Author Topic: How do I select a rotary table?  (Read 8866 times)

Offline zeeprogrammer

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How do I select a rotary table?
« on: July 10, 2018, 10:32:14 PM »
I need to get a rotary table but I'm not very familiar with them nor do I have the experience to think about what features are, or would be, important to me.

I don't think I need anything fancy such as tilt capability but I do want to mount vertical and horizontal. Obviously a table lock is needed but not necessarily a release/lock for the 'hand wheel'. Certainly, graduations of the hand wheel is required.

I also think I want as low a profile as possible since Z range is always limited.

I still have a rotary table that I used for my mini-mill which may be sufficient...depending.

Some questions...

1) I remember using my small RT with the chuck transferred from the mini-lathe. The chuck I have now for the lathe is a 5" and it's not clear to me (or I don't remember) how to mount it. Seems a special backing plate was required. My question is...how often is the ability to transfer a chuck necessary? And I wonder whether the 5" can be transferred (or what it would take).

I see some kits come with a chuck but I expect that's for holding.

2) I also see some kits that come with dividing plates. But I've never done that, don't know how to do it, don't know when to do it, don't know anything about it. How important is it?

3) Some kits come with a tailstock. I've never used one with an RT. Not sure why it's needed. Support can be provided by a machinist jack etc. No?

4) Some kits have either 4 or 6 T slots. (And I believe you usually have to provide/make your own nuts/bolts.) Why wouldn't 4 be sufficient for me.

5) The size of RT is confusing to me. It sounds like it's the size of the 'box'. 5" 6" 8"...how to choose? If it's according to what chuck can be mounted...then given a 3" or 5"...what size RT is would suffice?

Prices can vary from a couple of hundred to thousands. My price range is a couple of hundred to a few hundred. And I have no problem buying a kit that may come with accessories that I may never use (since 'never' always bites my butt).

I welcome any thoughts on what I should look for, features etc., as well as suggestions for a specific RT (i.e. what do you use?).

Attached is a picture of my mill. (I need to move those aprons...at the moment they are actually 'swarf catchers'.)

Keep in mind I'm just a hobbyist and I probably live in that gray area where getting within a thou or two is happy (rather, ecstatic) land.

Thanks all.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
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Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #1 on: July 10, 2018, 11:24:38 PM »
Your mill seems to be very similar to mine. I have about $500 invested in rotary table, tailstock which goes with it, and divider plates. My rotary table is a 6" diameter x approximately 3 1/4" tall from mounting face to top of table when the main axis is vertical. You won't need tilt capability, but definitely want to be able to fix it to your mill table with the main axis either vertical or horizontal. I have a 4" diameter 3 jaw chuck attached to my rotary table with an adapter plate, and I never take the chuck off. I have built 27 engines now and never had to remove that chuck. You will definitely want a tailstock, because when you have the rotary table set up with its main axis horizontal and you want to mill a feature into something 5 or 6" long, you need to support the end which is farthest from the chuck with a center in the tailstock. (On my tailstock the center is part of the tailstock and there is an adjustment on the tailstock to raise, lower, or advance the pointed end). Divider plates are very important to have, because if you ever in future want to cut gears you will need a method to advance the rotary table not only in full degrees, but also in decimals of a degree. (That is what divider plates are for). Four mounting slots are enough, six slots would be okay too. I think I paid about 100 for the chuck by itself. You definitely want to be able to lock the rotary table at any point on its rotation. The top of my milling table measures 8" x 33" and the headroom is 18" from top of mill table to end of quill when there is no tooling in the quill. Hope this helps.---Brian
« Last Edit: July 10, 2018, 11:50:06 PM by Brian Rupnow »

Offline mklotz

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #2 on: July 10, 2018, 11:42:28 PM »
2)  Assuming you have some ability with math and are patient, you can do the dividing by computing the angular interval and dialing that in on the RT.  One of the programs on my page does all the work for you.  Given the built-in error reduction of the RT, you can make your own plates when needed.

3)  A TS can be handy but it's easy to fabricate your own.

I can't remember ever mounting a chuck to my RT.  Dividing jobs on parts with circular symmetry are handled via my homemade collet dividing chuck...

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,386.msg2613.html#msg2613

Actual circular milling jobs are handled by clamping the part to the sacrificial plate I mounted on the RT the day I bought it.  Said plate is about 1.5 times the diameter of the RT table and provides outboard space for clamps.  It should be the first addition to any table, especially a smaller one.
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Offline crueby

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #3 on: July 10, 2018, 11:55:55 PM »
If the rotary table is the type with a worm gear driven dial, there is no need for divider plates, just advance the dial the number of degrees to the next hole to drill or tooth to cut. Thats the style my Sherline one is.  Handy for milling arcs too, turn the handle on the dial to rotate the part against the cutter. I use it with both a chuck centered on the rotab (has a threaded adapter to mount it), other times with a tooling plate full of threaded holes for holddowns.

Offline Mcgyver

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2018, 01:02:48 AM »
do you have a dividing head?  I mostly use a dividing head for dividing and an RT for cutting arcs, there's reason to prefer that, but if you didn't have a dividing head, I'd want dividing features on the RT; way to mount a chuck, can take index plates, take a centre and has a tailstock and can used horizontally or vertically.

If the plan is to use for rotation vs division, get as large a one as you can.  There is never enough real estate.  i've a 12" News (became or is the same Yuasa I believe), biggest I can lift, (I started using a crane, can still lift it but why pop something?) and I like that size.  Smaller of course works perfectly well, its just more convenient having the bigger surface.

Its a topic that will have endless answers as different things matter to different people so you may end up more confused that before asking :).

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2018, 01:06:45 AM »
Its a topic that will endless answers as different things matter to different people so you may end up more confused that before asking :).

And was entirely expected.  ;D Still, there's a lot of good information in the replies and I certainly appreciate all the replies I've gotten.

One area I'm really confused on...is the dividing plates. I've never understood the reason for that when you can rotate to whatever degree you want.
It just seems like I'm missing something.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
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Offline Mcgyver

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2018, 01:12:43 AM »
One area I'm really confused on...is the dividing plates. I've never understood the reason for that when you can rotate to whatever degree you want.


I agree, mine doesn't have plates....but I divide with a dividing head which does.  Plates are needed for gear cutting among other things when you need accurate (and convenient) division into numbers that don't readily go into 360 degrees, i.e. a 28 tooth gear.

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2018, 01:29:58 AM »
Zee, I frequently use the church on my 4" RT but it had a screw in adapter which makes this handy. Great for laying out bolt circles, etc. Yes there are other ways to do it, but I find this the easiest for me.

Bill

Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2018, 01:31:19 AM »
Carl,

It looks like your mill is similar in size to mine, I bought this 6" dia table that seems well suited the size of my mill and I'm happy with its overall performance

http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/info_110242.html

It can be bought as a set with a tailstock and dividing plates but for the work I do I see them more of a luxury than a necessity so I just bought the table and some clamping hardware. At some point I'll probably buy a chuck but so far I've managed without.

I guess a lot depends on the work you do and personal preference but I don't think I'd want to try using anything smaller, I find even now it can be a tight squeeze securing some work pieces with clamping hardware.

As for 3 or 4 slots ? I went for 4 as I thought if need be I could fix my milling vice to the top if I needed to (I guess it can also be done on a 3 slot table but a 4 slot would appear to be a better arrangement)


Offline crueby

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #9 on: July 11, 2018, 01:41:30 AM »
One area I'm really confused on...is the dividing plates. I've never understood the reason for that when you can rotate to whatever degree you want.


I agree, mine doesn't have plates....but I divide with a dividing head which does.  Plates are needed for gear cutting among other things when you need accurate (and convenient) division into numbers that don't readily go into 360 degrees, i.e. a 28 tooth gear.
The marked ticks on my rotab go down to a tenth of a degree, very easy to visually get down to a quarter of that, plenty accurate for any gears I have done. If you are doing very high speed gears, maybe you need more precision, for most model and clock work, this is fine.

Online AOG

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #10 on: July 11, 2018, 02:13:45 AM »
This may be out of your price range but I would highly recommend the Sherline CNC rotary table. It’s short you can mount a tooling plate or a chuck and it will do dividing as well as angle cuts. Best of all it’s digital so you don’t have to bend down to look at the markings. The dividing feature will help you a lot if you ever decide to cut your own gears.

https://sherline.com/product/8700-cnc-4-rotary-table-indexer/

Tony

Offline steamer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #11 on: July 11, 2018, 02:48:02 AM »
My first was an 8 inch Vertex.  Still have it.   Great table...damn heavy.
Its too big really for the clausing, and it lives in a big draw.  For the clausing   5 inch or so is more like it, but i hate swapping over between vise and RT.   What im doing there right now is putting a baron the back of a 4" HV table, so that I can quicly clamp it in the vise horizontally and just use it.  I dont usually use the table in the verticle as ive got dividing heads for that job.   Ill post when I get closer.

Back to wallaby.....but perhaps later this week.

Dave
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Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #12 on: July 11, 2018, 06:36:07 AM »
I mostly use a dividing head for dividing and an RT for cutting arcs, there's reason to prefer that, but if you didn't have a dividing head, I'd want dividing features on the RT; way to mount a chuck, can take index plates, take a centre and has a tailstock and can used horizontally or vertically.

Carl -

I have a small import rotary table which I keep almost permanently fitted with  dividing plate and a chuck. Effectively it functions as a dividing head, more or less. The dividing plate may not be essential for making measured divisions but I find it very convenient and use it both horizontally and vertically. A tailstock is great in horizontal mode for items which need to be supported at the other end. The picture below shows some candlesticks I made. Looking at the rather gothic one in the middle, the 'fluted column' was made horizontally using the tailstock with a ball-nosed endmill to cut the flutes (I guess this method can be used on the columns of some steam engines), and the 'crown' was done in vertical mode, again using a ball-nose endmill.



gary

Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #13 on: July 11, 2018, 07:31:43 AM »
1. I often use a 3-jaw on mine but it is a separate chuck just for the R/T, not found the need to transfer check complete with work between the two.

2. Simple dividing can easily be done using the scale on the R/T but for things like gears I use the dividing plates, don't have to buy them at the start as they can be added later though a package is often a bit cheaper.

3. Tailstock is used far more than division plates, in the same way as the lathe it is used to support the end of long work so it does not get pushed down or move sideways by the cutting action. Jack is not much use if you are rotating the work to cut a radial feature and will not stop sideways force.

4 6 slots would be on a large table, 3 or 4 is more common on our size tables

A 6" one would be right on your lathe, that refers to diameter of the table.

One feature I do like is a movable scale on the table ring, but these tables do cost about twice as much as the more common type that just has it engraved directly to the side of the table.

This is what I have used for about 10yrs and you should be able to get similar from one of the US suppliers.

https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=111015&PN=Soba_Rotary_Tables_and_accessories%2ehtml#a111015

And this is the one with the movable scale, not sure if it is done in the US but maybe a Sieg supplier will have one as they do similar. I've been using one of these (with all the bits)  quite a bit recently, the 72:1 ratio makes for less handle turning too!

https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Workholding/Rotary-Tables/6-Rotary-Table-and-Acessories

J

Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2018, 08:04:42 AM »
Try to avoid a three slot table Zee, I have heard many owners complaining.

Try to avoid the ones made with Aluminium bases as they wear quickly :facepalm:

If possible try it before you buy it: You are looking to avoid sloppiness in the worm  :facepalm2: You want a comfortable handle to use and you don't want the handle going below the table base as that constrains how you bolt it down. You need to be able to clamp the table and preferably has end stops for arcs.


I have a 10" Jones and Shipman table  :Love:, the BCA has a built in 8" table  :Love: and I have two 6" tables - one Swiss and one Myford (Vertex with dividing plates etc). I don't waste my time with either of the 6" tables if I am going to get a table out it is the 10" one as it gives me more clamping space on the table. The only reason to keep the Myford one is it mounts vertically = another option but never used. The Swiss one just feels so nice, one has to have a twirl every now and then  :embarassed:

Jo
« Last Edit: July 11, 2018, 08:08:16 AM by Jo »
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Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #15 on: July 11, 2018, 08:20:51 AM »
The only reason to keep the Myford one is it mounts vertically = another option but never used.

Is this mainly because you have a selection of dividing heads and horizontal mills. For Zee who is on a budget one that mounts vertically will be far more versatile.

Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #16 on: July 11, 2018, 08:33:18 AM »
Is this mainly because you have a selection of dividing heads and horizontal mills. For Zee who is on a budget one that mounts vertically will be far more versatile.

I most often of all use an indexing head: Either the VDH  :Love: set up as an indexer or the 5C rapid indexer  :Love: which can be used both vertically and horizontally.

All of my Universal Mills are currently set up as verticals. Tgs is very quick to swop over to horizontal mode and has an excellent set of spindles for that work but so far have not needed to.  Cutting large diameter gears (or ploughing drum gear) on a rotary table is best done with a horizontal mill

Jo
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Offline steamer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #17 on: July 11, 2018, 12:17:53 PM »
This may be out of your price range but I would highly recommend the Sherline CNC rotary table. It’s short you can mount a tooling plate or a chuck and it will do dividing as well as angle cuts. Best of all it’s digital so you don’t have to bend down to look at the markings. The dividing feature will help you a lot if you ever decide to cut your own gears.

https://sherline.com/product/8700-cnc-4-rotary-table-indexer/

Tony


I also have one of these....it's a nice table, small, but nice.  Its worth what they're asking for it.

Dave
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Offline b.lindsey

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #18 on: July 11, 2018, 12:33:13 PM »
Another vote for the Sherline RT. Very well made and can be used vertically or horizontally. If I were doing it again, I would probably go for the CNC version but have been very happy with the manual version over many years.

Bill

Offline crueby

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #19 on: July 11, 2018, 01:45:55 PM »
Another vote for the Sherline RT. Very well made and can be used vertically or horizontally. If I were doing it again, I would probably go for the CNC version but have been very happy with the manual version over many years.

Bill
To use vertically needs the accessory stand, which works very nicely.

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #20 on: July 11, 2018, 02:14:43 PM »
I can't tell you all how much I appreciate all the information and help you've provided here.
I've learned a lot and feel I can make a sensible choice.

Hee  :-[ ...this has also pointed out a small embarrassment for me.

When I sold my mini-mill and mini-lathe, along with various accessories, I kept my rotary table.
It appears to be the 4" version of one that Jason mentioned. (Pic below.)

I hadn't used it in quite a while and when I went to pull it out, I discovered I still had the dividing plates (in their box) and a tailstock.
All I'm missing is a suitable chuck.

Very useful thread for understanding their use and advantages!

For the small parts I typically make, it sounds like what I have will do. And if a chuck is needed I suspect I can get it and a backing plate separately.

If the time comes to go larger then now I know what to look for.

BTW The 'tooling plate' ideas in the thread "Simple inexpensive tooling items you can't do without" is what kicked me down this road.

Thanks again!
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Offline crueby

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #21 on: July 11, 2018, 02:19:37 PM »
 :facepalm2:

Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #22 on: July 11, 2018, 02:22:20 PM »
Does look to be of the same design. Use that until you find a need for something larger.

The backing plates for those have a spigot on the back that locates in the recess in the table so easy to get the chuck lined up though you could turn your own.

4 Hole ER collet chucks are also available for use on the mill and R/T should you ever feel the need.

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #23 on: July 11, 2018, 03:03:11 PM »
:facepalm2:

Yes. My apologies. But well worth it. I learned a bunch and hopefully this helped others.  ;D
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Offline Ian S C

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #24 on: July 11, 2018, 03:07:10 PM »
Jo, I hope your not lifting that 10" Table without assistance, I find my 5" Vertex is hravy enough, and I have a hoist to move the 8" chucks for the lathe.
Ian S C

Offline mklotz

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #25 on: July 11, 2018, 03:16:37 PM »
:facepalm2:

Yes. My apologies. But well worth it. I learned a bunch and hopefully this helped others.  ;D

Yes, it has helped.  I am going to immediately launch a search for all those tools I've forgotten I have.  No telling what I might find. 
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Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #26 on: July 11, 2018, 03:25:26 PM »
Jo, I hope your not lifting that 10" Table without assistance, I find my 5" Vertex is hravy enough, and I have a hoist to move the 8" chucks for the lathe.
Ian S C

Thanks Ian, I use my roller skate to move it on and off the milling table: http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,5892.0.html

I am also looking at adding a hoist above Big C as the big chucks are getting a bit much for me: I have the hoist and an arm, I just have to find a scaffold pole to mount it on  ;)

Jo
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Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #27 on: July 11, 2018, 05:05:44 PM »
As you now have spare money burning a hole in your pocket Zee can I recommend an indexing head  :naughty:

If you have 5C collets then the Far Eastern copies of the 5C Hardinge indexers http://www.shars.com/horizontal-and-vertical-precision-5c-collet-index-fixture  are very nice   :mischief:

Edit: Just found this one in Aussie... it seems too cheap  :noidea: https://www.ebay.com/itm/5C-Collet-Index-Fixture-/332711235408

Jo
« Last Edit: July 11, 2018, 05:08:55 PM by Jo »
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Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #28 on: July 11, 2018, 05:40:10 PM »
As you now have spare money burning a hole in your pocket Zee can I recommend an indexing head

I have spare money?  :o
I'm newly retired.  :cartwheel: I'm on fixed income now.  :toilet_claw:

Are those indexing heads the same idea as a spindexer? (Attached pic is mine.)

Which brings me to some questions...

When I made the inlet manifold, I had intended to use the spindexer to hold the part. But I couldn't figure out how to rotate the part.
Today I took the thing apart and it turned out that I hadn't used it in so long that it was essentially locked in place. A bit of handling and lubricating got it to spin.

This led to a few questions (2nd pic)...

1) Is the large round plate (with all the holes) supposed to be able to rotate independently of the tube? It doesn't spin freely but seems errors could be introduced.
2) See that ring in front of the large plate and the hole along its rim? What is the ring's purpose?
3) There's another hole 180 degrees from it. Are they meant for some kind of pin spanner wrench? (I have none that fit and can't loosen the ring.)
4) When it comes to a pin spanner wrench...does it make sense to get an adjustable one?

Thanks.
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Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #29 on: July 11, 2018, 05:44:33 PM »
I thought being newly retired means you have lots of spare money and time :noidea:

Are those indexing heads the same idea as a spindexer? (Attached pic is mine.)

Spindexers make an easy thing more difficult which is why I sold mine to JasonB  :LittleDevil:

He should be able to guide you in how it works - I chose to keep the 5C indexer  ;)

Jo
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Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #30 on: July 11, 2018, 06:32:17 PM »
You use a pin wrench to tighten the ring which holds the plate in place so it does not slip on the spindle.

A bit of round rod makes a very adjustable pin wrench and if often called a Tommy Bar. ;)

The spin indexer does have the advantage of being able to do any number that will divide into 360, but an indexer can only do spacings that divide into the number of holes for instance I doubt Jo's will give you a 10 hole spacing :) You can even rotate them to round over parts again can't do that with an indexer. Oh and my indexer takes ER32 with minimal overhang. Can't think why Jo gave it to me :LittleDevil:
« Last Edit: July 11, 2018, 06:36:45 PM by Jasonb »

Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #31 on: July 11, 2018, 06:57:41 PM »
The spin indexer does have the advantage of being able to do any number that will divide into 360, but an indexer can only do spacings that divide into the number of holes for instance I doubt Jo's will give you a 10 hole spacing :) You can even rotate them to round over parts again can't do that with an indexer. Oh and my indexer takes ER32 with minimal overhang. Can't think why Jo gave it to me :LittleDevil:

Because 99% of the time all I want to do is index by 4 or 6 or on the odd occasion 8 and as fast as possible.

Not sure what You can even rotate them to round over parts again means.

ER32 has rather long minimum length which 5C does not..I cannot see the point in ER32 if you have 5C. As you can make do and mend is why you now have it  ::)

Jo
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Offline Doc

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #32 on: July 11, 2018, 07:18:32 PM »
I seen some comments on this thread about needing an indexer,or rotary  to cut gear. I say not true a very simple way to cut gears is a -v- block and lid from a container. Here is a video of the process and will work for any number of teeth. Just saying.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKlFEVWEtuI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKlFEVWEtuI</a>

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #33 on: July 11, 2018, 07:33:27 PM »
I thought being newly retired means you have lots of spare money and time :noidea:

As you are approaching retirement yourself, methinks you'd best review your future plans right away.  :hammerbash:
More time...yes. Lots of spare money...well...everyone of us has a different definition of 'lots'.  :Lol:

Jason came to my rescue once again. A Tommy Bar. I happened to have one and it fit!

Part of my reason for asking these questions is that I have a cylinder to make that is partly round and two flats.
Starts from a rectangular block of material.
I wasn't sure if the spindexer could be used (possible if the angles are right) but I'm thinking on two other methods...

1) Kozo used a method where he drove a lathe carriage back and forth to shave off the curved sides. Then filed to final shape.
2) I've seen others use a rotary table in a vertical position and then mill and rotate to get the curve.

I'm leaning towards the 2nd method (which probably means I need to get a chuck for the RT and make up a mandrel).

Sigh. More money. Time to play the game of what budget item I can steal from.
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Offline mklotz

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #34 on: July 11, 2018, 07:40:41 PM »


Part of my reason for asking these questions is that I have a cylinder to make that is partly round and two flats.
Starts from a rectangular block of material.
I wasn't sure if the spindexer could be used (possible if the angles are right) but I'm thinking on two other methods...

1) Kozo used a method where he drove a lathe carriage back and forth to shave off the curved sides. Then filed to final shape.
2) I've seen others use a rotary table in a vertical position and then mill and rotate to get the curve.

I'm leaning towards the 2nd method (which probably means I need to get a chuck for the RT and make up a mandrel).

Sigh. More money. Time to play the game of what budget item I can steal from.

If you're starting with rectangular stock, just clamp a machinist's vise to the RT.
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Offline crueby

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #35 on: July 11, 2018, 08:02:08 PM »
Other way is to clamp in mill vise with a rod through the bore as a spacer on top of the jaws, use end mill like he uses the lathe tool, been using that to do bearing caps recently.

Offline Tennessee Whiskey

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #36 on: July 11, 2018, 08:16:33 PM »
So here’s Cletus’ POV. Retirement; would love to, I think. However, at 58 and a tool spending habit that ranks up there with the Kardashian’s makeup bills  :lolb:, I keep on getting my old bum up each morning and trudging onwards  :old:. On the rotary table: I think the one that you’ve shown that you already have, should work fine. The dividing plates do come in handy for gear cutting. Granted, you can do the maths and arrive at the number of degrees, minutes, and seconds required for each tooth, but, it’s just a lot easier, in my eyes, to do it with plates and sector arms. Dividing heads are great and have thought about getting some AMEX points with the purchase of one, but, my rotary table works vertically and I have dividing plates; so what would I be gaining but the points  :shrug: My table has a MT 2 taper in the center hole and I made an arbor to take the chucks from my old South Bend. I have a spindexer and the only thing I’ve ever used it for was cylindrical grinding. If I were buying again today, my biggest concern would be rigidity. I want something robust enough that I don’t feel the cutter teeth biting as I turn the dial. If you do decide to upgrade, I’d look hard at the Shars 6” with chuck and add the plates and tailstock. Ok, I’m done babbling now.

Cletus

Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #37 on: July 11, 2018, 08:22:19 PM »
Jo, this was rounded in the spin indexer, leave the pin out and rotate after taking the majority off with faceted cuts. Rather than having to buy lots of tools Zee can use what he has, same applies to collets, I expect he has ER so can use them rather than having to buy5C and remember I only went for 5C as you offered a cheap chuck.



Zee for your D section cylinder you don't need anything more than a mill vice, a bit of bar and a file. just put teh bar through teh cylinder bore, rest on te vice jaws and take several cuts by rotating teh part a few degrees at a time then finish with a file





No need to use a rotary table but it can be handy for more complex cylinders such as this



Better to learn to make the most of what you have rather than go out buying loads of stuff that may hardly get used though having a rotary table does usually get you free entry to teh "No Castings required" club. Couple I have "cast" in the last week or so.





« Last Edit: July 11, 2018, 08:33:52 PM by Jasonb »

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #38 on: July 11, 2018, 08:24:34 PM »
This will continue on my popcorn thread (someday) but...

Attached is a drawing of the cylinder.

@Marv...I'm not sure what you mean or how to hold the part. In any case, my machinist vise is too large or the RT too small.
@Chris...Good idea although I like the idea of the RT telling me where the part is. As I think about it though...there are probably other ways to do it. Use the straight edges as stops?

I'm thinking 1st job is the cylinder bore. Then go to the mill for the ports and various holes. Last bit is machining the curve.

Just saw your post Eric. I took a look at the Shars 6". Jo mentioned to avoid 3 slots but didn't say why.
Just saw your post Jason. I have 5C. No ER at all. As for filing...see attachment. I'm concerned about the point where the curve comes into a flat (near the bottom). Your photo also makes me think I can use the spindexer. The bore is 1/2" and I have a 5C for that.
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Offline Jo

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #39 on: July 11, 2018, 08:24:53 PM »
JBWelder: :headscratch: I read 5C on that collet.

Jo
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Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #40 on: July 11, 2018, 08:41:46 PM »
JBWelder: :headscratch: I read 5C on that collet.

Jo

You queried how to do curved work not what to hold it with, I use what suits the job and as that was a bit of 1" bar I could hardly use a ER32. Also as I don't have a full metric set of 5C the ER get used for the ones I don't have.

Zee from your drawing any of the methods would work, in the vice, in the spinner or with the R/T, this would be a fairly similar setup for the R/T where the curve meets a flat surface

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,5820.msg115741.html#msg115741

nearest pic I could find to what you want to do using the spinner

« Last Edit: July 11, 2018, 08:57:33 PM by Jasonb »

Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #41 on: July 11, 2018, 08:49:40 PM »
Standing it vertically in a vice won't give you that crisp joint where the curve meets the flat you will get a fillet the size of the cutter radius.

Also you would need a long series cutter as your cylinder looks to be about 1.5 long

Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #42 on: July 11, 2018, 09:15:58 PM »
Jason, I was looking at the cylinder you cut (in post no 37 - 4th pic) do you fancy doing a duffers guide to cutting cylinders from solid ? I'd be interested to see how to go about it and I bet there's a lot more members who also like to see  :)

Offline crueby

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #43 on: July 11, 2018, 09:21:29 PM »
Standing it vertically in a vice won't give you that crisp joint where the curve meets the flat you will get a fillet the size of the cutter radius.

Also you would need a long series cutter as your cylinder looks to be about 1.5 long
Thats why you put it horizontally in the vise, use a rod down the bore as a hieght spacer, and make a series of cuts with the bottom of the end mill, rotating the part in the vise between cuts.

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #44 on: July 11, 2018, 09:51:07 PM »
Zee--One more important thing to consider is the weight of the rotary table. I'm a pretty strong guy, and it's all I can do to lift my 6" rotary table with chuck attached from the shelf where it normally lives over and onto the mill table. I see that some people use a hoist and sling to lift larger rotary tables, but that becomes a pretty big inconvenience.---Brian

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #45 on: July 11, 2018, 09:59:50 PM »
@Jason - I only considered mounting the cylinder horizontally. Mounting it vertically would indeed be problematic.

@Brian - Good point. I do keep my eye on the weight of things. Even with lighter things, like my 4" RT or my milling vise, I take great care on lifting and carrying.
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Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #46 on: July 12, 2018, 07:23:49 AM »
Standing it vertically in a vice won't give you that crisp joint where the curve meets the flat you will get a fillet the size of the cutter radius.

Also you would need a long series cutter as your cylinder looks to be about 1.5 long
Thats why you put it horizontally in the vise, use a rod down the bore as a hieght spacer, and make a series of cuts with the bottom of the end mill, rotating the part in the vise between cuts.

It was Marv's suggestion I was commenting on where he said put the vice onto the R/T which would mean having the cylinder vertical. Though Ideal way to do the flanges if the cylinder has them.

Pete, I'll see what I can do.

Offline petertha

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #47 on: January 04, 2019, 05:54:57 AM »
Kind of an interesting variant with a digital angular readout. No experience with or endorsement of, just mentioning.
https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2420

Offline Jasonb

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #48 on: January 04, 2019, 07:31:17 AM »
Would be better if it read directly off the table rather than the screw which will not compensate for backlash. Those tables are nicely made though, I have been using the 6" with normal handwheel quite a lot lately as the 72:1 seems to suit more things than my 90:1 table

Offline petertha

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Re: How do I select a rotary table?
« Reply #49 on: January 05, 2019, 03:41:32 AM »
That's a good thought. If it was direct reading like a DRO scale on a lathe or mill, backlash would be a moot point. I suppose being located on the screw its getting the benefit of resolution - more turns of total displacement per degree of table rotation. Come to think of it, maybe a table DRO scale / encoder might have to be a circular around the periphery.

Somewhat related (and yes, he has a backlash workaround).

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5vJJ7veYa8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5vJJ7veYa8</a>

 

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