Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Digital readout
open-in-new
Look up <i>readout</i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. <p>A digital readout (DRO) is a numeric display, usually with an integrated keyboard and some means of numeric representation. Its integral computer reads signals generated by <a href="/facts/Linear_encoder/yslJ6jeE">linear encoders</a> or (less frequently) <a href="/facts/Rotary_encoder/HonPQvzJ">rotary encoders</a> installed to track machine axes, using these measures to keep track of and display to a machine operator the workpiece position (e.g., milling machines), or tool position (lathes, grinders, etc) in space. </p><p>In machine-shop terminology, the complete <i>digital read-out</i> system (consisting of a computer, axis-position encoders, and a numeric display) is referred to by the acronym DRO. Such a system is commonly fitted to machines in today's shops, especially for metal working — lathes, cylindrical grinders, milling machines, surface grinders, boring mills and other machine tools — to allow the operator to work faster and with greater accuracy. Use of DROs is not limited to manually operated machines. <a href="/facts/CNC/B2c7UbaX">CNC</a> machines can usually be switched to manual operation, and in this case a form of DRO is simulated on its control panel. </p>