Workshop Tips #14 - DRO PCD Function Explained

In this video we go into depth on the PCD function of a DRO and explain how to use it in simple language.

Channel artwork: Ryan Toomey

[Dave.Wilson]

Nicely explained Jon, I've learned a lot from that, I thought I'd mastered the PCD thing, but you've taught me a lot more. thanks Jon.

[mattholden]

Jon, thank you for another very well-described lesson - not only how to, but how to spot it going wrong, and what might be the likely causes.

[dperfetti]

Great video Jon! You did a great job explaining PCD.

[jaybailey]

Wonderful video ! Never did understand how my Chinese DRO worked. I would be interested in seeing and learning about the "Incremental" differences. Thanks for this Jon !!!

[terrycannon]

Very informative Jon. Clears up a lot of the confusion. The companies that sell us the Newest "Witchcraft" devices (DRO's and VFD's etc.) need someone like you either writing the manuals for them or making How to videos for them. I have been trying to wrap my head around this for about 3 years now. I learned how to program my Huanyang VFD by watching Finno Urig explain it in Finnish. I had to mute the sound and read the closed caption translated to English. But he rang the bell for me. Now I understand VFD programming much better and have done 2 different brands with success. Companies especially the overseas companies spend millions in marketing their products yet do very little to help after the sale. Thanks for helping us all understand the PCD function.

[andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Morning Jon. Using a PCD function on my milling machine DRO was a game changer for me. It worked faultlessly. Thank you for an interesting video. 👏👏👍😀

[ThePottingShedWorkshop]

You keep saying that entering n+1 holes is wrong, but the manual for my dro gives two ways of entering the end angle and # of holes, the n+1 being an alternative. Sometimes its easier to enter 0deg, 360deg and n+1 holes than to calculate the end angle in the workshop.
BTW, the start angle and positive rotation direction is mathematical convention, that way, given the angular position of a hole, x = r.cos(angle), y = r.sin(angle).

[Hobby.Turner]

The instruction is excellent.I have a "VEVOR DRO" the sequence is almost the same, I did the cardboard test and it worked great. Thanks a lot😊

[RalfyCustoms]

Great stuff Jon, thanks mate, the dro on my Bridgeport has me proper confused, I'll try again now you've explained how it works

[tonypewton]

Hi Jon, I really enjoyed this video! Packed with very useful information, very clear and concise! Excellent content! Please do continue over the coming weeks and cover all functions on a dro, it will help many many people!
Take care Mr Jon,
Regards Tony.

[swanvalleymachineshop]

Well explained Jon . I still think the dro that came with my big mill looks more like a microwave oven ! 👍

[Gravattack]

Ive just got my 1st mill, Haven't set it up yet, or ever used a DRO, , so this is fantastic. I subbed and will be watching every tip you put out. Thanks for posting this

[chrisstephens]

What ho Grasshopper,
The adding a hole to the number you want is not as daft as you might think, especially if your mental arithmetic is sketchy. By adding one and setting start angle as say 0 and final as 360 you don't need to know or even work out the end angle. A fudge it may be but if it helps the arithmetically challenged, I won't complain. 😉
PS I did A level maths but have forgotten most of it, so I count myself in the challenged category.🤣🤣
Have you investigated the zeros function, or whatever your device calls it, having 99 zeros on mine allows 99 features on a part to have their own repeatable co-ordinates.
ATB
C

[richardmills]

Yes fabulous explanation and video cheers.

[dougmclaren]

Excellent vid, clear and informative. Just installed a dro on my mill this week so very helpful. Thanks.

[laurieleyden]

Thanks for your time making these videos Jon. One on each of the functions would be very useful and interesting. I can see people looking up individual videos as and when they need to know about a particular function. regards Laurie

[dermotkelly]

Well done again John. I did that on DRO's before but you never got a job with PCD holes again for a long time and I used to forget! Sometimes I went back to the old-fashioned way of marking the new flange out with blue ink and center punching the holes lol. It was still enjoyable doing the old way as well. We were maintenance machinists in the automotive industry so are work was very varied and a lot of the work we did just left our heads and sometimes we had to call a toolmaker to show us along the way lol!

[scania]

Thanks Jon been a great help to me. Would be pleased to see anything DRO related.

[theradarguy]

Thanks John. That clears up so much. I'm on my first DRO and my Chinglish had a lot of difficulty with the manual.

[johnambler]

Great and very informative video Jon. I’ve used the pcd function a few times, but I’ve learned a lot from watching this video. I didn’t realise that the starting position was at 3 o’clock and went counter clockwise and had no idea about how to work out the end angle. Thanks again Jon