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
There is a very wide scope of possible uses for rotary index tables, and their various settings and configurations can deliver unique milling techniques that are only limited by the machinist's imagination. One of the most notable uses for the rotary index tables is as an alternative to an actual lathe machine. This can be done by using a chuck to hold the object, a tailstock to set the center of the milling process and an electric motor installed on the table's worm-screw.
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.
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.
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.
Maybe the most common use of the rotary index tables though is the drilling of equidistant holes on a circular flange. Using the tool for this purpose is an easy and straight forward activity that is only requires the calculation of the intervals based on the number of holes and their center to center distance. By re-positioning the flange in off-centric holes, one can further drill each hole into a larger one.
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
There is a very wide scope of possible uses for rotary index tables, and their various settings and configurations can deliver unique milling techniques that are only limited by the machinist's imagination. One of the most notable uses for the rotary index tables is as an alternative to an actual lathe machine. This can be done by using a chuck to hold the object, a tailstock to set the center of the milling process and an electric motor installed on the table's worm-screw.
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.
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.
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.
Maybe the most common use of the rotary index tables though is the drilling of equidistant holes on a circular flange. Using the tool for this purpose is an easy and straight forward activity that is only requires the calculation of the intervals based on the number of holes and their center to center distance. By re-positioning the flange in off-centric holes, one can further drill each hole into a larger one.
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