H/V or tilting rotary table.

My next tooling purchase will be a rotary table, but I am undecided as to which type to get. Mill is an SX2P from ARC so it will be a 4”/100mm to fit on the table. My question is what uses does the rotary table have over the standard H/V? bearing in mind that I already have a tilting vise.

Dennis

I've got two, one 4 and one 6 inch. In twenty odd years I've used each exactly once, horizontal. Titling ones unless expensive just have another axis for play, misalignment, and taking away more daylight, IMHO.

The tilting ones have only come into the hobby market in the last 12-18months so like most others I have managed quite happily with an H/V for a number of years. On the odd couple of occasions where I wanted it angled it was easy enough to mount as required on the mill with some thoughtful clamping arrangements.

On the small SX2P you would loose a lot of head room using a tilting one with the table set horizontal and even in vertical mode will loose some x-axis travel and capacity.

J

PS never found the need for a tilting vice either.

Thanks John & Jason H/V it is then

Edited By Dennis D on 24/10/2019 17:32:11

Well here's my three-penneth many years ago I used a rotary tilting table very regularly, it was indeed one of the most used and essential pieces of kit in the department [jig boring]

However looking briefly at some of those on offer they would be of limited value because of the configuration of the axis' It is essential that the tilt axis is in the same plane as the rotary axis and normally the maker would attach a plate with the precise dimension of the tilt axis centre from the base and the distance from its centre to the table plane thus you can calculate the "new" centre point can be calculated when you tilt the table i.e. the distance you need to move the x axis for the spindle to remain over the table centre or any point on the workpiece from which you can calculate movement to any features you need to produce on the workpiece.

Clearly most ME use will not need or justify the cost of these but I did see a modestly priced on on Amadeal that appears to be constructed in this way ?? there will I'm sure be other makes as well.

These days I would surmise much of this work can be done on multi axis CNC -- something beyond my ken, I am strictly a manual machinist !

John

Dennis, my mill is the SX2P and my H/V table is a Soba 5 inch model which I think is just about right size wise for the mill. I started with a 4 inch cheapie and to be fair I have done a few jobs on it but the cheap ones really are not very good at all. The 5 inch came as a set with a chuck, dividing set and tail stock it cost £300 and is very good, well made and accurate. You can of course pay a lot more for tables but the Soba suited my budget and I guess it is in the mid price range for a decent table.

So my two penneth for the SX2P is the 5 inch is a good size, 6 inch would be too big and for me the 4 inch is a bit small. Also buy the best you can afford and dont be tempted by the cheapies unless funds wont allow anything better.

Ron

Thanks for the info Ron. I cant remember seeing a 5" one in any of the suppliers I looked at so might need to do a search again.

Dennis

I bought one of the Indian made Soba 6" h/v ones, and found it was not very secure when vertical. It now has a couple of threaded holes in the base which allow a tiny angle plate to be attached which allows additional clamping to the bed.

On a Warco Economy Mill/Drill, I use a Vertex HV6. From time to time it gets used in both modes. Horizontal for cutting gears etc, Horizontal for hole spacing, rounding ends of the work, circular slots etc.

H /V definitely useful. In nearly 20 years have not found a desperate need for a tilting facility. No doubt one day, the need will arise! The it will be head scratching time

Howard