rotary tables??

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I am biding a job that would require a small rotary table. The tables I have found are way out of my price range. Can anyone suggest a more affordable solution?Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Do you require this rotary table for turning weldments during the welding process? If so, a table could be made quite easily and with minimum expense. Google can be a great source of ideas too!Just my $.02 worth; good luck.Bgbkwndo.
Reply:How about a small Boston gearbox and a motor. You could use a foot switch to rotate. You could also make an adaptor to use a lathe chuck on it...BobBob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:The Phase II rotary tables sold by Enco and some other companies online are excellent in quality and low in price.  I picked up an 8" horizontal only table for $200 with free shipping.  I am extremely satisfied with the quality and there is almost no backlash in the worm gear.Linde/Union Carbide HDA-300Hobart RC-250Lincoln AC-225Lincoln WeldPak 100 Hobart Stickmate LX Victor OxyAcetylene
Reply:I've got an old 6" 4 jaw lathe chuck I snagged cheap tacked to a lazy susan set of bearings. I can rotate the piece and then weld, reposition and weld, so on. I have seen a bearing mounted shaft with a base plate attached to the shaft. The shaft bearing mounts in a vise and then the plate will rotate around the shaft. Niether of these are great if you need both hands free to say tig weld, but can work ok with say mig with a bit of thought.
Reply:Originally Posted by NYS3The Phase II rotary tables sold by Enco and some other companies online are excellent in quality and low in price.  I picked up an 8" horizontal only table for $200 with free shipping.  I am extremely satisfied with the quality and there is almost no backlash in the worm gear.
Reply:Also check out Grizzly.  Usually better package deals.  Tailstock, plates, spindles, etc."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Are you talking about a rotary table, for machining, or a rotary positioner, for welding?Two very different beasts.I have a Grizzly rotary table I use on my milling machine- it was cheap, and does the job, not super duper precision to .0005 quality, but a good deal for the price, especially since a real precision rotary table can easily run $4000 or more. http://grizzly.com/products/10-Horiz...ry-Table/G9293A rotary POSITIONER is a welding fixture with a motor, that enables you to weld all the way around a circle, without stopping.these guys sell em from 200lb capacity to over 100,000lbs- sometimes, you need to weld something heavy.http://www.weldplus.com/postion.aspHere is a cute little one-http://www.starleymfg.com/rotostar1.htmlHere is another one, $1000 new.http://www.jandrweldingsupply.com/st...ositioner.htmlThey come up on ebay, if you watch for em.Lots of times welding supply shops have used ones for sale, too.
Reply:Originally Posted by RiesAre you talking about a rotary table, for machining, or a rotary positioner, for welding?Two very different beasts.Here is a cute little one-http://www.starleymfg.com/rotostar1.htmlThey come up on ebay, if you watch for em.Lots of times welding supply shops have used ones for sale, too.
Reply:Originally Posted by waginI am biding a job that would require a small rotary table. The tables I have found are way out of my price range. Can anyone suggest a more affordable solution?
Reply:as always thank you all for the info and input. There is no such thing as bad added intel.
Reply:I have the XT-200 with a chuck and a couple of face plates.  Here is a dumb question, Bearings:  Turntable shaft supported by 2 Oilite bushings to carry radial loads and 2 ball bearing to carry axial loads.Which way is axial?  I have some 50 lb plates, 6" wide, 42" long, and 7/8" thick.  I have to weld pipe couplings on at various spots on the flat plate.  I have been doing it horizontal, but would prefer to do it vertical (like an air plane propeller).  I run it about 3 RPM for this job.  I think to do it vertical, I would need a counter balance.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I believe that axial (like in x,y, axis) is the load that the tool puts on the work when it's being machined.  The ability  of the fixture to resist pressure applied by the machining process.  I'm not sure."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:again, I think all y'all for the great info. I apologize for not providing more detail in my org post. I need a weld positioner table or maybe even a set of horizontal powered rollers. I bid a job calling for a 1.98" bushing inserted .5" into a 2"x16" tube and welded. The customer requires 300 per month. An auto positioner would increase my production rate.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:JUST BUY A GOOD POSITIONER.  I did and the work for it keeps coming right now I am using mine every day.  It paid for its self on the first job.  My $.02 David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RWhich way is axial?
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWI've got an old 6" 4 jaw lathe chuck I snagged cheap tacked to a lazy susan set of bearings. I can rotate the piece and then weld, reposition and weld, so on. I have seen a bearing mounted shaft with a base plate attached to the shaft. The shaft bearing mounts in a vise and then the plate will rotate around the shaft. Niether of these are great if you need both hands free to say tig weld, but can work ok with say mig with a bit of thought.
Reply:Axial/Radial Attached ImagesA butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:Thank you Magnetic Mechanic.  I did a search on Ebone last night, there are a LOT of positioners on there right now.  I think I said it earlier, I looked and looked for a used one.  They were going for new price on Ebone, so I just bucked up and got a new one.  I am glad I did.  That thing makes me a LOT of money.The reason I asked is My positioner has bearings and bushings one for radial loads and one for axial loads.  I don't want to trash my toy on one job doing those long bars.I contacted one of the companies linked above for prices on used 500 lb units.  They want almost as much and a nice shiny new atlas.  2650 to 2850 used, new is $3500.David Last edited by David R; 01-31-2009 at 06:47 AM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:David; When you need to run the positioner table vertically for long stock (which is then horizontal), can't you use a 'tailstock' arrangement, perhaps as simple as a couple or rollers from a conveyor track, to support the off end and help save the bushings/bearings? Maybe even support the stock over most of its length, if it's uniformly round and concentric? Or are you saying the radial forces are too great for the bushings anyway?
Reply:Olsieon2,I have these pieces 7/8" thick, 6" wide and 36 to 52" long.  They get 3/8" pipe couplings welded to them in different places along the stock.  The customer gave me a pilot tool that goes through the stock and coupling with an allen bolt and c washer on top.  The bottom of the tool is bigger and round, so it goes in the chuck.  Now the part I need to weld is in the center, but the plate is hanging off the positioner by up to 50" .  This can't bee good for it.  Its a 200 lb BALANCED positioner.  The ones that go near the center I can just stand back, hold the gun on the joint and press the foot pedal and pull the trigger.  The table is turning about 3 rpm, so its a quick weld.  I am using pulsed spray, so no gun gyrations are needed, just weld the damn thing and on to the next one.  When the coupling is welded near the end,. I start with the plate on my right, run part of the bead with my hand, then step on the pedal.  I stop when the piece hits me on the left side.  I paid dearly for the positioner and don't want to trash the bushings by doing this all the time.  Last job had 134 couplings.  I made a killing on the job.  The actual weld takes 20 seconds.   I get $5.00 per coupling......  The gave me 4 pilots, so I can do a whole bar in a few minutes.  This could be repeat work.  I would love it.I thought of turning the positioner so the face plate and chuck are vertical.  I would need a counter weight because I am sure it doesn't have the balls to rotate a 45 lb 42" long piece totally off center.  I asked the customer for a scrap bar.  He didn't have one, but did send me a nice big piece of 5/8" plate about 8" X 48".  To do this, I would need different counterweights for different locations on the bar I am welding.   Think of an airplane propeller.My positioner sez has bushings AND bearings,but now I can't remember which was which.  I looked at the manufactures website and can't find it again.Now you know the WHOLE story..    DavidSO this is why I was looking  for a bigger positioner.  Bigger $  !!Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Sounds like a lopsided irregular mess.Might be possible to build a fixture to hold the far end in the horizontal position while protecting your equipment.  Know you ain't fond of that kind of thing.  MIght come in handy later.My time isn't money, like yours.  I usually take longer to figure out a way to save expensive equipment.  I don't have the money to replace a positioner like yours, let alone buy one in the first place.Last edited by farmersamm; 01-31-2009 at 10:48 PM.Reason: vertical/horizontal"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I just bought thishttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=350158941129Big cheesy smile!DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Companies like BAILEIGH do lease to own deals for less than $100 a month. Just a thought.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RI just bought thishttp://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=350158941129Big cheesy smile!DavidOriginally Posted by rode2rouenHow much for shipping from CA to NY?Rex
Reply:See, thats why I love this wed site/forum/ what ever...given any question( concerning weld), you guys offer up unlimited knowledge-advice-suggestions.....             Back to topic, has anyone home built an auto-positioner of any sort. I'm thinking of using a sewing machine motor and foot peddle with a small gearbox to drive a small positioning table.Miller TrailBlazer 251Miller HF-250-1Miller MaxStar 150 STLHyperTherm PowerMax 380 plasmaLincoln PowerMig 180Millermatic 252Miller Diversion 180
Reply:Originally Posted by wagin...Back to topic, has anyone home built an auto-positioner of any sort. I'm thinking of using a sewing machine motor and foot peddle with a small gearbox to drive a small positioning table.