Rotary Index Tables (RITs) are special tools used for the accurate positioning and movement of workpieces during the milling process. Their applications scope is wide, but their working principle is focused around calculation of vertical 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.
Another thing that can be realized through the use of a RIT is bolt head processing. Machinists can calculate the desired intervals and configure their RIT to accommodate the milling of pentagonal or hexagonal indentations onto a bolt's head.
Cutting & Drilling Uses
Rotary Index Tables are also regularly used for the cutting of straight lines at any angle, arcs and circular shapes. The arcs, being a demanding milling process, can be achieved by adding a compound table so that the center of the table's rotation can be displaced, thus resulting in a progressively off-centric machining.
It is often the case that a machinist is called to drill a large diameter hole that the driller can't handle due to its insufficient power. This is another case where indexing tables can help by helping the operator drill multiple smaller holes around the set center of the larger hole. This boring process results in a hole that is equally accurate in terms of dimension and inner finishing as an one-drill hole.
Helical machining is another point where rotary index tables can prove their usefulness. Calling for high precision and demanding processing, helixes are not easily materialized using conventional tooling. To create something that takes shape in the three dimensional space, you will need to move the workpiece or the cutting tool along at least three axis (x, y, z). RITs can help on this endeavor by providing the helix stepping through their rotation. This also calls for some pre-calculation and setting depending on the helix mathematical characteristics.
Last but not least, there is the indexing tables most popular use that is to drill equidistant holes on a circular flange. All that needs to be done from the machinist's side is to calculate the holes number and center to center distance, and then configure the rotary table accordingly. The boring process in that case becomes pretty straight forward and the result is very precise in terms of boring positioning.
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.
Another thing that can be realized through the use of a RIT is bolt head processing. Machinists can calculate the desired intervals and configure their RIT to accommodate the milling of pentagonal or hexagonal indentations onto a bolt's head.
Cutting & Drilling Uses
Rotary Index Tables are also regularly used for the cutting of straight lines at any angle, arcs and circular shapes. The arcs, being a demanding milling process, can be achieved by adding a compound table so that the center of the table's rotation can be displaced, thus resulting in a progressively off-centric machining.
It is often the case that a machinist is called to drill a large diameter hole that the driller can't handle due to its insufficient power. This is another case where indexing tables can help by helping the operator drill multiple smaller holes around the set center of the larger hole. This boring process results in a hole that is equally accurate in terms of dimension and inner finishing as an one-drill hole.
Helical machining is another point where rotary index tables can prove their usefulness. Calling for high precision and demanding processing, helixes are not easily materialized using conventional tooling. To create something that takes shape in the three dimensional space, you will need to move the workpiece or the cutting tool along at least three axis (x, y, z). RITs can help on this endeavor by providing the helix stepping through their rotation. This also calls for some pre-calculation and setting depending on the helix mathematical characteristics.
Last but not least, there is the indexing tables most popular use that is to drill equidistant holes on a circular flange. All that needs to be done from the machinist's side is to calculate the holes number and center to center distance, and then configure the rotary table accordingly. The boring process in that case becomes pretty straight forward and the result is very precise in terms of boring positioning.
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