iGaging Drill Press Digital Readout DRO EZ-Depth

This is an incredible upgrade for my cheap benchtop Ryobi drill press! It was relatively simple to install (if you're well equipped in the fabrication tools department), it's VERY accurate and VERY repeatable. Both accuracy and repeatability will be directly related to how well you install it. I'll be using it in conjunction with the Ryobi's budget depth stop.The hardware is M3 metric. The included tap, which was rattling around in a bag of steel screws and brackets, was damaged and dull, the drill bit was also dull. I used a 4-40 tap, and 4-40 screws to secure the supplied bracket to the drill press casting. The supplied tap (junk) has a very small square tang; consider this, you may want to order a GENERAL #164 TAP HANDLE if you intend to use the supplied tap.The brackets are hardened steel, light but stiff, and adequate.The instructions were enlightening, given that your installation will likely be "custom".The DRO rail HAS to be square and straight to the brackets and the quill movement. This was easy enough by eyeball, just tighten the hardware in sequence while running the quill up and down for a small degree of self-alignment. My quill has a rubber ring at the top to soften the impact of the quill coming home. Being rubber, it causes +/- .001" deviation in the home "zero" position.I am absolutely thrilled with the install-ability and performance of this DRO. I build guitars, and boring .050" deep pocket holes for pearl fret markers is always a PIA with this Ryobi, but will be a piece of cake now. This is a fantastic and affordable upgrade. I would buy again, recommend to friends and even give as a gift.

When I say not as easy to install, I don't mean it was difficult, it's just that the brackets weren't a straight forward fit.I have a Jet, Mdl: JDP-17MF, purchased many, many years ago. It work just great for through holes and I use it primarily for wood working, but can and do use it to drill hole in metal. It's a good press for the home shop. However, it you want any type of accuracy, the depth stops leave a lot to be desired. So, I thought, why not.I had to modify the lower bracket a bit, yet, for anyone with a shop, that should not be a problem. the top bracket requires holes be drilled and taped into the head of the press. the supplied drill bit and tap will do the job, but, you have to go slow and gentle. There are multiple reviews where these have broken. I didn't have that problem and they worked just fine. Make sure to use please of lubricant with drilling and taping the hole for supplied the 3mm screws.Besides needing to modify the bracket a bit, the supplied screws were too short to attached the slide to the bracket. I had to supply my own, #6 screws and nuts to make this work. That's the primary reason it doesn't get 5 stars - Not all the hardware works.

This is an excellent readout, but the mounting hardware needs to be more rigid. I had difficulty using it and found that the unit moved when I moved the quill and it tended to interfere the free return movement of it. Bending, tweaking and adjusting was futile. I made the part pictured and was able to set the reader up in minutes with superb results. There is no way that the manufacturer can anticipate every installation need. Don't be afraid to get creative when mounting the unit. It's worth the effort. I like the reader, a LOT.

I installed this digital readout on my drill press, which is anchored well and level. When I run a test with the drill press and set 0, the results vary. I will run a test and let the drill return to the zero position and it reads -0.005, then I rerun it with no other adjustment and this time it will be -.0.003 on return. When I run it a third time it comes back to zero. It is a very low variance, but when it starts at zero it should come back to zero. That is what I am paying for, I bought this to do very precise work on my projects. I will always know it can be off a little with this device. if you don't mind being off by a little, then this may not matter to you.

I've always hated the analog scale on my Delta 17-968, so decided to enter the modern age with this DRO. Kit came with a lot of parts for various mounting options. Also comes with a drill and tap for adding thread holes for the mounting plate/screws.To mount it, I drilled and tapped a couple of holes into the side of my press. After a bit of trial and error found a set of washers and nuts that allowed me to mount the DRO & retain all of its travel. Did come with a dead battery, but they give you two extras. Hopefully, it will last. Love this edition to my drill press.

I added this to a Bauer 12" variable speed drill press(Wen, Grizzly, Jet and I'm sure a few other companies put their stamp on this model). Mounting it wasn't a huge deal. As another reviewer stated in a video posted the nuts on the quill stop won't work as-is, so they will need to be shortened or replaced with thinner jam nuts in order for the brackets to be the correct distance apart for mounting. Not a huge deal the jam nuts are readily available and if you have a lathe shortening one of the existing nuts .125" doesn't take but a minute or two. I opted for the latter and shortened the nut, I also drilled out the bracket that attaches to the head to accept #8 screws then drilled and tapped my holes 8x32(instead of using the mystery tap and drill supplied with the unit). Also the moving bracket does run into the quill key screw but once again two minutes of work(but this time on the belt grinder) and you are good to go.After getting everything setup I checked the travel of the quill using a mititoyo travel indicator as a reference and the Igaging showed the same travel distance within .0005" and returned to zero with near boring repeatability....I highly recommend getting one of these if you are in the market.

Overall the product works very well. Unfortunately, the mounting hardware is too flexible for accurate results. It’s worth the effort to fabricate mounting hardware to fit your machine because It’s really accurate and seems to be well made especially for the price.The included hardware fit my 1986 Craftsman 15 inch drill press that I’ve owned for 25 of its 38 years. The factory depth stop/gauge is absolutely useless so I finally decided to upgrade it. Like several others mentioned in previous reviews, the included mounting hardware is too flexible to accurately measure drilling depth.I made my own mounting system from some scrap 9/16 inch thick aluminum based on a previous reviewer’s design. Now everything is rock solid and accurate enough for my use.The included drill bit, tap and screws didn’t work well on my test piece, so I used #6-32 from the hardware store and my own tap to attach the upper mount to the cast iron drill housing.The aluminum ring that I fabricated for the bottom mount is attached to the drill with a 1/4-20 button head screw. It’s attached to the unit with #6-32 screws.The only hardware that came with the product that I used are the two screws that attach the top mounting bracket to the unit and the mounting bracket itself. I’ll probably eventually make a stiffer top bracket to increase accuracy.As can be seen in my video the product is smooth, accurate and easy to use, so I’m giving it four stars because it works very well once it’s solidly mounted to the machine. Only time will tell how reliable it will be, but I’m very pleased to finally have accurate drilling depth control.

Took a little bit to set it up but it works perfectly just take your time setting it up

I was impressed by the quality , fit and finish but the release is a bit abrupt and the tines are a bit too short .

Product arrived damaged and or used by someone else.