using DRO's on a CNC machine?

[nickydubs]

i run a taig cnc mini-mill and i'm having some serious backlash problems. i'm looking at a number of options to combat it, and one i was thinking of was using a DRO with linear encoders. my question is this:

how do i get my cnc software to use the outputs from the DRO (or linear encoders) instead of it's own empirical numbers? i know the encoders have the capability to output a signal, but i have not been able to find any information on what kind of connection it is.

any help is much appreciated,

nick

[snowshovelbmx]

if it is just a low-end stepper motor system, or any stepper motor system mostly than there is no way that I know of to use encoder feedback, maybe someone else knows how to but I am under the impression that there is not. The best thing to do would be remove the backlash from the system. You could go all the way and do a ball screw conversion or even just put anti-backlash nuts on your leadscrews, If you are using a belt drive system make sure your belts and pullies have little or no backlash and once you get your backlash reduced than there are still backlash comp. utilities built into most cnc controllers.