Rotary Index 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.
These rotating tables can be either manually operated or computer controlled, through a worm-screw that is fixed under the table and on to axial protrusions that turn the table clockwise or counter-clockwise for a complete 360 degrees turn. The maximum intervals number and indexing resolution depends on the worm-screw to table ratio.
Unique Milling Techniques
Rotary index tables can be used for a number of specialized processing techniques and provide solutions in demanding occasions. The most noteworthy utilization of RITs is when combined with a chuck, tailstock and stepper electric motor to work as a light lathe alternative. This use though requires special care and the fast turning of the worm-screw by the motor can accelerate the wear of the table axles.
Another popular use is to process a bolt's head to perform spanner flats. As almost all bolt head designs feature pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal shaping, the use of rotary index tables is ideal. The only consideration in this case is the ratio of the worm-screw to the table, as it should allow the desired number of intervals.
Cutting & Drilling Uses
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.
Helixes are basically curves in the three dimensional space and can only be achieved through the use of a rotary index table with the helix numerical characteristics being determined by the factors that affect the movement along the x, y and z axis. For this reason, movement along the x axis (helix step) must be ensured by through the use of a dividing head, or by mounting the rotary table on a fluctuating positioning rail.
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.
These rotating tables can be either manually operated or computer controlled, through a worm-screw that is fixed under the table and on to axial protrusions that turn the table clockwise or counter-clockwise for a complete 360 degrees turn. The maximum intervals number and indexing resolution depends on the worm-screw to table ratio.
Unique Milling Techniques
Rotary index tables can be used for a number of specialized processing techniques and provide solutions in demanding occasions. The most noteworthy utilization of RITs is when combined with a chuck, tailstock and stepper electric motor to work as a light lathe alternative. This use though requires special care and the fast turning of the worm-screw by the motor can accelerate the wear of the table axles.
Another popular use is to process a bolt's head to perform spanner flats. As almost all bolt head designs feature pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal shaping, the use of rotary index tables is ideal. The only consideration in this case is the ratio of the worm-screw to the table, as it should allow the desired number of intervals.
Cutting & Drilling Uses
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.
Helixes are basically curves in the three dimensional space and can only be achieved through the use of a rotary index table with the helix numerical characteristics being determined by the factors that affect the movement along the x, y and z axis. For this reason, movement along the x axis (helix step) must be ensured by through the use of a dividing head, or by mounting the rotary table on a fluctuating positioning rail.
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.
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