Positioners 101

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Lately many have asked questions about the Positioner or "Turntable" as some call it..So heres a little show and tell all about them..Here is a positioner..They cost big $$$$$...Most come with just a flat aluminum plate on it but its best to adapt a 3 jaw chuck to it so you can grab just about anything...On one side we have a "speed dial"Works just like the weld current dial on a tig machine..On the other side we find the main switches..These are "self explanatory"..And here is the footpedal..In my opinion the pedals leave alot to be desired..But they do work just fine and act just like the tig pedal..And last but not least they come with a ground lug for the welder..Saves the ground cable from getting all wrapped around things... And there we have it..Like I had said the pedals leave alot to be desired..So in the next post I'll show ya what remedy I have come up with.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Ok what to do about the pedal... Here is the pedal next to the pedal for the welder...Notice the Hobart pedal..You put your whole foot on it..The positioner pedal..Well I think the design is all wrong..You have to keep useing it by your toes because your heel is on the floor.. So here is what I came up with..Yup a piece of 1 1/4" thick wood..Now that the pedal is lower than your foot it makes it much easier to use..Thats the way to go..Now your foot does not have to be at a funky angle to run it..It is so much easier this way.. I get all the fun toys... ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Should Bought this one Zap http://cgi.ebay.com/Yr-2000-KOIKE-AR...ayphotohosting
Reply:Originally Posted by tanky321Should Bought this one Zap http://cgi.ebay.com/Yr-2000-KOIKE-AR...ayphotohosting
Reply:A piece of wood? All that metal you have around you ...and you use a piece of wood! Geesh, where is my wet noodle so I can throw it at you?John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneA piece of wood? All that metal you have around you ...and you use a piece of wood! Geesh, where is my wet noodle so I can throw it at you?
Reply:does that big blue table come with a trailer hitch to tow behind the truck lol.  i like the wood idea less work involved saves time. i use wood when ever i get the chance to.63' Lincoln SA200 2008 miller trailblazer 302fibre-metal pipelinermiller camo BWEand all the guns and ammo a growin boy needs
Reply:I still want to know how you keep from brindling the beaings in the gear-box when feeding the ground through the gear box ???Damage caused by the passage of electric current.http://www.vibanalysis.co.uk/technic.../electric.htmlWhen an electric current passes through a bearing, i.e. proceeds from one ring to the other via the rolling elements, damage will occur. At the contact surfaces the process is similar to electric arc welding.The material is heated to temperatures ranging from tempering to melting levels. This leads to the appearance of discoloured areas, varying in size, where the material has been tempered, re-hardened or melted. Small craters also form where the metal has melted.The passage of electric current frequently leads to the formation of fluting (corrugation) in bearing raceways. Rollers are also subject to fluting, while there is only dark discolouration of balls.It can be difficult to distinguish between electric current damage and vibration damage. A feature of the fluting caused by electric current is the dark bottom of the corrugations, as opposed to the bright or rusty appearance at the bottom of the vibration induced fluting. Another distinguishing feature is the lack of damage to the rolling elements of bearings with raceway fluting caused by vibrations.Both alternating and direct currents cause damage to bearings. Even low amperage currents are dangerous. Non-rotating bearings are much more resistant to electric current damage than bearings in rotation. The extent of the damage depends on a number of factors: current intensity, duration, bearing load, speed and lubricant.The only way of avoiding damage of this nature is to prevent any electric current from passing through the bearing.Last edited by kbeitz; 06-17-2007 at 02:07 PM.
Reply:The ground doesn't go through the bearings.Here's a home-made positioner ground system.  I would assume the manufactured ones use a similar system. Attached Images
Reply:That pic explanes it.. But my ground brushes are inside the unit.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:We have to different size positioners at work. I will post some pics this week. They are pretty big, but not as big as the one on ebay. Does anyone know what is the best way to make my own three jaw chuck like Zap has. Even something similar to it would work just fine. Right now I bolt everything on using mill table nut(that slide into a groove). Its alot of work and i can't use it for some applications. Also the table rotation is not very smooth, it's kind of jummpy. Should I tigfhten the chain or what could make it smoother. It's kind of hard to weld with it jumping and missing.
Reply:Does anyone know what is the best way to make my own three jaw chuck like Zap has.
Reply:that foot controle looks a lot like a sewing machine peddle. most of them dubbled as knee presher switches under the table. you could atache it to the welding table leg so all you have to do is push to the side with your knee to operate it. might be more comefortable that way. would also keep you fron confusing wich foot workes the table and wich workes the TIG. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:Unfortunately I don't have access to 3 jaw chucks. I still believe something similar could be fashioned. Thanks for the comments.