Author Topic: Making a Rotary Table  (Read 58906 times)

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #75 on: September 28, 2014, 08:42:08 AM »
Just goes to show that it is worthwhile paying attention at school!
If you want precision soulless parts CNC is good, but my way produces parts with an individual character of their own! i.e. not high precision but adequate.
Today I drilled some more holes, that's enough for now. I think that will give me all the divisions that I am likely to need but there is space on both discs to add more plus I will cast a couple more for any future special needs.

Offline PekkaNF

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #76 on: September 28, 2014, 02:05:56 PM »
Those looks very good to me.

How do you know how many holes certain circle has?

Pekka

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #77 on: September 28, 2014, 03:42:23 PM »
I shall stamp the numbers on the back, at the moment they are written in pencil.

Offline PekkaNF

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #78 on: September 29, 2014, 03:34:30 AM »
Jup. Stamped numbers are way to go. And over head projector (spirit soluble) pen is good to mark the holes you need. Just to doblecheck. If those arms are lose it's really easy to knock one over or something and results can be humorous.

Pekka

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #79 on: September 29, 2014, 02:15:38 PM »
It's finished! Today I made the retracting pin that locates in the holes and that just about winds it up.
Now I shall have to start investigating gear tooth cutters, I think that it will be fun to have a go at making some gears.

Offline awemawson

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #80 on: September 29, 2014, 02:29:55 PM »
 :clap: :clap: Well done that man  :clap: :clap:

It's come out really well, and it's been quite a journey  :bow:
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #81 on: September 29, 2014, 02:32:34 PM »
Thank you Andrew. It is great to be able to see projects right through to the end. Retirement is a wonderful thing!

Offline awemawson

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #82 on: September 29, 2014, 02:35:33 PM »
Thank you Andrew. It is great to be able to see projects right through to the end. Retirement is a wonderful thing!

Oh yes I can empathise with that sentiment. I still have quite a bit to do around the farm, but really my time is my own these days and I guard it jealously
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline philf

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #83 on: September 29, 2014, 02:58:38 PM »
It's finished! Today I made the retracting pin that locates in the holes and that just about winds it up.
Now I shall have to start investigating gear tooth cutters, I think that it will be fun to have a go at making some gears.

Norman,

First you need to make a Eureka relieving attachment then!  :lol:

 (I don't think it would work in aluminium unfortunately!) :(

See: http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,7956.0.html

Phil.
Phil Fern
Location: Marple, Cheshire

Offline Arbalist

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #84 on: September 30, 2014, 10:57:36 AM »
After watching all your casting escapades Norman I wish you lived up the road from me, It could have helped me solve my mill riser quandary! Melting down an old step ladder makes more sense than taking it down the dump ...  :D

Offline nel2lar

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #85 on: October 02, 2014, 12:09:36 AM »
Norman
Nothing less than brilliant, loved the casting and all that machining. Now you have a dividing head that is ready for the next project. And you are not set back the big bucks, from cast to finish. Georgious
Nelson Collar

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #86 on: October 07, 2014, 03:38:17 PM »
Thanks Nelson.
I actually have a use for my Rotary Table, I would like to make some gears for a project that I started last year. I had considered using a chain drive but the original had gears and now that I have the RT I might just as well have a go at gears. Before I can do them I will need a tailstock. Here is a sketch of what I am thinking of making. I am planning to use three castings as that will make it easier to machine. The centre height will be adjustable to match the RT when it is stood on end.

Offline nel2lar

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #87 on: October 08, 2014, 10:31:20 PM »
Norman
There is no limit to what can be made. Aluminum is a soft metal but for what we do it is more than do-able. Very nice RT and now we are looking for the tail stock. Just love to see the parts evolving from wood to metal and then finish and assembled. There is no stopping.
Looking Good
Nelson Collar

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #88 on: November 29, 2014, 09:10:34 PM »
Great project Norman!!   :clap: :clap:

(just catching up)
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #89 on: November 30, 2014, 04:24:05 AM »
Thanks Steve. Welcome back, where have you been?

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #90 on: November 30, 2014, 10:43:41 AM »
Norman, looking forward to reading about your upcoming projects.

I've just been trying to get ready for winter here -- cut 10 cords of wood, mixed and poured concrete in a shed and open roofed section near the house, but mainly caught up in volunteer local School Board Director duties -- dealing with district educational financial problems. That's been very wearing, and after 20 months of trying to bring some financial and educational sense to people have decided to resign by January 1. That will allow me more time to do fun mechanical stuff here, plus I'll be able to sleep at night instead of being too frustrated to. I need to focus on more positive things, and communicate with like minded-people. I still volunteer to teach science in our elementary school once a month -- that part is fun!
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline krv3000

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #91 on: November 30, 2014, 07:09:54 PM »
in a word brill i have the makings ie the worm and gear just need a mill

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #92 on: December 16, 2014, 01:38:26 PM »
Two months after saying that I was planning to mke a tailstock for the rotary table I have got around to casting the parts. I am out of practice, first attempt the sand fell out when I inverted the flask. I packed it in tighter for the second attempt and it stayed in.
Not a great casting but it will clean up OK.

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #93 on: December 16, 2014, 03:20:51 PM »
And you've got the mill to do it with, too!  :thumbup:
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #94 on: December 16, 2014, 04:17:29 PM »
Exactly!

But quite often it is easier and quicker to hold it in the 4 jaw on the lathe.

Offline vtsteam

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #95 on: December 16, 2014, 05:54:20 PM »
Agreed. It's the Gingery influence.  :)
I love it when a Plan B comes together!
Steve
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sDubB0-REg

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #96 on: December 25, 2014, 10:36:24 AM »
Did the basic machining on the castings for the tailstock today.

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #97 on: January 15, 2015, 10:23:03 AM »
The tailstock is more or less finished, all I need to do is to knurl the knob (or other gripping system) and make a lever to replace the clamping nut. It is not a thing of beauty but it works. I milled a slot for a locating screw to prevent the centre ram from rotating and incorporated a proper clamping device to lock the ram. I had intended having slots in the base for clamping screws but decided I would use loose clamps which would give me more latitude in positioning it.
The vertical slot in the centre is for a jacking screw to facilitate adjustment of the height.

Offline NormanV

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Re: Making a Rotary Table
« Reply #98 on: August 09, 2017, 06:26:49 AM »
Two and a half years after completing this rotary table I have finally got a need for it but before using it. I decided to do away with the grid of holes in the top, that would fill with swarf the first time that I used it, and to cut tee slots. I have had the cutter for over a year but was worried about spoiling the table. I needn't have worried it was very straightforward to do and now I have it set up to cut the slots for the spokes in a rear wheel hub for a "Minnie" traction engine(cast aluminium of course!). First though I need to make the milling cutter for the slots as I do not have one of the correct size.