Alas, I used a Wixey DRO on my linchbox planer for so long that the convenience has become quite like electric side-view mirrors on my car; could I really do without them now? The Wixey has a 6" range and for 99.99% of my planer use that would be fine. Knowing myself, I am aware that someday I would need to plane a 7" thick board and I would mindlessly crank the planer bed past the limit of the Wixey damaging it.
I contacted Grizzly for a recommended add-on but they did not have a recommendation. So for $35 I tried Grizzly's T23012, 12" DRO. The scale beam mounted conveniently to the magnetic switch control box mast. Drilled and tapped 2 small holes:
b-G0453Z-DRO-v2 other hole.jpg
The readout is wired and has various mounting options included. I used the built in magnets to keep it put. A piece of "wiremold", self stick surface conduit has replaced the blue painter's tape to control and protect the wire:
G0453Z-DRO-v2 009.jpg
A scrap of ash ties the table to the sensor (another drilled and tapped hole). A magnet catches the spoil and makes cleanup easier.
a-G0453Z-DRO-v2 drill CI.jpgd-G0453Z-DRO-v2 installed.jpg
There were some issues to work out regarding the ability to calibrate easily. The Wixey has this built in with a spring loaded beam that acts as a caliper of sorts for calibration. I found a fairly easy 3 step method of accomplishing this and the calibration has stayed since set (so far, so good).
The display is large and easy to read, does mm, decimal and fractions. Has a button for setting accuracy of fractional incremants; 1/32". 1/64" or 1/128". From experience on the Wixey/lunchbox combination, 64ths works fine for me.
Here's and overall pic of my mockup build using a different block or wood. Just to give you the overall view.
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Originally Posted by Neil Brooks
