A rotary table is used in metalworking for precision work positioning. It allows workers to drill or cut at exact intervals on a fixed horizontal or vertical axis. It is an ideal device that helps workers complete drilling jobs efficiently and is designed to make repetitive moves around a platform.
Rotary tables have rigid frames and excellent torque capacity. They are effective for drilling, milling, turning, and metalworking. As such, it supports a workpiece and rotates it on the axis to locate parts for precision tooling. Some models have additional dividing plates and material handling mechanisms to enhance flexibility and accuracy.
A rotary table has a solid base clamped onto another fixture. The work table is the most significant part of a rotary table, and its diameter refers to the surface area of the rotary table. Besides, a work table is mounted in horizontal, vertical, or inverted styles, and it holds medium or large parts for complex contouring and multi-side machining.
A rotary table is a versatile device used to cut complex curves, arcs, and round pieces and is controlled manually or through a computer. Meanwhile, the disc of the rotary table is rotated freely or turned with an arm known as a worm wheel. The tooling operations in a rotary table are done perfectly around the vertical and horizontal axes, while the index plates or dividing plates help to perform more functions.
The 4th axis rotary table has an additional axis enabling blade machining, cam machining, and helical grooves. It is adjusted for specific amounts of rotary motion, and its precision indexing ability allows cutting equidistant holes across the surface of the workpiece.
The 5th-axis rotary table, which has two additional axes, is designed to perform multi-plane machining operations precisely. It can work on any four of the five axes simultaneously. As such, aviation, automotive, and defense industries use this rotary table, while it helps to eliminate extra finishing jobs and creates sophisticated and complex contours.
Different Types
Worm drive table: The worm drive provides extra torque, which is excellent for rip cuts. The distance between the blade and the handle is longer, which is helpful for cross-cutting. As such, this table is heavy with the blade on the left side, and it offers fine positioning control. It is the ideal choice when structural compactness is required.
Ball drive table: The ball drive table offers zero errors with high rigidity, accuracy, and torque transfer. This rotary table is available in six sizes, and the most significant benefit is that it needs no adjustments over its lifetime. As such, some tables have black chrome surface treatment to prevent corrosion.
Direct drive table: The direct drive table is easy to install and is ideal for low torque and high-resolution applications. Using a high-precision encoder helps to achieve high repeatability and high positioning. Meanwhile, the motor is built-in and effectively drives the axes and faceplate. It tolerates extremely high radial and axial torques during rotation and stopping.
Big bore table: Big bore tables are versatile, highly productive, and designed for sizeable diameter bar work, and they are available in different sizes, and their design allows them to function vertically and horizontally. Meanwhile, using accessories like hydraulic rotary joints and rotary chucks help enhance performance and functionality.
Uses of a Rotary Table
A rotary table is used for
- Cutting round pieces.
- Drilling holes at equal distances.
- Cutting complex curves.
Rotary tables can simplify the production work and help in various machining applications. They allow completing intricate metalworking jobs quickly, precisely, and efficiently. And they are used in industries for manufacturing and assembling, and they simplify the tasks for the workers.
Raymond Bilger 
Conrad Armer