Name that Rotary Table !!

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Hi all,

I recently bought a new machine, and the generous chap threw in what I think, is a very nice 6" rotary table, but I've not seen one like this before and can't find any similar by googling, I thought maybe it's one he had machined himself from castings?

It has a lovely smooth and very sure motion, with no backlash at all. It has a very low profile and can be mounted horizontally or vertically. there is a plug in the center which is plain, and reveals a hole benith, I don't think its 1 morse but it could be, I'll try an old centre in it next time I remember but from memory, it has no thru hole and a standard 1 morse is certainly taller than the whole thing (I could be totoally wrong about the through hole…)

Anyone have any ideas?

 

 

 

 

Edited By Russell Bates on 03/01/2014 19:50:46

Edited By JasonB on 03/01/2014 19:55:35

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Just a bit of fun =)

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Hello Russell

If it appears to be one machined from castings it could be one of the casting kits supplied by Ivan Law of Model Engineering Services in Eckington Derbyshire, just a few miles down the road from me. These were available, i think, in four inch and six inch sizes and came with cast in tee slots.

[SaxalbyParticipant @saxalby]

Hi Russell,

It is identical to one i bought from either Chronos or Millhill Supplies many years ago. Mine is a 4 inch and like yours very smooth action with virtually no backlash even after many years use. Modified mine with a small thrust bearing, and a larger handle, the original was a bit small. Also mine has just a plain 1/2 inch centre hole.

Barry

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

I've had a look for Ivan Law's castings but I couldn't see anything, also struggled finding pictures of anything other than the newer style rotary tables from Vertex and Soba (Homge castings/copies or are they just another name?)

I might get it stripped down, cleaned up and regreased, work out a mount for a little nema 17 and measure up for a home made tailstock of some sorts

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

My first table was the 4" that Barry describes, still got it knocking about somewhere.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Russell, I think it is likely to be a commercially made one. I have a Soba 4" one of the same design, just 2 1/6" high, 4 1/4" deep and 5 7/16" wide. It has a 7 mm parallel blind hole down the middle and 14 mm where your plain blank is. There is an adjusting screw with a locknut on the right hand side of the worm.

This is one I bought from Chronos some 15 or so years ago at one of the exhibitions. I use it occasionally on my Cobra mill.

Regards Nick.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Snap!

This is my Sharp 4" rotary table, bought at the same time as my Sharp mill. Although manufacturing rights for the mill were passed to Town Bent Engineering the rotary table went to R&M Barrowclough. Both were advertising in ME in the late 1980s. The RT was advertised as a finished product or a kit. Barrowclough still appear to be in business. I have a vague recollection that a 6" RT was also available but I may be fantasising.

cheers,

Rod

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Brilliant! Those 2 look great!

Nick, yes it does have an adjusting screw on the worm spot on!

Rod, the machine it came with is a late 80's Nu-Tools Mill/Drill so its all adding up perfectly.

To me it looking like a pretty simple design and casting, and yet feels solid and quality and has a good low profile, is there any reason they all seem to have switched to the more rounded designs?

Thanks again everyone for all the input, its really nice to know a bit of history about my tooling!

[EdHParticipant @edh]

If you're interested in what a MES Rotary Table looks like I think this is one in my Albums.

Note there is not a table with tee slots but instead a threaded nose, which is not removable, to take Myford size fittings. I'm not sure if this is a one off or they were all like this. Another Quiz question maybe?

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