This site can help you to build your own Arduino interface between the original iGaging AbsoluteDRO scales and Yuriy's TouchDRO. It will NOT work for "AbsoluteDRO Plus" scales as noted below.
~ Project Pages and Instructions ~
Those who have wanted to utilize Yuriy's TouchDRO with their older, original iGaging "AbsoluteDRO" scales have been unable to do so. We recently solved the puzzle of how these scales communicate and are now offering our solution to others. Since we do this as a hobby, it has taken a long time to get to this point. Like most of you, we have jobs and families (and Friday night Skee-Ball tourneys) that have to come first.
There are a few things that you, the reader, need to look at and consider before taking on this project. Think of this as a list of requirements:
This system will work ONLY with the iGaging AbsoluteDRO scales, and will NOT work with the AbsoluteDRO Plus scales or any of their current product offerings. Solutions for those newer products are available at the Yuriy's Toys site or at the TouchDRO site.
The iGaging AbsoluteDRO scales were sold during the period between 2012 and 2015 (approximately). It is possible that some new old stock scales of this type have been sold more recently, but we find that to be very unlikely.
You will need an Android device such as a phone or tablet (tablet is preferred) to run the TouchDRO applet which is available from the Google Play Store. A recommended list of tablets is available on Yuriy's Toys and the TouchDRO sites.
This system utilizes an Arduino (a type of microcomputer) to read the scale position and translate that data into numbers that TouchDRO can utilize. It is then transmitted via Bluetooth to your Android device and displayed on the screen.
You will need to be comfortable with soldering your own adapter board, also known as a 'shield'. The boards and components are commonly available at relatively low cost, and board design and instructions are provided here.
You will need to load the Arduino IDE onto your laptop or home computer so that you can upload the software (known as a 'sketch') to the microcontroller board.
Just prior to uploading, you will need to change a few settings in the sketch to match your scales, then save it. Instructions for these steps are provided on the Sketch / Software page.
You will need a 0" to 1" dial indicator, capable of displaying in thousandths (0.001") to successfully calibrate your scales.
We do not sell finished boards or any of the components and do not plan to so in the future. We will provide lists of suppliers for all of the items you will need. They are all readily available.
We do not provide support for the TouchDRO applet itself. You will need to refer to the TouchDRO site (link provided above) for applet support.
If you are a woodworker and prefer to work in fractions of an inch, TouchDRO is NOT for you. It is capable of display in the following formats ONLY:
0.000"
0.0000"
0.00 mm
0.000 mm
So, how can I tell which scales I have? Very simple. Compare the display head for one of your scales to the photos shown here:
If you DO NOT have the correct scales, go to TouchDRO.com for the correct components and software.
If you DO have the correct scales, click on "The Basics" button at the top of the page or simply click HERE.
This page was last updated on Sunday, December 27, 2020
Arduino DRO adapter iGaging AbsoluteDRO TouchDRO Bluetooth Android