This is mainly aimed at those who use 4 inch rotary tables (RT) on
larger machines such as a bridgeport mill. I have a 10 inch RT, a 12
inch crosslide RT and an index head that accepts 6 inch chucks. They
all get used to varying degrees. One advantage of a
horizontal/vertical RT over the index head would be the lower height
and shorter overhang. The 6 inch index head has a lot of overhang and
rigidity suffers because of this. But all these types of heads have
basically the same form factor so getting a different head won't
change things. On small parts getting past the OD of the RT means lots
of tool overhand. But it seems like the 4" table with a dedicated vise
and chuck would be ideal for small work. And a lot of small work goes
through my shop. All these small tables seem to come with 4 slots
which may make it possible to fashion jaws that screw in and out of
the slots making the table a 4 jaw chuck. I have a 4 inch 3 jaw chuck
that has a 5C shank to be used in a collet closer. Modifying it to
become an adjustable chuck was easy and it would be easy to modify
another. If I did this the 5C shank would be removed and the back part
of the chuck would be made to attach directly to the RT. A 5 inch
chuck could also be made to fit the 4 inch RT and the RT could still
be used in the horizontal position because there is sufficient
clearance for this. Which brings me to the last advantage I can see
when comparing the 4 inch RT to the 6 inch index head. This is the
horizonta/vertical nature of the RT mount that makes it easy to go
from one to the other without having to indicate the table surface to
make sure it is either parallel or vertical to the mill table. The
index head, having the ability to be set at any angle also means that
it has to be indicated whenever the angle is changed. So, have I
missed anything? Are these little tables useful? Or are they just too
small, even for those who use them on desktop machines?
Thanks,
Eric R Snow

"Eric R Snow" tesnow@whidbeyDOTcom wrote in message
...
This is mainly aimed at those who use 4 inch rotary tables (RT) on
larger machines such as a bridgeport mill. I have a 10 inch RT, a 12
inch crosslide RT and an index head that accepts 6 inch chucks. They
all get used to varying degrees. One advantage of a
horizontal/vertical RT over the index head would be the lower height
and shorter overhang. The 6 inch index head has a lot of overhang and
rigidity suffers because of this. But all these types of heads have
basically the same form factor so getting a different head won't
change things. On small parts getting past the OD of the RT means lots
of tool overhand. But it seems like the 4" table with a dedicated vise
and chuck would be ideal for small work. And a lot of small work goes
through my shop. All these small tables seem to come with 4 slots
which may make it possible to fashion jaws that screw in and out of
the slots making the table a 4 jaw chuck. I have a 4 inch 3 jaw chuck
that has a 5C shank to be used in a collet closer. Modifying it to
become an adjustable chuck was easy and it would be easy to modify
another. If I did this the 5C shank would be removed and the back part
of the chuck would be made to attach directly to the RT. A 5 inch
chuck could also be made to fit the 4 inch RT and the RT could still
be used in the horizontal position because there is sufficient
clearance for this. Which brings me to the last advantage I can see
when comparing the 4 inch RT to the 6 inch index head. This is the
horizonta/vertical nature of the RT mount that makes it easy to go
from one to the other without having to indicate the table surface to
make sure it is either parallel or vertical to the mill table. The
index head, having the ability to be set at any angle also means that
it has to be indicated whenever the angle is changed. So, have I
missed anything? Are these little tables useful? Or are they just too
small, even for those who use them on desktop machines?

I've used the Sherline 4" rotary table to good effect a few times on a
Clausing mill. There's a separate angle mount for it that might be useful.

Mike

"Eric R Snow" tesnow@whidbeyDOTcom wrote in message
...
This is mainly aimed at those who use 4 inch rotary tables (RT) on
larger machines such as a bridgeport mill. I have a 10 inch RT, a 12
inch crosslide RT and an index head that accepts 6 inch chucks. They
all get used to varying degrees. One advantage of a
horizontal/vertical RT over the index head would be the lower height
and shorter overhang. The 6 inch index head has a lot of overhang and
rigidity suffers because of this.

I had the Phase II 6" H/V rotary table (actually more like 6.75") Loved
it, but it was much too big for either my Centec 2C mill or my Burke #4.
I sold the 6" and bought the Phase II 4" table. This time with a tailstock
(couldn't fit that on my mills either for the 6" table). Love it even more.
The rigidity is excellent and I think that the relatively low
profile in both Horizontal or vertical mode, might make for greater net
rigidity in my setup. The four slots, at first, appear to be limiting, but
I fixed that in short order with the following tooling.

1. A 4" four-jaw chuck mounted on a small aluminum plate that I machined.
2. A 3" three-jaw chuck mounted on a backing plate available from Boston
Brass .. when I bought the chuck.
3. A full set of MT-2 collets.. and a drawbar for the same that I machined.
4. A bunch of MT-2 arbors threaded for the drawbar.
5. Various T-nuts, T-bolts, clamps, etc. T-nut jaws (as per your
suggesting).
Actually, that's aout the kind of tooling you would set up with any
rotary table.

A note of caution regarding the indexing plates for this little
table. Phase II just doesn't have it right. The only indexing plates
available has just 20 holes or something like that. Hardly worth the
effort. I bought them and promptly returned them. If I were into gear
making, the first step would be to find some existing indexing plates that I
could adapt.

Boris

On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:45:46 GMT, "Boris Beizer"
wrote:


"Eric R Snow" tesnow@whidbeyDOTcom wrote in message
...
This is mainly aimed at those who use 4 inch rotary tables (RT) on
larger machines such as a bridgeport mill. I have a 10 inch RT, a 12
inch crosslide RT and an index head that accepts 6 inch chucks. They
all get used to varying degrees. One advantage of a
horizontal/vertical RT over the index head would be the lower height
and shorter overhang. The 6 inch index head has a lot of overhang and
rigidity suffers because of this.

I had the Phase II 6" H/V rotary table (actually more like 6.75") Loved
it, but it was much too big for either my Centec 2C mill or my Burke #4.
I sold the 6" and bought the Phase II 4" table. This time with a tailstock
(couldn't fit that on my mills either for the 6" table). Love it even more.
The rigidity is excellent and I think that the relatively low
profile in both Horizontal or vertical mode, might make for greater net
rigidity in my setup. The four slots, at first, appear to be limiting, but
I fixed that in short order with the following tooling.

1. A 4" four-jaw chuck mounted on a small aluminum plate that I machined.
2. A 3" three-jaw chuck mounted on a backing plate available from Boston
Brass .. when I bought the chuck.
3. A full set of MT-2 collets.. and a drawbar for the same that I machined.
4. A bunch of MT-2 arbors threaded for the drawbar.
5. Various T-nuts, T-bolts, clamps, etc. T-nut jaws (as per your
suggesting).
Actually, that's aout the kind of tooling you would set up with any
rotary table.

A note of caution regarding the indexing plates for this little
table. Phase II just doesn't have it right. The only indexing plates
available has just 20 holes or something like that. Hardly worth the
effort. I bought them and promptly returned them. If I were into gear
making, the first step would be to find some existing indexing plates that I
could adapt.

Boris

Thanks Boris and Mike. Just the kind of info I'm looking for. What
prompted this was seeing in a Grizzly catalog a 4 inch with a set of 3
index plates. I guess it's time to order one.
Eric

Eric R Snow wrote:
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:45:46 GMT, "Boris Beizer"
wrote:


"Eric R Snow" tesnow@whidbeyDOTcom wrote in message
...

This is mainly aimed at those who use 4 inch rotary tables (RT) on
larger machines such as a bridgeport mill. I have a 10 inch RT, a 12
inch crosslide RT and an index head that accepts 6 inch chucks. They
all get used to varying degrees. One advantage of a
horizontal/vertical RT over the index head would be the lower height
and shorter overhang. The 6 inch index head has a lot of overhang and
rigidity suffers because of this.

I had the Phase II 6" H/V rotary table (actually more like 6.75") Loved
it, but it was much too big for either my Centec 2C mill or my Burke #4.
I sold the 6" and bought the Phase II 4" table. This time with a tailstock
(couldn't fit that on my mills either for the 6" table). Love it even more.
The rigidity is excellent and I think that the relatively low
profile in both Horizontal or vertical mode, might make for greater net
rigidity in my setup. The four slots, at first, appear to be limiting, but
I fixed that in short order with the following tooling.

1. A 4" four-jaw chuck mounted on a small aluminum plate that I machined.
2. A 3" three-jaw chuck mounted on a backing plate available from Boston
Brass .. when I bought the chuck.
3. A full set of MT-2 collets.. and a drawbar for the same that I machined.
4. A bunch of MT-2 arbors threaded for the drawbar.
5. Various T-nuts, T-bolts, clamps, etc. T-nut jaws (as per your
suggesting).
Actually, that's aout the kind of tooling you would set up with any
rotary table.

A note of caution regarding the indexing plates for this little
table. Phase II just doesn't have it right. The only indexing plates
available has just 20 holes or something like that. Hardly worth the
effort. I bought them and promptly returned them. If I were into gear
making, the first step would be to find some existing indexing plates that I
could adapt.

Boris


Thanks Boris and Mike. Just the kind of info I'm looking for. What
prompted this was seeing in a Grizzly catalog a 4 inch with a set of 3
index plates. I guess it's time to order one.
Eric

Eric
Before you order that....

I was reading a lengthy evaluation of the Grizzly vs the HF just
yesterday. Short version: The Grizzly was pure junk, while the HF was a
nice piece. The HF was cheaper but had not indexing plates.
I'll see if I can find the links

Here ya go:

--- In , Wayne Peach revpeach@p...
wrote:

Has anyone used the Grizzly 4 inch rotary table that comes with the
dividing plates? I just got a cataloge from them and it is listed
at $
139. Seems like a good price. I would appreciate any comments.
Wayne P.

I have one. Read this:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/grou...lk/message/499

And this:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/grou...lk/message/508
- -
Rex Burkheimer
WM Automotive
Fort Worth TX

Eric R Snow wrote:
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:45:46 GMT, "Boris Beizer"
wrote:


"Eric R Snow" tesnow@whidbeyDOTcom wrote in message
...

This is mainly aimed at those who use 4 inch rotary tables (RT) on
larger machines such as a bridgeport mill. I have a 10 inch RT, a 12
inch crosslide RT and an index head that accepts 6 inch chucks. They
all get used to varying degrees. One advantage of a
horizontal/vertical RT over the index head would be the lower height
and shorter overhang. The 6 inch index head has a lot of overhang and
rigidity suffers because of this.

I had the Phase II 6" H/V rotary table (actually more like 6.75") Loved
it, but it was much too big for either my Centec 2C mill or my Burke #4.
I sold the 6" and bought the Phase II 4" table. This time with a tailstock
(couldn't fit that on my mills either for the 6" table). Love it even more.
The rigidity is excellent and I think that the relatively low
profile in both Horizontal or vertical mode, might make for greater net
rigidity in my setup. The four slots, at first, appear to be limiting, but
I fixed that in short order with the following tooling.

1. A 4" four-jaw chuck mounted on a small aluminum plate that I machined.
2. A 3" three-jaw chuck mounted on a backing plate available from Boston
Brass .. when I bought the chuck.
3. A full set of MT-2 collets.. and a drawbar for the same that I machined.
4. A bunch of MT-2 arbors threaded for the drawbar.
5. Various T-nuts, T-bolts, clamps, etc. T-nut jaws (as per your
suggesting).
Actually, that's aout the kind of tooling you would set up with any
rotary table.

A note of caution regarding the indexing plates for this little
table. Phase II just doesn't have it right. The only indexing plates
available has just 20 holes or something like that. Hardly worth the
effort. I bought them and promptly returned them. If I were into gear
making, the first step would be to find some existing indexing plates that I
could adapt.

Boris


Thanks Boris and Mike. Just the kind of info I'm looking for. What
prompted this was seeing in a Grizzly catalog a 4 inch with a set of 3
index plates. I guess it's time to order one.
Eric

On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 12:41:35 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm, Rex
B quickly quoth:

Eric
Before you order that....

I was reading a lengthy evaluation of the Grizzly vs the HF just
yesterday. Short version: The Grizzly was pure junk, while the HF was a
nice piece. The HF was cheaper but had not indexing plates.
I'll see if I can find the links

If true, that's a complete 180 from normal quality levels of these two
sources. Griz usually has the finely-QCed items and HF the crap.


----------------------------------------------------------------
* OPERA: A Latin word * Wondrous Website Design
* meaning * Save your Heirloom Photos
* "death by music" * http://www.diversify.com
----------------------------------------------------------------

--I got to beta test the little Sherline rotary table with the cnc
controller.. I made a waterproof enclosure for the motor using a plastic
jar with a hole cut in the lid for the wires to feed thru. I also made a
more robust right angle bracket than the one Sherline sells. Now I seldom
use the larger rotary table, because of the benefits of the motor driven
unit. The little Sherline rotary table is well made, has little or no
backlash and is very adaptable, i.e. vise-friendly.

--
"Steamboat Ed" Haas : When does Inuyasha get
Hacking the Trailing Edge! : to bone Kagome??
http://www.nmpproducts.com/intro.htm
---Decks a-wash in a sea of words---

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Fri, 21 Oct 2005 12:41:35 -0500, with neither quill nor qualm, Rex
B quickly quoth:


Eric
Before you order that....

I was reading a lengthy evaluation of the Grizzly vs the HF just
yesterday. Short version: The Grizzly was pure junk, while the HF was a
nice piece. The HF was cheaper but had not indexing plates.
I'll see if I can find the links


If true, that's a complete 180 from normal quality levels of these two
sources. Griz usually has the finely-QCed items and HF the crap.

I'm sure sources and quality change over time from both sources as well.
Eric, be sure to give us a report on the Grizzly. I need to buy one too.
Wholesale Tools has one for $85 on sale. Anybody bought one of those?


Rex