DRO Adapter for Glass and Magnetic Scales V2

Supported Scales

This TouchDRO adapter supports a vast majority of Glass and Magnetic DRO scales on the market that output 5-Volt quadrature signal. This includes virtually all Chinese DRO scales from brands like Easson, Ditron, Sino, and many others. The majority of modern scales from well known western DRO brands are supported, as long as they provide 5V quadrature output. This includes most EMS (Electronica Mechatronic Systems) magnetic scales, many Accu-Rite scales, etc.

For the up-to-date list of recommended scales and vendors see Recommended DRO Scales

To determine if your scales are supported, look for the pinout diagram or pin descriptions in the scale's manual or spec sheet.

Supported

• Scales that have pins labeled +5V, 0V (or Ground), "A" and "B" output "single-ended" quadrature signal.
• Scales that have are pins marked A' and B' (or alike) output "differential" signal.

Not Supported

• Scales that have pins labeled +1V, V1+/V1-, or V2+/V2- (or similar) output sine wave and need a priprietary interpolation circuit
• Scales that have pins labeled -5V, -7V or -24V require negative power supply and are not supported directly
• Scales that have pins labeled "Data", "Clock", "En", etc. are not compatible

Rotary Encoders

The adapter directly supports 5V incremental rotary encoders with push-pull or "open drain" (also called "open collector" or "NPN") output. Encoders with PNP, or "open sink" otput are not supported.

Capabilities

* Shares input with the fourth linear axis

Recommended Operation Conditions

Absolute Maximum Ratings

*Min. supply voltage requirement might be higher for some scales. 3.3V is the lowest level at which the main processor will operate.

Mechanical Dimensions

Useful Resources

Port Functions

Axis Input Pin Functions

Inputs for the scales are located along the left edge of the board, with the first axis (X) on the top and last (W) at the bottom. Each scale input uses a 2x4 pin header that has the following connections:

• Vcc - +5V supply for the scale
• A - primary input from A channel
• A' - complementary input from A channel
• B - primary input from B channel
• B' - complementary input from B channel
• Ground - 0V (connected to the chassis ground)

Inputs A' and B' are optional. If left unconnected, the readout will still work as expected. If the scales support differential output, it's recommended to connect the differential channels for better noise immunity when using long cable runs (over 5 meters).

Tachometer

The adapter uses a pulse-counter tachometer input that can work with sensors that output a 5V "push/pull" signal or "open drain" (also called "open collector" or "NPN") sensors. The firmware can calculate the RPM with pulse frequency as low as 0.5Hz and as high as 10KHz, but for best accuracy and reliability, it's recommended to use encoder disks that produce pulse frequency between 10Hz and 1KHz during normal operation.

Touch Probe/Tool Setter Input

Probe/tool setter support will be available in the TouchDRO application starting with V3.

Probe/Tool Setter input is a 5V-tolerant binary (on/off) input that can be used with either normally-open or normally-closed touch probes and tool height setters. The switch type is detected at boot time.

IMPORTANT:If the probe has an LED, it has to be reverse-biased (backward), or the input won't work. To test this, connect the probe to Vcc and Ground. If the LED lights up (either when the probe is touching, or not touching), reverse the leads.

Axis Home Switch Inputs

Each of the four axis inputs has a corresponding limit switch input that can be used to manually home the machine. When used with repeatable switches, TouchDRO can simulate the functionality of high-end DRO scales that have "origin" marks or "home" areas.

The pins are pulled to 5V using large value resistors and should be used with normally-open switches. When a "limit" pin is pulled to the ground, the readout for the given axis is zeroed out in the firmware.

Assembly and Setup

Identify Scale Connector Pinout

Refer to your scale's documentation to determine the pin functions of the scale's D-Sub connector. Relevant pins are +5V, 0V, A, and B; A' and B' are available only on scales with differential output.

Unbranded Chinese scales often come with the wrong documentation or lack it altogether. Fortunately, most of these scales are based on the same circuit (with minor variations) and the pinout can be relatively easily reverse-engineered using instructions described in "How to Find Glass DRO Scale Pin Functions".

Connect the Scales

To operate correctly each scale needs to have +5V, Ground and at least A and B lines connected. Lines A' and B' (on differential scales) provide better noise immunity but are otherwise optional.

"No Soldering" Kit

Detailed assembly instructions for the Deluxe Kit can be found on the Glass/Magnetic Scale Adapter Quick Start page.

Standard Kit

The standard kit comes with panel-mounted female D-Sub 9 connectors and a set of Dupont jumper wires. To assemble the harnesses you will need to cut the jumper wires that you can use to make four sets of leads. The process is as follows:

1. Separate the ribbon cable into sections with four or six wires (four for single-ended scales, six for differential).
2. Cut each section in half and trim to the desired length. It's best to leave a bit of slack, so the cables are not under strain while mounted in the enclosure.
3. Strip and tin the cut ends
4. Solder the leads to the appropriate pins
5. Using the diagram from the "Input Pin Functions", connect the female ends of the Dupont leads to the TouchDRO adapter.

Since the TouchDRO adapter will be likely subjected to vibration, it's recommended to hot-glue the connectors to the board to prevent them from coming loose during use.

Mount the Adapter into An Enclosure

TouchDRO adapters require a non-metallic enclosure in order for the Bluetooth signal to reach the tablet. Since the electronics don't produce much heat, there are no special material or size requirements for the enclosure, as long as the board fits it.

A standard 115mm x 90mm x 55mm ABS enclosure with clear top works very well for this adapter and can be purchased for under $10 (USD) from eBay and many other online retailers.

Press-fit the +5V, 0V, A and B, pins into the appropriate position on one of the female D-Sub connectors. To do so, hold the connector firmly in one hand and using a pair of small needle noze pliers, push the gold-plated pin into the hole until you feel a click and a positive stop.

Please note, to ensure the best performance Bluetooth antenna, it's recommended to mount the adapter with at least 5mm gap from the machine frame.

Grounding

Proper grounding is very important for stable operation of the DRO unit. Although industrial-grade glass and magnetic scales aren't nearly as sensitive to EMF as their capacitive counterparts, electrical noise can still cause problems. The easiest way to reduce EMF issues is to ground the board to the machine's frame. Mounting holes on the board are tied to the ground fill, as are all of the ground pins.