| A rotary table is designed to be used in | | | | |
| conjunction with vertical mills. When a | | | | Rotary stages are used in industrial robots, |
| rotary table is put on a vertical mill what | | | | fiber optics and photonics, vision systems, |
| you create is a machine that is theoretically | | | | machine tools, assembly, semiconductor |
| capable of reproducing itself, is a precision | | | | equipment, medical component laser machining, |
| work positioning device used in metalworking. | | | | electronic manufacturing, and other |
| | | | high-performance industrial automation |
| A standard milling machine set-up usually | | | | applications. Rotary stages provide the best |
| involves aligning the work with the table and | | | | angular positioning and velocity control. |
| then with the spindle. The table can be | | | | Applications range from indexing to |
| accurately moved with the hand wheels making | | | | high-speed laser machining to precision wafer |
| this a simple operation for most. Aligning a | | | | inspection. All of these applications are |
| part on a rotary table however can be | | | | fine tuned to the best numbers possible using |
| difficult because the work has to be clamped | | | | rotary stages. |
| into position. This is not always easy when | | | | |
| you are working alone. | | | | There are several types of rotary stages at |
| | | | this point in the game however the ones |
| Most experts suggest that you start by doing | | | | getting the most press are the laser guided |
| the rotary table work first which can | | | | rotary stages. Utilizing lasers helps create |
| eliminate the need for precision aligning. | | | | the most absolute positioning to date. Some |
| Aligning the milling spindle with the rotary | | | | of the newer rotary stages are ideal for |
| table can be done by indicating the hole in | | | | applications that require X, Y and q degrees |
| the center of the rotary table. You then need | | | | of movement for ambient and high vacuum |
| to spot drill the center on the work you wish | | | | environments. They tend to feature high |
| to have line up with the rotary table. | | | | resolution, high stability as well as being |
| Finally put a pointer in the spindle that is | | | | available for ambient and high vacuum |
| accurate. After doing this set the work under | | | | environments. Experts also agree that having |
| the spindle and lower the head until it | | | | the choice of lateral and rotational degrees |
| engages with the center mark at this point | | | | of freedom also lends that extra precision |
| clamp the part down. And there you have it, | | | | that is needed in delicate jobs as well as |
| locked and ready to work with. | | | | the strength for larger projects. |