Building a 7" rotary table

[NickG]

That is superb Rich! Yeah 6mm makes most sense then.

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Nick.

I have ordered a T slot cutter, from china, so I have to wait for that to arrive. I don't know what the quality will be like but at les than £6.00 including the postage its worth a go.

I have had to make a little spacer to use when the rotary table is mounted vertically. The edge of the table just catches, it was ok until I fly cut the sides.

A bit of 4mm ally, a bit of 3/16" X 1/2" X 3" steel and a couple of 5mm countersunk socket head screws.









This is the table with the clamps fitted





I have made a little gadget to centre the table in the mill. A quick turning job. Turn down accurately to 1/2" to fit the hole in the centre of the table.



Part off and hold in a 1/2" collet. Face and centre drill.





Drop it into the table



Bring down a centre point and square with a set square



Clamp the table down, lock the X and Y tables and zero the dials, easy

Cheers

Rich

[Kim]

Hi Rich,
I've been quietly following along with your RT build.  This is a nice piece of equipment you've built here! You should feel really good about it!  Congratulations on some great work!

Do you have anything else to go besides the T-slots?
Kim

[Firebird]

Hi Kim

Thanks 

No that will be about it for the table. There are a couple of bits of tooling I have in mind one being an adapter that takes the Myford screw on chucks but they will be made as and when I need them.

Cheers

Rich

[Firebird]

Hi

The T slot cutter arrived today



I have never used one before so any tips would be welcome

Cheers

Rich

[Jo]

Slow and steady, get (vacuum) the chips out, you should not have any problems, it is not a difficult job 

Jo

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Jo.

Do you mean a slow cutter speed ?

Cheers

Rich

[Stuart]

Rich

If the. Table is CI. Then do not let the cutter rub it's the same for steel

As Jo said think how fast you would run a cutter of the same OD

I would run a normal slot mill in first to full depth then follow up with the the tee slot cutter but run it a smidge up from the bottom of the slot , it should not rub on the end , it's the same with a dovetail cutter do not cut on the end and side at the same time or tears will be shed

I fully endorse Jo use of the vacuum to keep the slot clean

If it gets blunt you can with care touch them up on a grinding wheel

Stuart

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Stuart. Its fathers day tomorrow and when asked by my 3 lovely daughters what I would like to do I said spend the whole day in my shed alone. Well if thats what you want they said. Oh and a chinese take away for the evening meal would be nice. And of course 

So hopefully tomorrow I wil cut the T slots

Cheers

ricc

[Jo]

Sounds like you have tomorrow made for you  (I also like Chinese, nice change from curry  but its Saturday so its Sirlion  )

I agree with Stuart (a couple of cuts to) take the centre to full depth with a slot mill first, don't worry if it goes slightly deep on one or another. Most tables you buy are not perfect when you look at the slots, you don't even have to get the tops of the slots spot on 

Jo

[Don1966]

Hi Rich, I agree with Jo and would add to slow your spindle speed also to where the cutter is warm to the touch. It will cut the full slots and stay the same temperature when you have the right speed.

Regards Don

[Firebird]

Hi

Well I'm pleased to say that the T slot cutting went well.

One little job to do first. I forgot to scribe in some pointers for the hand wheel and table so I got my mate Julian to print me a couple. He has aneat little lable printing gadget that prints into a plastic type ribbon





With the table at zero and the handwheel at zero I cut the first slot with a 8mm cutter. This is a solid carbide cutter that I picked up at a show and cuts beautifully. You can see on the DRO I have cut to a depth of 12mm





With all 4 slots cut it was in with the T slot cutter, nice and steady.





I have drilled and tapped the table 4mm



Turned and bored a sleeve that fits the central locating hole



Which takes the myford threaded adapter





With a myford chuck screwed on



Cheers

Rich

[Jo]

 

So what are you going to make on it 

Jo

[NickG]

Brilliant Rich, looks v professional.

[Firebird]

Hi

Thanks Jo and Nick

Hopefully this current bout of tool making is over and I can get back onto my portable engine.

I would like to thank every body that has helped with this build, new skills had to be learned and I couldn't have done it without you. 

Cheers

Rich