Rotary Indexing Tables (RITs) are essential complementary tools that help machinists with high precision positioning and movement of their workpieces during demanding metalworking. Items are held on the table and are rotated by a certain point of degrees based in pre-calculated intervals.
By turning a lever connected to a worm-screw that is positioned under the rotary table, users can turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise in full turns. The worm-screw drives some axles that are fixed in intervals under the table, so the table is turned with great accuracy. The ratio between the worm-screw and the axles determines the maximum indexing resolution, and so the applications that each RIT is suitable for.
Milling Imagination
As with every piece of tool or machinery, there are many ways to utilize RITs to create something truly unique. The talent, experience and imagination of the machinist is the main motivational factor to explore RITs further through unconventional applications. Maybe the most remarkable use is a lathe alternative. If a RIT is combined with a chuck for holding the workpiece, a tailstock to mark the center and a stepper motor to turn the table's worm-screw, you get a mini lathe!
Many also workshops use RITs for the milling of bolt head indented features of various shapes (octagonal, hexagonal etc). Operators calculate the intervals that are needed for the processing of these features and set the table accordingly.
Making Holes and Cuts
There are many use case scenarios that require rotary index tables to be realized properly. One of those is the cutting of arcs which is a demanding process. Using an additional compound table, machinists can controllably displace the center of milling, and by fixing the workpiece on the RIT. This allows the cutting of high precision arcs in metalworking.
If you're using an underpowered milling machine that can't drive large drills for the creation of large diameter holes, then a rotary index table can be utilized to gradually open an initially small hole into a larger one at the same precision of one time drill. The most demanding metalworking process that requires high levels of precision and accuracy is the helical machining.
Maybe the most demanding cutting process that index tables can help with is the realization of helixes. These three dimensional shapes are especially demanding as they require movement along at least three axis which is almost never possible by lathes alone. RITs come as a supplementary solution to this process, moving the workpiece rotational (two axis) while the cutting tool moves along the third axis thus creating the helix.
Last, there is one simple purpose that rotary index tables fulfill with great success and that is the drilling of equidistant holes on a circular flange. The operator calculates the technical details based on the RIT ratio, holes number and distance of boring centers. The table is then properly configured and the holes are bored with speed and precision. If the holes diameter exceeds the drilling limitations, multiple smaller holes can be drilled using an additional compound table.
CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies offers all the machining accessories your shop needs. Contact us today to learn more about our wide range of CNC rotary tables and indexers.
By turning a lever connected to a worm-screw that is positioned under the rotary table, users can turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise in full turns. The worm-screw drives some axles that are fixed in intervals under the table, so the table is turned with great accuracy. The ratio between the worm-screw and the axles determines the maximum indexing resolution, and so the applications that each RIT is suitable for.
Milling Imagination
As with every piece of tool or machinery, there are many ways to utilize RITs to create something truly unique. The talent, experience and imagination of the machinist is the main motivational factor to explore RITs further through unconventional applications. Maybe the most remarkable use is a lathe alternative. If a RIT is combined with a chuck for holding the workpiece, a tailstock to mark the center and a stepper motor to turn the table's worm-screw, you get a mini lathe!
Many also workshops use RITs for the milling of bolt head indented features of various shapes (octagonal, hexagonal etc). Operators calculate the intervals that are needed for the processing of these features and set the table accordingly.
Making Holes and Cuts
There are many use case scenarios that require rotary index tables to be realized properly. One of those is the cutting of arcs which is a demanding process. Using an additional compound table, machinists can controllably displace the center of milling, and by fixing the workpiece on the RIT. This allows the cutting of high precision arcs in metalworking.
If you're using an underpowered milling machine that can't drive large drills for the creation of large diameter holes, then a rotary index table can be utilized to gradually open an initially small hole into a larger one at the same precision of one time drill. The most demanding metalworking process that requires high levels of precision and accuracy is the helical machining.
Maybe the most demanding cutting process that index tables can help with is the realization of helixes. These three dimensional shapes are especially demanding as they require movement along at least three axis which is almost never possible by lathes alone. RITs come as a supplementary solution to this process, moving the workpiece rotational (two axis) while the cutting tool moves along the third axis thus creating the helix.
Last, there is one simple purpose that rotary index tables fulfill with great success and that is the drilling of equidistant holes on a circular flange. The operator calculates the technical details based on the RIT ratio, holes number and distance of boring centers. The table is then properly configured and the holes are bored with speed and precision. If the holes diameter exceeds the drilling limitations, multiple smaller holes can be drilled using an additional compound table.
CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies offers all the machining accessories your shop needs. Contact us today to learn more about our wide range of CNC rotary tables and indexers.