Dividing head used as a Rotary Table?

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wally318
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Location: Kelowna, British Columbia

Dividing head used as a Rotary Table?

Post by wally318 »

Maybe this is a stupid question. But was wondering if you have a universal dividing head and
mounted a faceplate to it, is it usable as a rotary table? Is the worm gear in the dividing head up to it?
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wlw-19958
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Re: Dividing head used as a Rotary Table?

Post by wlw-19958 »

Hi There,

Yes, it is possible (I've done it myself) but only for
small stuff. The disadvantage in using a dividing
head as a rotary table is the lack of support for the
faceplate at its outer edges. The rotary table has the
body casting to support the outer edges of the table
but a dividing head does not.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb
SteveM
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Location: Wisconsin

Re: Dividing head used as a Rotary Table?

Post by SteveM »

wlw-19958 wrote: The rotary table has the
body casting to support the outer edges of the table
but a dividing head does not.
The rotab is designed to machine while the rotab is turning. The dividing head is meant to turn, then machine, and repeat.

Webb's comments about keeping work to a small size is good advice, but if you get any chatter, stop. You could damage the head.

Steve
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wsippola
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Location: Trenton, On

Re: Dividing head used as a Rotary Table?

Post by wsippola »

A dividing head turns while milling when used to cut helix's. The head will be fine, but the setup is much less rigid than a rotary table. Not only is the support not there around the table as mentioned, it's also 6" or more further away from the mill table. The larger the dividing the head, the more rigid it will be for this. As stated, small cuts work fine.
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