Rotary Table Basics

This video is an introduction to the rotary table. The first in a planned series that will get into the math, setup options and some very useful tips and accessories. Take a look !!
Patreon Link: / joepie
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[@larrywiechman4083]

Good stuff Joe! Back when moldmakers used rotary cross slides, I was taught to find the center of rotation by placing a magnet base and indicator on the turntable and then indicate a pin held in the spindle. This method produces the true center of rotation, as opposed to relying on the accuracy of the center hole which may be obscured by a cross slide or fixture plate. An easy way to save time (and a lot of cranking) is to disengage the worm gear and spin the turntable by hand for this operation.

[@keithwhite1982]

Thats a great tip, ill probably do that going forward!

[@joepie221]

I'll show that in an upcoming video. It does establish true rotation if the hole is out. Excellent comment.

[@Steve-te2kf]

Thank you! I have learned so much from you. You and Mr Pete are the best teachers on KZbin.

[@brucewilliams6292]

Hi Joe, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to explain the nuances of degrees, minutes, and seconds. I haven't worked with these measurement units since school so the refresher is appreciated!

[@rick3754]

Joe....having spent 40 years as an engraver and now doing machining....i find your vids very interesting and informative.....keep up the good work

[@charlesdriggers199]

Joe, I found your channel by accident and am glad I did. I am a gunsmith , and when I went to school for it ,we did have a class for machining of course. But, there were things we were not taught . You have broadened my knowledge that I can use to do more custom work and also to make and improve tools. Thank you for sharing your experience.

[@patwicker1358]

Nice shot of the dial, thank you for taking the time to set it up. It made your explanation very good.

[@wiln2lrn]

Very Informative video Joe very clear and to the point. I'm kind of old school, I like using the rotary table as much as I can or when I can, this way it will keep your mind thinking I use an advanced cross slide rotary table, so I can unusually do some unusual stuff on a mill. Yes, a CNC is faster, but like I said I'm old school . I usually put the rotary table's center at 0,0 on the DRO's Absolute, and the normal X,Y movements on Incremental, this way you can always jump right back to the center of the rotary whenever you need to. Sorry for the long-winded message Machining has been a passion of mine for years, and once I get started I have a tough time stopping.

[@alexvonbosse5090]

Joe, you are the ONE-STOP-SHOP for all things machining info! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us that are still learning the ins and outs of proper machining!

[@joepie221]

Glad to help

[@larrymunday7519]

Thank you for the video Joe. That is the same 125# table I am using. I bought the Phase II at work 20 yrs. ago. Someone apparently dropped it off of the milling machine table and rendered it useless. I brought it home, took it apart to find slight damage to the worm and main spindle. Cleaned them up on the lathe and had to buy new table locks and oil sight glass to get it back in working order. Works fine once again.

[@DCFusor]

In just a few seconds you hammered the reason I built a small shop to do machining. Having done software and related engineering/science pursuits most of my life - much of which becomes ephemeral pretty quick (and no one would believe you or care if you told them your stuff was making their phone work), I felt a need to have some things I could point to and say "I did that". Even if no one else cares, I still do. Bingo.

[@joepie221]

You get it.

[@Redmech80]

I absolutely love how your videos are some out of the box straight forward solutions to problems I may not have encountered yet. Thanks so much.

[@2lefThumbs]

I lost count of how many useful details you squeezed into this one, great job Joe, I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series!

[@outsidescrewball]

my first operation (attempt) on a rotary table was to cut a hex in the end of a round to hold a die....I put a fine point marker in the quill to and drew out the design to prove my setup/moves.....great educational video and looking forward for more.....

[@joepie221]

Hi Chuck. Thanks for stopping by. This series will go for a few, and I hope show some very time saving techniques. Stay tuned and rub Howie on the head for me.

[@TheXeroid]

Excellent video Joe! I love it that you get down into maths side of these things. Your excellent description of the degree, mins & seconds made it all clear to me. Thank you.

[@lnaesll]

Joe thank you so much for these videos. I have the same rotary table and it’s really confusing for an old grunt. I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you again!

[@arienugteren3797]

Excellent video, and explanation! Recently I was victim off climb milling, and broke a carbide end mail, damaged the part, and need to re-trim the head! Thank you Joe! This videos will help a lot to me and others!

[@edwilliams9914]

Haha! I just went from "Yeah, yeah, I already know how to use a rotary table and I don't have no time to watch no video today" to "Oh! So THAT's how the seconds calculation works!" (that I had never bothered to really understand); and then to "Oh yeah, so THAT must be why the radius of that part was mysteriously slightly larger than it should've been!" (when I had never thought about the need to re-establish the radius over the zero between a linear cut and a radius cut. Just like you show, if you don't, your "new" radius of tool edge to part center is related to the length of the hypotenuse of a triangle whose adjacent side is the radius you 'want' and whose opposite side is the radius of the endmill. You really could do the trig and see *exactly* how many mils you'd be off if you forget). Thanks for another great video that has (once again) made me slightly less dumb. :-)

[@briangough30]

Great video. I have just bought a rotary table and I'm cutting change gears for my lathe. I really appreciate learning more about the table. Thanks heaps.

[@ChrisB257]

I think your rotary would suit me just fine! All I have is a beat up old one. This is all good stuff Joe - thanks for doing it. :)

[@spudnickuk]

As a new hobby machinist, I found your video very informative, I new nothing about the minutes and seconds and how to read them, so thank your for making a clear and understanding video of the rotary table.

[@joepie221]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kgee2111]

This Dude is a absolute genius! I learn so much from him. Thanks Joe!

[@Harrzack]

Loved the close view of the dial/graduations - very helpful 🍺

[@davidtesterman4726]

Great video Joe. Would have messed up the first part without the, (keep the center line) lesson. As always thanks for your great teachings. You are making many of us better machinist.

[@scottroland6577]

I always sincerely appreciate the work that Joe Pie does on these videos. I always learn from his teaching sessions, and I sincerely appreciate his hard work that result in these video's. My sincere thanks and appreciation, Scott

[@joepie221]

Thanks Scott.

[@draganarc0131]

Very timely, I need a rotary table for a job I’ve committed to have done by the end of the month. I wouldn’t have thought to look for the zero orientation. I hope I can find one with the tee slots in the perpendicular orientation. Thanks for yet another awesome tutorial.

[@joepie221]

They may have done that so you can use the vertical real estate for pins and screws in a fixture plate ???

[@gabrielcain8975]

Great video, thank you. As someone with a rotary table who hasn't yet come to understand how to properly use it, I appreciated this video.

[@joepie221]

There are a few more coming. Thanks for watching.

[@paultavres9830]

I just recently got a rotary table and just stumbled onto this video so it was very interesting to me thanks again you are my go to youtube channel for machining info before I check any others out

[@joepie221]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Tools4Machines]

Thanks, Joe. Nice camera mount at the end and really looking forward to your next installment. Cheers, Gary

[@planeflyer21]

Our rotary table project in Machine Tool Technologies at the local college was a 5-sided fire hydrant wrench. A great exercise in making the outside of the wrench with the larger circle around the pentagon meeting the tapered handle to a smaller radius on that end. Cutting the 5 straight sides on the inside was a lesson in remembering backlash and locking everything down for each edge.

[@kylemichael2175]

As usual, outstanding video Joe. I’ve got a 6in Vertex horizontal/vertical rotary table I purchased to fixture a couple angle plates to, mount a frame between the plates, and checker 1911 front straps with eventually. I ran into some problems during the setup. Been stuck there since. This series should be a huge help. Looking forward to keeping up with it. Very good info! Thanks

[@joepie221]

I believe I'll offer up a few things to reduce the stress. thanks for watching.

[@rogerbrousseau4507]

Home machinist and always had trouble with my rotary table . Now I understand what I was doing wrong . Great video give use more and thanks for keeping simple for us self learners

[@EdM66410]

Awesome bonus content! I made almost exactly the same thing to use as a shield when using flood coolant to grind bores. I used an old mag base for the base and a sheet of plexiglass for the shield. Keep up the good work 👍🏼

[@MrKidkiller159]

@joepieczynski great explanation of the degrees,minutes, seconds. I understand it now . thanx

[@jimmcclellan1911]

Joe, thank you for video. I am looking forward to this series of videos. I have only used my table in the flat position on the mill but would love to see some information about using it in the vertical position.

[@whiler999]

Fantastic info, Sir! I love all your videos, keep 'em coming⚡

[@dougmclaren4328]

Great stuff Joe, always enjoy your "no nonsense" explanations. Best wishes from the UK.

[@workwillfreeyou]

Thank you! Another great post. The rotary table is a great tool to have. They often go for very cheap at machinery auctions as the CNC machines have made them obsolete. I once got a job in a great machine shop because a shop foreman saw a part I made on my motorcycle using a notary table.

[@split150]

Awesome content. The locating of parts onto the rotary table will be very helpful, as I haven't seen any one else make a multi part series just on this topic. Thanks.

[@williamburton2995]

This is a very timely series for me--I just bought one (I thought I'd get one before the tariffs bump the price up) and I haven't had a project for it yet. I signed up for notifications and will be waiting for the next installment with great anticipation!

[@peterkennette9865]

Excellent, can't wait for the rest of the series. My table is usually mounted with a spare 4 jaw chuck which I find most useful, making it very quick to mount up many parts. Loved the add-on video at the end!

[@joepie221]

Me too. No more tripod for general video work.

[@JourneymanRandy]

Thanks Joe. Very good explanation for a rotary table. I am surprised I have never heard one word on this before. As always great hanging out with you.

[@andybelcher1767]

Fantastic Joe, thank you very much. This is just the instruction I want. I am looking forward to further videos. Best wishes. Andy

[@warrenmaker798]

BRASS CANON..... yeah we know , we only been waiting 2 years . :))) I Just bought myself a rotary table so I will be watching these videos with eagerness. Thanks.

[@joepie221]

The wheels are 14 spoke 7 segment assemblies. Intricate.

[@Robonthemoor]

I'm looking forward to getting stuck into to this series with you Joe on Rotary Tables.

[@peterbrock7671]

This is all new to me and something I have always wanted to learn more about, starting with the basics thank you Joe.

[@edwardswinesburg877]

I have one as a hobbyist, used on my mill drill. You certainly have cleared up some of the features and use of the rotary table.

[@6h471]

Good info! Now slap an xy table on top of the rotary and compound it. I did some of that years ago, a real head scratcher!

[@rickbowen6929]

Well done Joe!...We will need this a lot when starting on our part we are making. We actually used a Hass VFll 3 axis and a rotary table to produce those last parts I told you about in Mobile, AL. Were it not for the very expensive Satterfield tombstone we had made, it would have been even harder to accomplish. In your next series of videos on this turntable subject it may hurt or help, to start the discussion on adding axis' to the equation. Such as, moving from a 3 to a 4 axis, and eventually a 5th axis, and the role a turntable would play in that scenario. Thanks for all you do.

[@barrygerbracht5077]

I plan to build a shop hoist (A-frame) to lift things like this onto the mill so I don't hurt myself or drop and damage these expensive things. The vice and materials can easily get too heavy to safely lift. Likewise with larger lathe chucks and bigger shafts. I'm not getting any younger. Looking forward to the next vids.

[@RobB_VK6ES]

Not as much fun but I suspect a commercial hydraulic engine hoist would be cheaper and will fold up for storage.

[@Filmpilot]

Barry Gerbracht None of us are. If you figure that out, let us know:) All I did was make/fab/weld up a tool cart for the heavier stuff and lower the table of the mill to height and lock the wheels and slide it over. Teflon or any kind of high density plastic works great. I have a hydraulic hoist to lift the heavier stuff onto the table. Obviously It needs to be not top heavy. I have the lower shelves with enough items to keep it in check. It obviously can then be rolled out of the way and allow more room for work space that’s non confining.

[@markbenoit]

Joe, thank you so much for going these videos! I have learned so much, these are all things i have always wanted to learn to do probably.

[@tonypires8816]

Thanks so much for this very timely vid. Please continue with more RT 101. Your thorough and meticulous explanations are dead on. I REALLY would like to see how to do multiple curves. I have a piece of plywood picked out for the "homework". This is what makes things stick for me. I have almost exactly the same RT and have used it a couple of times but I'm going to be much more confident after this.

[@joepie221]

Outstanding. You will like the next few secrets I share. Stick around.

[@nathanrichart7226]

I just started my homeshop to do machining rather than just fabbing. You help me with your knowledge sir, thank you, I'm trying ...and seeing all the tricks given whilst you make chips drives me even more, if i could only borrow your brain for a while lol , but thank you Joe

[@einars899]

Love your videos! If possible I would give them all my 10 thumbs up.

[@dannyl2598]

Thank you Joe. You are an excellent teacher.

[@metalshopwithtroy5755]

Thanks Joe looking forward to next Video on rotary table; recently using my 6" rotary table, cut a very tight spline, with 36 splines (16mm round) using a Lathe threading bar in the mill. worked great (Part: Lawn Mower trans axle).

[@joell439]

Joe, master machinist awesomeness. You keep sharing the most amazing information and detail. Thank you.... thank you..... thank you. 👍 😁

[@fristlsat4663]

Joe, thanks for these instructional videos. When you cover a topic I know I think "hmm, this is pretty basic". Then you cover a topic I don't know, and when you are done I think 'hmm, now I know the basics". I enjoy the machining videos from Abom and Fenner etc. more after watching your instructional videos because I can see the reasons they do some of the stuff that they probably are not even consciously doing because they have done it so long and so often. Machining is the one occupation that sometimes makes me wish I had chosen a career other than computer networking, the realization that I could actually do the kind of work you guys do, if only I had 20 more years to get the experience. My tinkering on my baby lathe and mill are more efficient because of the knowledge you share and explain on your videos. Thanks

[@joepie221]

Thanks for watching.

[@owpeterj]

Very fine. Thanks. A thought occured in regard to the slots positioning. A new zero point could be referenced/marked reflecting the desired. It's basically arbitarily situated (unless I missed something - I haven't reflected, just a quick thanks as I will get one of these and took a look at your work. The 3ft camera gave excellent shots and you must be happy with that. Have a joyful continuance.)))

[@merlinmagnus873]

One fix I found for helping with chatter in my rotary table is using heavy lucas oil in the perimeter bearing surface. It produces a dampening effect that cuts down on chatter. That's weird about the offset on your rotary table. I have a 4 slot and the 0 degree lines up when the slots are parallel with the ways. Cool camera mount, that would be great for coolant also.

[@ianmorcott3113]

Joe, Thanks for the clear explanations. I am looking forward to the rest of this series and am eagerly waiting for the tangent cutting episode. :D

[@peterjones6945]

Many thanks Joe, I've had a 10" rotary table a few years but never come close to using it anywhere near it's potential. Only ever used it for basic (table scale) degree hole making. (just like the 4" Made in India I had before it) I knew it had vernier scale for minutes but the hand-wheel markings always confused me (1,2,3,0?) Watching video and it makes super easy sense. With quadrant 'exercise' oops, I'm guilty of remembering tool offset one direction but not the other. I think I may now be ready to try some of the projects I didn't know how to divide up accurately.

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

You demonstrated and spoke, I learned. Thank you very much.

[@joepie221]

Got more coming. It gets better.

[@alk6744]

Very good info, i just had a yuasa 10” tilting rotary table and a 8” Hartford super spacer with a three jaw and all the index plates given to me, looking forward to using them, thanks again for the info

[@mrc1539]

Timing is perfect Joe , I need to make a flywheel for my model Hot Air Engine. Now if I can just pay enough attention to get it right the first time. Looking forward to the next one , Thank You 😊!

[@stevenboyko5925]

I picked up a Vertex 8" a while back that I have not really toyed with. The vernier scale reads down to 20 seconds. You have to skip lines lines on the main graduated dial to read them. I've never seen a vernier like it. I downloaded a manual for a G9298 8' rotary, It has a reasonable set of steps and pictures on how to read it. I found more than one machinist forum thread where folks are thinking the vernier scale is miss stamped on Vertex tables. This should be a fun series, thanks Joe!

[@hanni43]

Thanks much for the tips 😊👍, by any chance could you post a print for the snap together peices ,man I have a hundred uses for the device , thanks again for taking the time to share your knowledge Joe

[@joepie221]

All of that stuff is available on my website. The coupler hasn't been posted yet, but thanks for the reminder.

[@CJ-ty8sv]

Great video as usual Joe. Looking forward to future video's on the Rotary Table, particularly one that might be related to putting parts on and centering them to the table... This is one area that for some reason, I've always struggled with (i.e., accurately locate an existing part that needs a round radius feature so that the origin of the feature is at the center of the rotary table). This is especially true for parts that do NOT have a feature already at the center origin of the new needed feature

[@joepie221]

Correct. Nobody seems to be willing to go there. No feature to pickup....Not a problem. Stick around.

[@dperfetti1]

Great video and great lesson Joe! I like that Go Pro camera mount too.

[@johncollins719]

Very informative, thanks. I look forward to more rotary table vids. A rt is on my want list.

[@itsaposcj5]

Awesome. I ove that you explain the theory behind this stuff and why you need to do things a certain way. Can;t wait for the next installment. Thanks for putting out these videos.

[@deemstyle]

Great video- loved the tip about moving in half the diameter of the cutter; that didn't naturally occur to me. I would love to see an explanation for using the rotary table to make a "lightbulb" shape. Basically a circle with a handle on it.

[@parkerackley133]

Thanks for covering the rotary table. I am toying with the idea of getting a 6" table that includes index wheels. It would be nice if you could cover using those attachments. I would appreciate a video for typical setups and a video covering just the math for converting back and forth from degrees to minutes as well. I'm not sure why, but it seems all tables have a 90:1 ratio, forcing you into minutes and seconds of arc (most drawings I have seen use degrees). Sherline has nice 4" table (a bit small though) that has a 72:1 ratio. One turn is 5 degrees. It uses a 0-50 wheel where each mark is 1/10 degree. That would seem to be the perfect ratio for a rotary table. If you really wanted, you could add a verier to 0.01 degree resolution. Thanks again and keep up the great videos.

[@cossiedriverrs]

Fantastic, Joe, you are an inspiration! And you are the reason I have a laptop next to my mill/lathe! Well done! Stan, UK

[@mnicp01]

Joe Pie... knocking it out of the park... year after year!

[@traitorouskin7492]

Thanks man.you just keep dropping little gems for helping me remember/understand

[@joepie221]

Thanks for watching.

[@MikaelS1977]

Thank you for all your videos and the time you put in to explanation. Greetings from Sweden

[@joepie221]

Thanks for checking in.

[@flintknappingtools]

Joe, clamping is always problematic with rotary tables, for me.... :-) any tips?

[@TheMuzShop]

Super interesting stuff Joe! Can't wait for the next video to see this in action. Nice new toy at the end.👍👍

[@ellieprice3396]

Fabulous video. I always....always learn something new on every one. Loved the bonus material. Keep 'em coming.

[@dennyskerb4992]

Hey Joe, move the zero indicator by drill & tap new hole. Tslots now perpendicular.

[@joepie221]

Bingo.

[@bigdawgsbusa2]

Very cool Joe very intuitive. I still remember the first time I used a rotary table many many years ago, all I can say is them was some fun time's

[@sanjaysami4315]

I cannot believe I have only just discovered this channel. Fantastic !

[@joepie221]

Thanks. I hoped I earned a subscription.

[@sanjaysami4315]

Absolutely

[@MrSlickbead]

Another great video. I have the basics of the rotary down, but looking forward to your more advanced series of vids. Thanks and keep up the great work

[@joepie221]

I have a few things to show that will rock your world. Stick around.

[@louis-philippelavoie6929]

Monday I start my new job as a machinist teacher.Definitly will recommend your videos to the students.

[@joepie221]

Thank you. feel free to suggest topics.

[@patlaird4188]

As always Joe. Thanks. Great work as always. Thanks for the video on the tooling ball. Bought one and will be working on a specific project soon that made me go holy crap. It works better than sweeping the hole. Keep up everything. Wish I lived in Austin.

[@chrisj4570g]

REALLY looking forward to the next installment. Id like to see some holes interpolated (if thats the correct term ) on the rotab. And thats a pretty nifty camera mount.

[@markhobster8113]

thanks for describing the offset of half the diameter of the cutter needing to be taken off again before doing a radius, as in centre of the cutter needing to be level with the centre of the table because that little gem would have me confused 👍

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday Joe, thanks for the helpful tips, I just brought a 8” Vertex rotary table and I was having trouble working out the dial, I do have trouble with numbers which I’m not ashamed to admit, I’ll have to watch this again to let it sink in to the grey matter but I’m sure I’ll get it in the end, thanks again, very much appreciated, cheers Matty

[@jongould7296]

Looking forward to seeing this series Joe.

[@BROCKWOOD64]

Quite frankly, You are the most analytical machinist on KZbin that I am aware of. Here is an idea for a future video: Take the table off the rotary & clock the T slots to your desired Zero.

[@phase2instruments]

Actually, There is no need to remove the table-top. All Phase II rotary tables have a "neutral gear". One can disengage the worm gear from the table top, allowing for the top to be turned by hand freely. You can then line up your slots as you wish and re-engage your worm gear. Be sure to fully re-engage. You can reference this procedure in the operation manual. Great video.

[@marksarginson1916]

Hi Joe. Why not indicate in your slots and then make a new index mark at wherever the zero ends up? Or perhaps reassemble the worm drive with the slots in the required orientation.

[@bwyseymail]

Joe would have to disassemble the table and cut out the base casting to extend the cutout for the degree indicator and redrill & tap for the adjustment screw. Or quick and dirty, just make up a thin metal piece with a double offset to come out of the degree indicator notch and run along the base until you have your zero. It would be exposed to damage but so what. Since the slots and the degree markings are on the same piece this is the only way it would work.

[@nevetslleksah]

Saw a recent post on Facebook for a rotary table storage cart. Make cart u shaped so can fit around end of mill table. Crank mill table to the left, roll cart around end of mill table. Align height of mill table with height of cart, slide rotary table on or off mill table.

[@joepie221]

Great idea. These things are heavy.

[@Filmpilot]

Steven Haskell Did that 25 years ago. Nothing is worth injuring yourself or damaging machinery.

[@saartal4524]

VERY NICE! It just hit me as I watched your video - I've been thinking on how to make wood wheels for my own cannon build. Now my lathe (unimat SL1000) holds up to 2" of work - and the wheels need to be 3" or so - but I do have a 3" rotary table... err..."light bulb"! That is going to be shear FUN! Thank you for sharing the wonderful tips and ideas. Love your work - It's legant, very accurate and smart... what else can one ask for? Saar

[@bwyseymail]

???? Mount the rotary table on an angle plate mounted to the top slide (or cross slide) and use a milling cutter in a headstock collet to mill the outside of your wheels?

[@rprichard8452]

Indicate the flat edge, then turn your slots until they line up on x axis and put your own marker where ever the 0 is. Try to indicate the slots and get that zero mark where it is convenient for you. Just like those pcs of tape, but mark it permanently or drill and tap a hole directly under the zero, and move that adjustable marker to that position. I hope I said it right, or I’d have to draw pics. I enjoy your teaching and work. I started machining in the early 70’s like you. My expertise is mainly milling on large horizontal boring mills, huge planer type mills, and jig bore machines, and larger lathes. I did start in some small shops on Bridgeport’s and lathes too. Keep on teaching my friend, I do learn some nice tidbits here and there.

[@joepie221]

I made a new offset index plate. Problem solved.

[@stevecanny1583]

Necessity is the mother of invention and you are one of her favorite sons Joe! Very nice camera mount :)

[@mrayco]

Tell now there is 8unlike to this awesome and great video,,, my, question is why?????? Thanks a lot Mr Joe a video with a million,,, thanks,

[@makerspace533]

If you plan to make a bracket, similar to the one in your drawing, remember the center of the pivot hole must be in the center of the table. The left and bottom edges would be offset from the center. I built a crane out of a Harbor Freight truck bed crane. It is fastened to the floor and next to the mill for lifting rotary tables and super spacers. There's no good way to lift a rotary table with your hands. Great video.

[@joepie221]

If the hole was drilled or bored, it could be done as is. For the outer profile to be a true 90 degree arc, the rotational center would have to be adjacent to both straight sides.

[@cdorcey1735]

The question is: should the outer profile be 90 deg, or should the arc-slot be centered on the pivot hole? You can't do both with the same setup. The outer profile choice would put the corner over the table center, but if the arc-lot is centered on the pivot hole (which seems like a useful goal) that hole needs to be over the table center. (Centering the hole would be simpler than centering the corner, but if it's a training exercise, you get to define the problem.)

[@daisymaggio5729]

Hi Joe, don’t know if I’m right or not, but if you don’t like that your rotary table is 12 degrees out of perpendicular, can’t you just pull the worm gear out reposition the table 12 degrees and reinstall the worm gear? Of cause you may have to play with it to get the timing right as you reinstall the worm gear, as it will turn the table when reinstalling it. Unless you can hold the table and screw the worm gear back in with the table where you want it. I love watching your videos, thank you for a world of knowledge you provide to all levels of machinist.

[@fountainvalley100]

I had the same thought then I realized that numbers on the edge of the table would be off. I think the trick is just rotate the whole table. Joe would need to make an adapter plate to bolt the rotary table to.

[@MrMoeRod]

Hi Joe. I bet you could eliminate the 12 degree offset between the T-slots and the zero degree mark on the dial. You could disassembe the table and shift the clocking of the worm gear on the dial by three teeth, with respect to the gears on the table. I bet it was not properly assembled in the first place. 4 degrees on the dial (worm gear) times three teeth on the table will give you the twelve degrees.... Thanks for another good video!

[@richardcranium5839]

nice math but i believe the marks are on the side of the table (which has the t-slots). if one could only realign the indicator on the base or the table had a movable marking ring.....

[@jcs6347]

Joe, I am looking forward to the this series - A LOT. The only other one I have seen on rotary table is Mr Pete, but that was years ago. I don't know why, but most creators just don't use a rotary table that I have seen. Thanks for the series !

[@joepie221]

Having a CNC mill, I don't use this one very often. But my cannon wheels just scream...Dont use the CNC. Good timing to shoot some material for you guys.

[@dunxy]

Great stuff, i grabbed one of these when i purchased my lathe/mill combo, even though i had never seen one let alone used or even understand how its used but i saw the potential.I knew i needed it for one specific job (a radiused slot in a motor mount for mates RC car) so just grabbed one, i made sure to get one with the indexing plates as well, making it more versatile still,not that i have even come close to understanding everything it can do but this video sure helped me get closer,even something as simple as mounting(more complicated on a combo machine like mine without a full milling table,only the lathe crosslide,i don't have room 2 machines at this time and most of my milling work very tiny parts anyway,i only wish i could have both my vice and table mounted concurrently) it is now a bit clearer TYVM