Ok what is this and do I need it?

[dreamingmuscle]

http://stillwater.craigslist.org/tls/2635641128.html

 

[twincam00]

A rotary table is a precision work positioning device used in metalworking. It enables the operator to drill or cut work at exact intervals around a fixed (usually horizontal or vertical) axis.

-Wikipedia

 

[plumbstupid]

It would be a great addition to the mill you may have or may have in the future.

 

[1948]

thats a goodn!

 

[JasonTX]

You need it. I love mine, never have to layout holes in a circle anymore.

 

[coldfusion21]

That looks like a neat one as it seems to pivot for a partial "5th axis" setup, or just be a nice angle plate.

Those plus a nicely tooled vertical would be awesome!

 

[Falcon67]

You'll need at least two of you to pick that big'un up too. Nice table, really big. 6"~8" is normal for most mills.

 

[dreamingmuscle]

Ok but what does it do really? The above wiki explanation doesn't help much.

Glen

 

[coldfusion21]

It spins, and is gear driven so you can accurately rotate a part x amount.

You bolt this to your mill and bolt the part to it. Now not only do you have a x,y and z axis you have a 4th axis that rotates.

Handy for manually milling circles or doing bolt patterns the easy way.

Not useful at all if you don't have a mill to attach it to.

 

[Mmfh]

I've seen a few rotary tables that turn, and its pretty cool to have one bolted to your mill table. This one however seems to have a tilt feature, I've not seen that before. Not only does it spin but tilting brings in a whole new set of things you can do.

Mm

 

[mbatarga]

I bought a Palmgren brand rotary table (I think 8 or 9 inch) locally from someone that didn't really understand what it was. I paid $90, cleaned it up a little, and sold it on the bay for about $280.

 

[NickWheeler]

It spins, and is gear driven so you can accurately rotate a part x amount.

You bolt this to your mill and bolt the part to it. Now not only do you have a x,y and z axis you have a 4th axis that rotates.

Handy for manually milling circles or doing bolt patterns the easy way.

Not useful at all if you don't have a mill to attach it to.

+1

I have a 10" that I can move around with mild grunting. I have one very much like the one in the ad, and it requires lots of grunting and swearing... it's about 220#

If you don't have a mill, there's nothing I can think of you'd use it for. Other than telling your buddies, "Hey look at my huge rotary table."

 

[A_Pmech]

If you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it.

 

[Falcon67]

If you don't know what it is, you probably don't need it.

That never stopped ME.

It is a calibrated table that you can use for indexing an item for milling. Thinks like hole patterns, radial slots - lots of things. Typically you would t-bolt it to your mill table and use an indicator to center the table under the spindle. You can then move the mill table as required to set a distance from center. The tables can use a variety of special disks for repeating a pattern with precise stops. Many tables tilt or can be mounted 90 degrees to the mill table. You can mount a lathe chuck on a rotab (short hand), tip it 90, chuck up some stock, pick the right index plate and make gears.

http://littlemachineshop.com/instructions/RotaryTable.pdf