Cross Slide DRO for the Craftsman 101

This instructable is probably for a select audience. I've added a DRO to my Craftsman 101 lathe Cross Slide.

I initially wanted to install it alongside the cross slide, but quickly figured there's just no room. Instead, I connected the DRO slide rail to the Cross slide and statically connected the sensor/reader to the carriage.

It will require space behind your Lathe. Also, the slide rail on the DRO is 20mm. You will need that space between the Cross slide "rails" (which happened to match on my Lathe)

Supplies

(disclaimer, I'm amazon affiliate)

DRO (150mm) https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832665709374.html

Magnets: https://amzn.to/3dGj9H5

Aluminum flat bar 1/8" x 1.5" https://amzn.to/3DQVa2L

M3 6mm screw https://amzn.to/3dKHqfg

M3 8mm screw https://amzn.to/3Sfw5CL

M3 25mm (8x) https://amzn.to/3dCSpre

Step 1: Connect DRO Rail to Cross Slide

you can ignore all the added clips for the DRO and actually remove the end clips attached to the DRO rail

Drill an 1/8" hole at the center end of the Cross slide guard. Place the DRO rail under guard and between Cross slide rail and punch a drill mark through the hole in the guard.

Drill and tap for a 3mm screw at one end of the DRO rail.

This will be the only physical connection to the cross slide. The rest will connect via magnets.

Step 2: Create the DRO Connector Bracket

3D print the two attached STL files (I made two components for better 3D printer placement).

Cut the aluminum flat bar at 7"

Place the flat bar end in the 3D printed placeholder and punch drill marks though the holes in the 3D printed part.

Drill and tap the 4 holes in the flat bar

Insert the 4 magnets in the placeholder (maybe with a little super glue)

Connect the two printed parts and flat bar using the 25mm screws.

Connect the flat bar to the DRO reader/sensor with the 6mm screw.

And that's all she wrote. if you need to remove the DRO from Lathe all you need to do is remove the 8mm screw from the Cross Slide guard.