Ideal Rotary Table size

[Keith ChartersParticipant @keithcharters25446]

Hi, I have recently bought a Sieg SX2.7 bench top milling machine and I am looking at buying a suitable Rotary Table. The table size is 140mm x 595mm. The options I have are a 4" or 5". Can anyone advise which would be better suited to this Sieg machine? My instinct is to go for the 5" but I don't know if that would be too big. All advice very welcome. Keith.

[Keith ChartersParticipant @keithcharters25446]

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The two factors to play off against each other are the size of job you may work on and whether the RT will be awkward to use on the machine, any loss of axis travel or daylight may be annoying but can often be worked around. Mounting a large job on a small table might be even more difficult, of course the job will always come along that is too big no matter what size RT you have. I would go for the 5 inch as overall I think it would make life a bit easier, remember you need to hold the job on the table somehow and the larger table leaves more room for clamping.

Mike

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Hi Keith

I believe the size depends on the dimensions of the work to be fixed to the table, if you intend to be making items larger than 4" then a 5" table will be needed to attach fixings.

Another consideration is the height to the table in a horizontal mode, too high may restrict the spindle to table dimension so preventing work on some larger pieces of work, also even less workspace when a chuck is fitted on the table.

Emgee

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I've used a 150mm one on the SX2.7 quite happily, the only time you may run into issues is if it is mounted horizontally with a large 3 or 4 jaw chuck on it and you are using a drill chuck and largish drill bit. Not had any problem milling items mounred directly to the table or in a 3-jaw.

 

Edited By JasonB on 29/09/2020 11:51:05

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

My milling machine tables are, according to the literature, 610 x 127mm and 530 x 139mm. I use 150mm RTs on either. Could have done with a larger one, if anything, for the Centec. A smaller one might have been preferable for the Raglan, but I get by. Other factors apply, rather than the table dimensions.

Rarely(?) is anything ‘ideal’ – often not more than the job it was initially purchased for.  It is usually a compromise of some sort.

Edited By not done it yet on 29/09/2020 12:31:28

[Kevin HodgkinsParticipant @kevinhodgkins45489]

I have a Soba HV6, on my SX2.7 it's fine using it horizontally, but vertically the mounting slots are too wide apart for the table t-slots. I've not needed to use it vertically yet, but I'm sure a clamping arrangement can be devised.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Kevin Hodgkins on 29/09/2020 12:54:39:

I have a Soba HV6, on my SX2.7 it's fine using it horizontally, but vertically the mounting slots are too wide apart for the table t-slots. I've not needed to use it vertically yet, but I'm sure a clamping arrangement can be devised.

Same here. My Vertex are the same. I have made a mounting plate for one of them, for one of the mills.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I bought a 6" Soba RT which has horizontal and vertical with four tee slots. The vertical position needs clamping down on the mill drill, but the Tom Senior slots are just right. In the vertical position, I was concerned with its stability, and have drilled and tapped a pair of 8mm in the base to bolt on a small angle plate which can be clamped to the mill bed. I would go for the largest that you think will fit your machine, 5 or 6 inch diameter.

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