet that handles the display and DRO functions.

This approach lets you choose the tablet that fits your shop—screen size, performance, and budget—and move it between machines if you run more than one setup. If a tablet ever dies, you can grab a replacement locally and get back in business. Because the DRO functions live in software, you get updates and new capabilities without replacing hardware. A modern touchscreen workflow also makes layout work and patterns faster than stepping through button sequences on a traditional console.

For a deeper comparison, see [TouchDRO vs. Traditional DROs].

What it Feels Like to Use

TouchDRO handles everything you’d expect from a DRO—zero, ABS/INC, tool offsets, sub-datums, and patterns—but the touchscreen changes how you work. You tap what you want instead of punching buttons and navigating cryptic menus. You save setups instead of scribbling them on tape and sticky notes. When you come back to a job weeks later, you pick up where you left off.

TouchDRO really pulls ahead when the work gets math-heavy. The graphical workflow keeps you oriented so you spend less time transcribing coordinates and second-guessing the next move. With TouchDRO Plus, you can drop a reference image onto the screen and use it as an overlay, so you machine to the print instead of turning it into a list of numbers.

Building Your System

To run TouchDRO, you’ll need scales, a TouchDRO adapter—your encoder interface box—and an Android tablet. You’ll also want a solid way to mount the tablet and route cables so everything stays out of chips and coolant.

Step 1: Choose your scales

Most modern glass and magnetic DRO scales that use quadrature signals—single-ended (TTL) or differential (RS-422)—work with TouchDRO. The adapters come pre-configured for the common connector pinouts. Capacitive scales work too (Mitutoyo Digimatic/SPC, iGaging Absolute/EZ-View, and many caliper-style scales) with a small input converter.

If you’re starting from scratch: choose scales that fit your machine’s travel and mounting space. The DRO Scale Selection Guide and Recommended DRO Scales will walk you through the options.
If you already have scales installed: check the Supported DRO Scales (Compatibility) list. There’s a good chance your scales will work with TouchDRO. Some plug in directly, and in many cases all you need is a simple connector swap.
Want to mix different scale types or brands? You can use what fits your setup—axis by axis—without locking yourself into one scale brand or technology.

Step 2: Pick your adapter

All current TouchDRO adapters and kits come bundled with TouchDRO Plus. Plus adds the graphical workflow tools that pay off on complex jobs—like overlays and on-screen part tracking—along with workflow improvements that help you work faster.

All TouchDRO adapters provide four axis inputs and support axis summing where needed. The differences come down to the extra inputs (RPM sensors, touch probe) and a few other advanced hardware features. If you’re looking at the DIY route, start with the DIY DRO Build Overview.

Milling machine — TDA-420 . Adds RPM sensor input for spindle speed display and chip load math, plus touch-probe support for edge finding, tool setting, and part digitizing.
Lathe — TDA-410 . Includes RPM sensor input so you can see spindle speed and calculate surface speed (SFM) on the fly.
DIY kit — TDK-40 . A basic adapter kit with four scale inputs. It does not support tachometer or touch-probe input, reference marks, or position retention through power loss.

Full adapter comparison →

Step 3: Select a tablet

TouchDRO runs on Android and Amazon Fire tablets. Tablet choice comes down to budget and how big a screen you want—it doesn't need to be the latest high-end model. TouchDRO has modest requirements, so an older tablet often works fine. If you don't have one, check the recommended tablets list—those are the models with the best track record in shops.

Screen size: a 7" screen is the minimum we recommend, but 10–11" is much more comfortable. On a larger screen you can run TouchDRO in portrait and see the readouts and the graphical view at the same time.
Mounting: the path of least resistance is to repurpose an inexpensive VESA monitor arm. See Tablet Mounting Suggestions for some examples.
Power: most customers leave the tablet plugged in 24/7 and just turn the screen off when they're done. That reduces battery wear, and the next time you walk into the shop, it's ready to go.

How Much Does a TouchDRO Setup Cost?

It’s hard to give one number—the total cost depends on the tablet you use, the scales you choose, and whether you’re reusing anything you already have. If you’re starting from scratch, a complete setup usually lands in the same territory as mid-range DRO kits sold by machine-tool vendors: more than a budget import DRO, and a lot less than systems from the high-end industrial brands.

Scales vary the most, and they’re largely independent of the readout you choose. Once you pick scales, the rest of the TouchDRO setup typically looks like this:

TouchDRO adapter: $150–$500
Android or Amazon Fire tablet: $80–$250
Mount, charger, case, screen protector: $60–$100
Optional touch probe: $100–$300

That price range comes from what you’re actually buying: a flexible system built on quality hardware, with a tablet-based workflow that stays out of your way when the job gets complicated. TouchDRO is a US-based company, so you also get real support and ongoing development, plus software updates that add capability over time. If you only need basic readouts and price is the main factor, a simpler system may fit your shop better.

What’s Involved in Setting It Up?

TouchDRO isn’t hard to set up, but you do need to install scales cleanly and route cables like you would on any DRO. Once the hardware is mounted, pairing the adapter and configuring the app is straightforward, and usually adds under 30 minutes.

Tablet setup: the first time you power up a tablet, you’ll set basics like language, time zone, and Wi-Fi. This setup process usually takes under 15 minutes.
Install TouchDRO: install the app from Google Play or the Amazon Appstore, then enter a few settings to match your setup. Plan for another 10–15 minutes.
Mount the adapter: mount the adapter in a convenient spot and keep a clear path to the tablet for the best connection.
Mount the scales: drill and tap, align the scales, route cables, and plug them into the adapter. This is the same work you do on a traditional DRO.
Mount the tablet: add a solid mount for the tablet, out of the chip/coolant line. This is usually the one step that takes a little more thought than mounting a traditional console—you’ll often adapt a VESA arm or make a simple bracket—so plan a bit of extra time here.
Connect to the adapter: for the app to receive position from the scales, it needs to be connected to the TouchDRO adapter. This takes under 5 minutes.
Calibrate the scales: calibration is optional, but worth doing if you want the best accuracy. (Any good DRO benefits from calibration—many low-end consoles just don’t give you the tools.)

Once you’re up and running, you’ll usually earn that extra setup time back pretty quickly. TouchDRO’s learning curve is simpler than most traditional consoles, so you spend less time fighting menus and more time cutting parts. Most people can jump right into the standard DRO functions without opening a manual—everything you need is right on the screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my older brand-name scales work with TouchDRO?

Often, yes. Most glass and magnetic scales from the last 20–30 years use the usual quadrature A/B signals, and TouchDRO reads them just fine. Some older systems are truly proprietary and only work with their original console—if that’s what you have, you’ll need different scales.

Start with the Supported Optical and Magnetic DRO Scales list. If your scales are capacitive (common on smaller machines), see the Capacitive Scales Overview.

Can I mix different scale types or resolutions?

Yes. You can mix glass, magnetic, and capacitive DRO scales on the same machine, and set each axis resolution independently. For example, you can run a 10 µm capacitive scale on the quill and sum it with a 5 µm glass scale on the knee.

Will Bluetooth work reliably in the shop?

Yes—it’s solid. Bluetooth worries come up a lot before install, but in practice it almost never causes problems. It holds up well even in shops with heavy electrical noise from VFDs. Over the years, the few connection issues we've seen have traced back to cheap, no-name Bluetooth modules in DIY builds or bargain-bin tablets with weak radios—not Bluetooth itself.

We use quality hardware in the adapters, and the recommended tablets are tested for reliable wireless performance.

Does Bluetooth add lag to the readouts?

No. The display tracks the axis movement in real time—no perceptible delay. Most people find TouchDRO feels snappier than a traditional LCD console because the tablet redraws the screen faster.

What happens if the tablet dies or loses connection?

If the tablet disconnects or you turn it off, the adapter keeps tracking the scales, so you can reconnect later and keep going. TDA-4xx adapters go a step further and retain the last position even if the adapter loses power, so when everything is back on you don’t have to start from scratch.

How reliable is a tablet in a machine shop?

Tablets hold up fine as long as you treat them like a shop tool: a solid mount, placement out of the direct chip and coolant line, and a standard case and screen protector — nothing special. Standard consumer tablets are tougher than most people think.

TouchDRO has been running in shops since 2012, and "the tablet couldn't handle the environment" is not a complaint we hear. If anything, people retire tablets because they want a bigger screen or a faster processor, not because the old one quit.