Author Topic: 4 inch rotary table  (Read 2756 times)

Offline tghs

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4 inch rotary table
« on: October 03, 2019, 05:29:15 PM »
I'm starting to think about adding a 4" or so rotary table to use with my LMS 3990 mini mill,, without breaking the bank,, any thoughts on the good, the bad and the ugly..
what the @#&% over

Offline crueby

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #1 on: October 03, 2019, 05:30:48 PM »
The Sherline rotary table is a very nice one, you can pick them up used occasionally on Fleabay if you dont want to pay new prices. Small, but works very well.

Offline AOG

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #2 on: October 03, 2019, 06:34:34 PM »
I agree the Sherline is the way to go for a mini mill. The biggest advantage it has is how short it is. A regular rotary table leaves you with very little room in the z axis once you add a chuck or faceplate.

Tony 

Online sco

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #3 on: October 03, 2019, 07:04:12 PM »
I think it depends if you plan to use toe clamps to hold things on the table - 4" leaves precious little space for clamps which can get frustrating.  If you are going to mount a 4-jaw to the table then no problem.

Simon.
Ars longa, vita brevis.

Offline crueby

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #4 on: October 03, 2019, 07:50:16 PM »
I think it depends if you plan to use toe clamps to hold things on the table - 4" leaves precious little space for clamps which can get frustrating.  If you are going to mount a 4-jaw to the table then no problem.

Simon.
I agree with that, for mine I made a rectangular plate with rows of threaded holes for larger parts.

Offline Kim

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #5 on: October 04, 2019, 05:57:11 AM »
If you're looking for a small rotary table, I agree - the Sherline is the way to go.  Nice quality and works well.  Yes, 4" doesn't leave you a ton of room for clamping, but a 6" doesn't fit as well on a small mill.  I've loved my 4" Sherline, still use it often, even though I have a bigger 8" one now too. :)

Kim

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #6 on: October 04, 2019, 04:55:52 PM »
Another vote for Sherline. Not cheap, but well made and versatile and can be used horizontally or vertically.

Bill

Offline GordonL

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #7 on: October 04, 2019, 05:09:41 PM »
I made one and it works well. It is a lot of work but the experience that you gain is great.

http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/mill/rotary/rotary1.html

Offline bent

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2019, 06:26:57 PM »
Nice writeup Gordon.  Bookmarked...for a maybe future project. :praise2:

Offline Firebird

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2019, 07:18:08 PM »
Hi

When I bought a 4" table and tried it on my X1 mill there was very little room left so I carried out this mod

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,3797.msg68969.html#msg68969

Unfortunately the photos are blurry (thanks to photosuckit) but you should be able to make out what I did

Cheers

Rich

Offline mike mott

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2019, 07:42:00 PM »
Gordon I just finished going through your build log of the rotary table, very nice I am always amazed by what can be done with a small lathe.

Mike
If you can imagine it you can build it

Online Vixen

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2019, 08:06:55 PM »
Make sure you can adjust out and eliminate any backlash in the worm/wheel gears. For some reason the effects of backlash can be more noticeable in the smaller rotary tables.

Mike
It is the journey that matters, not the destination

Sometimes, it can be a long and winding road

Offline crueby

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2019, 10:09:49 PM »
The sherline table has an adjustment for it, two screws on the bottom to loosen the worm gear and tighten it up.

Offline GordonL

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #13 on: October 04, 2019, 11:45:39 PM »
FYI. I built one but that was not my writeup. I just posted the link. Sorry, I did not mean to imply that it was my design.

Offline steamer

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Re: 4 inch rotary table
« Reply #14 on: October 13, 2019, 01:43:53 AM »
http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,8712.0.html

Adapting a Sherline Rotary table to my Aciera F1

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

 

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