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| Chuck in E. TN:
I'm going to build a rotary table as documented here: http://www.deansphotographica.com/machining/projects/mill/rotary/rotary1.html. I am still digging up materials. I've got a worm and gear from a treadmill incline motor, but it's helical. The drive screw from the incline setup would make a worm if I can find a gear to use with it. I have the plate fr the top and base, no square tube yet. Plan on using a cast iron flywheel from a treadmill as the table bit, but its only 1" thick. Might work. This will be a budget project. I plan to even make a t-slot cutter as per the site above. Someware, put away for safe keeping (read I can't find it!), I have the transmission from a self-propelled lawn mower that had a heardy worm and worm gear, that might serve me better. Chuck in E. TN |
| Brass_Machine:
Looking forward to seeing the build log Chuck. I have been thinking about disassembling my cheapo RT and building one along the lines of Deans' table. I am not to happy with mine, but the gears and stuff may be put to good use. Make sure you take lots of pictures! Eric |
| Dean W:
Have fun with it, Chuck. The table on the original unit is only 3/4" thick, so your 1" piece should do fine. Being cast iron, it will surely be easier to cut the T-slots in than the HRS I used on mine. I would suggest that when you make your T-slot cutters, you make the bottom surface of them slightly dish shaped. Will be a lot easier on the cutter. Try to choose your worm and gear so it will give you easy divisions, if possible. Good luck, Dean |
| sbwhart:
What a great project looking forward to following it, you'll have a real handy bit of kit when its finished. Have fun Stew |
| Chuck in E. TN:
Being a rank amateur at machining, I am going to attack this build from that perspective. I could probably save up a few bucks, and purchase a rotary table from HF, or E-Bay, that would meet my needs, but where’s the fun in that? Or, I could buy all the parts and materials, and throw it together, but I doubt there would be any cost savings over buying a HF unit, and a lot less satisfaction. I will use the build write-up from Dean Williams’ site as a reference and giude. I went out to the shop this morning to start gathering materials. The first worm/gear set I mentioned are not suitable, as they are at the wrong angle. The second worm gear set has possibilities, but will require some work to be functional. The incline screw from the treadmill could be the donor for the worm gear, by cutting off a piece, boring through it and adding a set screw to mount it on a smaller shaft. This has the benefit of being the same thread pitch as the change wheels on my mini lathe. I have ¼” plate in aluminum and steel, and 3/8” in steel. The trick will be to find 4” square tube of sufficient wall thickness, or a suitable substitute. For the rotating part, the treadmill motor flywheels will not work as they are dished with fins, and not solid 1” thick rounds. The thickest part on one is only ¼ “. So I’m back to finding a 4” round of something 1-1 ½” thick. I include all these thoughts and decisions to show other armatures the process I’m going through. As with any posting on this board, I welcome suggestions and comments. |
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