PC based DRO?

[zoltan]

The Bluetooth is also nice because you can move the display around wherever you want without wires getting in the way.

 

[jwcnc1911]

Zoltan, thanks for your help! I've order all the components! I'll be in a pretty awesome DRO for less than $300!

 

[ycroosh]

The three axis plug into the box, and the box communicates with my Android phone or tablet via Bluetooth. There is no direct connection between the box and phone/tablet, and the phone/tablet needs to have Bluetooth capability. The cable coming out of the box is for power only. The app is written for Android 3.0 or greater, so I don't see it working with a PC.

The Android version doesn't indeed work with a PC but if a PC version is desirable I can post my initial prototype that works with Windows.
(it doesn't have much functionality [yet, I guess])

Thank you
Yuriy

 

[zoltan]

Zoltan, thanks for your help! I've order all the components! I'll be in a pretty awesome DRO for less than $300!

Agreed. You'll also be able to browse the web, watch movies, and listen to music on it. How many other DROs can do that?

 

[///]

I was looking at Android DRO a few months back. I couldn't decide in which 7" tablet to buy.
Was thinking about a Nexus7 32GB, which I could use for other things too(reading PDF's in bed etc) but it is pretty pricey, so decided to think about it some more.
Thinking now I might just buy a cheapie $100 7" tablet and get this done.

Hope Yuri makes some updates soon, has been a while. Having all the features of a good DRO (PCD etc) would be awesome.

 

[ycroosh]

I was looking at Android DRO a few months back. I couldn't decide in which 7" tablet to buy.
Was thinking about a Nexus7 32GB, which I could use for other things too(reading PDF's in bed etc) but it is pretty pricey, so decided to think about it some more.
Thinking now I might just buy a cheapie $100 7" tablet and get this done.

Hope Yuri makes some updates soon, has been a while. Having all the features of a good DRO (PCD etc) would be awesome.

Simon,
I'm still working on it. For some reason for the last 3-4 years March-May turn out to be crazy busy (work, home, school etc.), so I get little or no time for play in Spring.
Based on the feedback and my own usage I want to add some features ASAP:

• USB support (for some reason this has been #1 feature request)
• Tool offset functionality
• Hole circle/hole pattern functions
• Multiple encoders per axis (my new mill now has a quill... )
• More UI settings (number of digits before/after the dot, font size etc.)

Don't know if I can pull this off and test in a month but I'm hoping to at least have it ready for beta testing in 2-3 weeks...

Thank you
Yuriy

 

[///]

Hi Yuriy, great news.
Please don't take my previous comment as criticism, I know exactly how it feels to have no play time

 

[Rivergypsy]

Hi Yuriy,

Can I add one more suggestion, please? One thing I really do want on my lathe is to add a spindle encoder, and have the DRO able to display either rpm or angular position from it...

Fingers crossed,
Dave

 

[jwcnc1911]

Simon,
I'm still working on it. For some reason for the last 3-4 years March-May turn out to be crazy busy (work, home, school etc.), so I get little or no time for play in Spring.
Based on the feedback and my own usage I want to add some features ASAP:

• USB support (for some reason this has been #1 feature request)
• Tool offset functionality
• Hole circle/hole pattern functions
• Multiple encoders per axis (my new mill now has a quill... )
• More UI settings (number of digits before/after the dot, font size etc.)

Don't know if I can pull this off and test in a month but I'm hoping to at least have it ready for beta testing in 2-3 weeks...

Thank you
Yuriy

You read my mind! I'm hoping to start setting min up in a few weeks when all of my stuff comes in. I still have a laptop issue to sort which is primary as it earns me money. I'm glad to see you on here... I've been watching your blog. Would you mind if i pm you about other features?

 

[zoltan]

A feed rate display would be really nice, especially for those of us without power feed.

A "nearing zero" warning might also be nice.

 

[ycroosh]

A feed rate display would be really nice, especially for those of us without power feed.

A "nearing zero" warning might also be nice.

OK, since you guys went there ...

First of all, I've been working (on and off) on a separate version for the lathe. (I got a "new" lathe a few months ago and already mounted the gauges on the bed and cross slide). There are a few things that I want to add that don't make sense on the mill UI, so a separate version or at least a way to switch the interface is a must.
Two things I *really* want on the lathe DRO is a function to compensate for the compound rest angle and a tachometer. Having a "nearing zero" warning wouldn't hurt either. (mill or lathe)


On the hardware side I'm probably going to move away from Arduino to an ARM Based board. Arduino doesn't have enough "horse power" to handle 4-5 quadrature inputs (3 or 4 scales and a tachometer) unless you move up to "Due" or at least "Mega". (Even Mega is struggling with 4 Chinese calipers though).
There is a good chance the "heavy duty" version of the controller will run on Netduino or FEZ Cerb40 board. Those are a bit more expensive ($30-$60) but are still DIY-friendly. I have both of those (on my kitchen counter) waiting for their turn If they end up working semi-decently, adding the extra displays to the UI is no big deal.

In any case, than you for the feedback and suggestions. I will keep you posted as those things are added.


Thank you
Yuriy

 

[ycroosh]

You read my mind! I'm hoping to start setting min up in a few weeks when all of my stuff comes in. I still have a laptop issue to sort which is primary as it earns me money. I'm glad to see you on here... I've been watching your blog. Would you mind if i pm you about other features?

Not at all.

 

[ycroosh]

Not at all.

I know this is an older post but just in case people come across it in future...

I finally got around to spending some time on the project (and the blog). I know that the information has been all over the place and (judging from the emails I get) people were getting a bit frustrated. I put together a page that gathers the relevant info in one place here: http://www.yuriystoys.com/p/android-dro.html.
Additionally I was able to finish two detailed construction guides: one for the Arduino version and one for the [much cheaper] MSP430 version.

I hope this will make life easier for people trying to build this DRO.

Thank you
Yuriy

 

[Rivergypsy]

Hi Yuriy

Just a quick brain pick, please, but I can't get my kindle fire on to google play, so is there another route for downloading your for, please?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[ycroosh]

Hi Yuriy

Just a quick brain pick, please, but I can't get my kindle fire on to google play, so is there another route for downloading your for, please?

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,
There is a link to the current "APK" file on the DRO Project Downloads page. You should be able to install it following this guide:
http://www.technipages.com/kindle-fire-how-to-install-apk-files.html (I don't have a Kindle fire, so can't relly "confirm or deny" that the guide is accurate).

Thank you
Yuriy

P.S. If you installed your Arduino sketch before yesterday, please grab the new version while you're at it... there was a small bug in V. 2.1

 

[proff11]

Hello guys:
Check out my old files page; everything is there for an old PC type DRO.

http://www.angelfire.com/az2/proff/files.html

Paul Jones
www.cnconabudget.com

 

[proff11]

Plus, I have the manual and two worked examples. Sorry, I forgot to mention that before. If there's any interest, I can scan the manual to *PDF.

 

[pkastagehand]

Hi Yuriy,

On your website you mention problems with an ARM type processor based unit. I presume that would mean Raspberry Pi might not be a good choice since it is based on the ARM? At 35 or so bucks and running linux which I've been trying to learn/mess with I wondered about it as a DRO reader... maybe I need to rethink and go with Arduino or the TI MSP...

Paul

 

[ycroosh]

Hi Yuriy,

On your website you mention problems with an ARM type processor based unit. I presume that would mean Raspberry Pi might not be a good choice since it is based on the ARM? At 35 or so bucks and running linux which I've been trying to learn/mess with I wondered about it as a DRO reader... maybe I need to rethink and go with Arduino or the TI MSP...

Paul

Paul,
The problem with ARM micro controllers is the added complexity. Since I intended the project to be community-friendly I had to be mindful of the technical skill level of the "target audience". Arduino software is relatively easy to set up and use compared to GNU tool chain with Eclipse etc., With that said, I had to switch to ARM for the "mixed scale" version because MSP430 was simply not fast/flexible enough to read glass scales.
I haven't had time to play with Raspberry PI that much (have one sitting in my MCU box) but I imagine that you will have issues with timing, unless all you intend to use is iGaging scales. In that case it's up to you I will definitely be a good learning exercise. Compared to the Arduino or MSP430, Raspberry PI is a super-computer

Thank you
Yuriy

 

[pkastagehand]

Well, I haven't investigated this too deeply yet so options are still open. I did put Model B Pi on my wishlist for inexpensive Christmas giving in case wife or any of the kids is looking for something for me.

Is there source code out there for what's been done so far in terms of reading/displaying? I know I would have to figure out how to compile and what includes I would need, etc.

Also, being a newb in terms of DRO, is there a primer/FAQ on the types of slides and pros/cons, etc.? The iGauge slides are glass you say?

Thanks for all the help from everyone who has contributed to this thread.

Paul