the DRO allows you to get close, fast. you do not have to count handle turns, just watch the numbers rolling by.
a 1/4" 2 flute end mill OD is not the same OD, nor will it cut the same slot as a 4 flute.
with indexable inserts, the radius has to be allowed for. as does tip wear, and machine play and machine/part/tool temperature.
you rough in with the DRO, you finish with the mic's.
using a DRO with 0.005" readout would speed up most work by orders of magnitude. the skill is in the finish and that is operator ability.
IMHO, the DRO is a simple tool. it can be calibrated to achieve superior accuracy, but at some point it will be more accurate than the machine. and if the machine goes from one end of it's play, to the other, it could easily be a couple thou. the DRO would never know it.
Dave
>
> The reason for DROs is so that you can make accurate stuff *without*
> measuring with mics, and so that bend, springback, slop, mounts, screws
> and bearing errors are eliminated.
> DROs are really good and useful, precisely because they allow one to
> actually get to 0.01 mm accuracies, easily, fast, and without measuring
> with mics.
>
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