Rotary table for milling machine

fitzo

fitzo

Joined
Aug 14, 2001
Messages
6,648
I am considering buying a 4" rotary table for my micromill. Does anyone have any comments on the $125-250 range of tables available from the likes of Grizzly or Little Machine Shop?

Any info/advice would be most appreciated. Thanks.
 
I am also considering getting one to. Has anyone even used one before? A machinist friend of mine did not even know what one was until I described it. Until now anything that I had that was circular and needed machining was done on the lathe.
 
fitzo said:
I am considering buying a 4" rotary table for my micromill. Does anyone have any comments on the $125-250 range of tables available from the likes of Grizzly or Little Machine Shop?

Any info/advice would be most appreciated. Thanks.
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I have a 6" Phase II from little machine shop and I was very impressed with the quality. I think it would be a little big for a mini mill but the 4" would probably be good. You are more than welcome to come up and look at it or borrow it if you want before you make a purchase.
 
Thanks, Michael. One of the things I'm wondering about is that LMS offers the PhaseII and another that looks identical except for the nameplate with a $40 price difference.

One tip I did pick up at mini-lathe.com was to keep an eye on dial size, as the Sherline he tested had an adjuster wheel on it that dipped below the base, meaning it had to be set up off the end of the table so the handle would turn.

It's good to know you are happy with the PhaseII. I will give LMS a call and ask what the difference between the 2 is. Thank you, sir!
 
fitzo said:
Thanks, Michael. One of the things I'm wondering about is that LMS offers the PhaseII and another that looks identical except for the nameplate with a $40 price difference.

One tip I did pick up at mini-lathe.com was to keep an eye on dial size, as the Sherline he tested had an adjuster wheel on it that dipped below the base, meaning it had to be set up off the end of the table so the handle would turn.

It's good to know you are happy with the PhaseII. I will give LMS a call and ask what the difference between the 2 is. Thank you, sir!
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Mine has the same problem. The bigger handle makes it alot easier to operate for extended periods than a small handle so Im sure thats why it is done. (also parts commonality for the other models they offer) Its no problem surface grinding a few blocks to raise the table though. I have a Bridgeport so it is not an issue for me but a mini or micro mill may not have the extra Z travel needed to accomodate the blocks if you cant hang it off the table.

Also, it is very heavy so I dont know if that would be an issue for a smaller mill. I know sherline makes one specifically for there mill but they are VERY expensive
 
Thank you, Rashid. That's one of the tables I have been thinking about. The tilt feature is attractive.
 
I have a Grizzely drill mill with a 6 inch Chinese mill vise on one end and an 8 inch rotary table on the other end. I bought 3/8 clamp bolt nuts and t-nuts to fit the 8 inch RT. I use this as an elevated mill table for clamping and rotary table when I need that function. The rotary table and the vise have not been removed in several years. I have probably used the rotary table function 4-5 times; but it was the only way to do the job. If I had paid to have the jobs done it would have cost more than the rotary table...Take Care...Ed
 
What Ed said Fitzo, it is one of those things you may only need for an hour every year but when you need it you need it and that justifies having it.
A nice toy too.:D
Being in the toolmaking game myself it totally baffles me how they can make those things for that price, no matter if it is not top of the range.The average machine shop charges in the region of $50.00 per hour or more, depending on their equipment. Try making one of those in 3 hours, even if you have cnc machines.
Enjoy it when you get it.
Just one thing guys, long ago I owned a very "cheap" mill and found that the dials were off, If I moved 20mm according to the dial it would in fact move only 19.7mm. I just hope these rotary tables indexing is good and accurate.
Just a thought.

Mike
 
Thanks, Mike and Ed. I will be buying it for a couple jewelry applications where I more need to be able to cut the smooth curve than worry about dimensional accuracy. My little EMCO-Maier Compact 5 lathe/mill combo isn't bad but it's not what I'd call precicion, anyway, though folks use them to build those model steam engines and such.
 
Mike, I hope it did not sound like I was raining on your parade, definitely not the intention.
Machines are the nicest toys.:D
Good luck.:thumbup:

Mike
 
Not at all, Mike. Didn't give it the slightest thought. :) I need people to share their insights on this. The only justification I've ever needed to buy something is "toy". I may have grown "out", but not "up"! :D I need either a 4-jaw chuck and a milling attacment for the lathe or a rotary table. I figured I could mount an odd-shaped piece easier in the rotary table and use the mill head than use the lathe to make a terraced section on said odd shape.
 
fitzo said:
Not at all, Mike. Didn't give it the slightest thought. :) I need people to share their insights on this. The only justification I've ever needed to buy something is "toy". I may have grown "out", but not "up"! :D I need either a 4-jaw chuck and a milling attacment for the lathe or a rotary table. I figured I could mount an odd-shaped piece easier in the rotary table and use the mill head than use the lathe to make a terraced section on said odd shape.
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I have a milling attachment for a taig mini mill that you could probably sweet talk me out of real cheap if you interested.
 
Fitzo,
Mounting an odd shaped thing is definitely easier on the rotary table than in the 4 jaw. Gravity can drive you crazy, you need at least 4 hands for jobs like that.:eek: :D
You could mount the job in the chuck and then mount the chuck to the lathe tho.
Growing older is obligitory, growing up is optional.:)

Mike
 
adammichael said:
I have a milling attachment for a taig mini mill that you could probably sweet talk me out of real cheap if you interested.
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Pleeeez, Mr Michael??? Pretty pleez??? You very very nice man! :D

Kind offer, Michael. Thank you. Perhaps we can work some amicable trade? I'll give you a call tomorrow afternoon .
 
You might want to check ebay. They have a lot listed at this time. You can do a lot of things with the rotary table. You can add a 3 or 4 jaw chuck, angle plate, or even a vee block, depending on what you would like to do on the mill. Unless you are planning on doing super precision work I would buy one with the dial. You can buy those that have an index plate. One thing you might want to consider is a table that can be mounted with the work surface parallel or perpendicular to the work table. This would be more flexible for any work you might want to do at a later date. If you want, you can email me medwards@glasgow-ky.com and I will help in any way that I can. I did a post last night for you on this but I didn't see it this morning. Just hope both don't show up. Good luck and have a good day
 
Thank you, Mitch. I do want one that will work horizontal or vertical, yes. Indexing I'm less worried about, as I have a dividing head for the few times I need it.

I'll give ebay a peek! :)
 
I machine small brass parts on the mill at work. We hava a Grizzly mill, and also an 8" Grizzly rotary table. Consider that the smaller the rotary table the bigger a pita it is to clamp things to it. Larger ones have more slots. Thats a big help. Also consider that the weight of the larger rotary tables becomes dangerous. A 12" rotary table can approach 200lbs.:eek: They fall pretty quick and toes or shins in the way are in big trouble.
 
adammichael said:
I have a milling attachment for a taig mini mill that you could probably sweet talk me out of real cheap if you interested.
Click to expand...

Does that help make it into a real mill?

I searched for a couple years for the right rotary table as the only ones I found were either beat to hell or WAY too big for my tiny shop. I finally found a smoking deal on a Yuasa Japanese mfg. 8" H/V model in great shape with hardened and precision ground works. It's sweet. Wouldn't you know that since I got it, I haven't found a use for it yet??? At least I know I've got it when I finally do need it :)
 
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