Soba\Vertex HV4 Rotary Table

Hello All

I’ve been looking at the Soba and Vertex HV4 rotary tables (for my Warco WM 16 mill). Both tables seem to have HV4 in the name, and both (label not withstanding) seem to look identical in photographs. Does anybody know if they are actually the same thing and just badged differently ?

Thanks

David

I was always led to believe that soba were from india and vertex from asia .

I could be wrong though .

the only real way to tell is to sit them side by side and examine them , i would expect the vertex to be more expensive but finished off better .

i have a few items by both manufacturers and have no complaints with either .

Ian

Isn't India in Asia?

I don't have either but Vertex are supposed to be quite good whilst I have heard one nor two negative comments about the SOBA. Having said that I have a SOBA milling vice which is very nice. I'll be getting the Vertex HV4 when I need one though!

I think my 6" Vertex was made in Taiwan. The Chinese stuff is made in various factories to designs from a central design agency, so things may look the same, but quality changes from factory to factory. There are some independent factories like Sieg, these seem to be among the higher quality ones. Ian S C

I recently brought a 6" vertex and can honestly say its very good.

Some of the bolt on bits like the dividing plate handle are a bit rubbish but apart from that its fine.

Go for the larger one I bought a 4" vertex table for my WM16 and have regretted it ever since.

Mark P.

Go bigger rather than smaller - you have to get your tee-slot bolts and clamps around the outside of your workpiece. Also think about whether 3 or 4 slots would be better. May not matter to you but if you are planning on fixing chucks and stuff to it, it could make quite a difference. Ask me how I know.

Vertex are Taiwanese although it sounds from what Ketan said recently that they make some of their products in China these days. At least they have a reasonable reputation and will hopefully try to maintain stds. With generic Chinese stuff you have little idea what you are getting. I have some Soba (Indian) toolholders etc and they are OK but not fantastically well finished. Given a choice between Vertex, Soba and generic Chinese, I'd rank them in that order.

Murray

It’s really interesting that there is lots of advice to go bigger. I’ve spent much time debating this to myself, and have seen there are people on the WM16\240 thread that have also gone for the 6inch table. I was about to do the same, but talking to Warco they seemed quite adamant that 6inch was too big. Certainly the vertex HV6 looks fine for horizontal mounting, but I’m worried there just won’t be enough room in the vertical position (I want to have a go a cutting gears\cams) ?

David

Hi

Go the six inch and get one with four slots. I have the Vertex with three slots and find that although the machine itself is very good for the work I do, having three slots is just rubbish.

I wanted to flay the maker with a maggoty cat. Very very difficult to adequately lock down square or rectangular items with only three slots.

.

David,

To inform your decision ... there's a useful dimensioned diagram, here

As Lawrie sugests; the four slot table seems generally more useful ... The Myford branded Vertex HV6 has [had?] four slots.

MichaelG.

The most important thing is the height you have above the table, especially if you mount a lathe chuck on it, by the time you fit something in the chuck, and if you have a Jacobs chuck in the mill you might find you don't have room for the drill bit (re-sharpened broken drills work here).

Ian S C

Hi David,

Joined a little late to this thread. Vertex - this product is made in Mainland China, and Soba in India. Both are badge engineered.

I visited Vertex's ex-maker, who is still producing for Phase-II - USA:

http://www.phase2plus.com/details.asp?pr=PRECISION%20ROTARY%20TABLES&id=55

Vertex has now moved on to another maker, due to increase in cost, and probably due to increased competition from India.

Having looked at manufacturing operations for these specific products in China as well as in India (plenty of sub-contract makers of different ilk in a small area), my personal preference would be for Vertex, based on product consistency, rather than price. Number of slots in the table may or may not be an issue for you, rotary table size and height may be an issue too. If you intend to use the rotary table regularly, the Vertex product would be a better option, in my current opinion, subject to the number of slots on the table you can live with.

Ketan at ARC.

That's a nice looking plate John, where did you get it?

Looks like the Vertex 4" and 6" both have only three slots. This does of course suit three jaw chuck mounting though.

http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/wp-content/uploads/ROTARYTABLES.pdf

Lots of good advice from everybody – very much appreciated.

After having done some measuring and looking at spec sheets I’m coming to the conclusion that the Vertex HV6 is looking like my best choice. Height when mounted horizontally is 80mm, and that compares to 72mm for the HV4 so the difference is negligible. When mounted vertically the HV6 has a centre height of 102mm, and I’ve 165mm from table to 13mm drill tip in a drill chuck – that’s worse case and still gives me 60 mm clearance. Only down side seems to be the three slots rather than four slots issue, but all things considered (including price I think I can live with this).

My next problem is to find a suitable chuck – Vertex make the VSC-5A which seems ideal, but I’m having trouble finding it (in stock) in the UK.

David

One of my concerns is the weight of the 6" unit, especially with a chuck mounted on it. I'm still leaning towards the Vertex HV4 to be used with my 4" four jaw or 4" collet chucks used on my Lathe. Johns idea of using a larger TEE slotted backplate leads me to believe it's a workable solution for me and the HV4. A 6" TEE slotted backplate should suffice and if I can't find one I have seen a couple of threads of folks that have made their own. This would also get round the 3 - 4 slot issue. The HV4 is also slightly more affordable.

It does John, lots of food for thought there.