I have a question:
I am in the process of building a CNC mill, and was thinking about building a rotary table to go along with it. I would build it as direct drive (basically like a lathe head assembly), using a stepper motor mounted parallel to the spindle axis. I would do it likely this strictly because I dont know how Id be able to get rid of all the backlash using a worm drive. I would probably gear it down a reasonable mount - maybe like 3:1 or 4:1 (maybe higher, depending on the sizes of belt pulleys I can find). That way, with 1.8 degree stepper motors, I could get accuracy down to .6 degrees or less (with a 3:1 drive at minimum), which I think is acceptable for what I need to do. Not to mention I would just get that much more torque out of them, which would be important for trying to do lathing operations.
Here are my questions:
1) I was thinking that if i mounted the rotary table vertically, and put stock into it, that I could rotate the stock at some given constant speed (probably something slow, like 5-10 RPM?), and use an end mill in the head (with the spindle on, just like if I were milling) to mill the surface of the stock as it is rotating. How well would this work as a method of "turning?" I could still get a pretty smooth finish with it, right?
2.1a) Using the same rotary table, could I use a regular tap or die to thread a piece of stock? Like, imagine that piece of stock turning at again some slow speed, and being fed through the die (or onto the tap)? I suppose the tap / die would either have to be mounted to the head, or to something else not connected to the table, so that the table could move the stock through / over it as it rotates. The stepper would frequently backturn to clear the shavings from the die to prevent binding. Would this work?
2.1b) Doing the same thing as above, except reversing the placements, so that the rotary table is mounted OFF the mill table, and then the tap / die is mounted ON the table. That way the motion of the tool is controlled. This simply gives more options for mounting the stock and tool in relation to eachother (for example, it might work better one way than another).
2.2) What about if I used the same method as lathes used, to cut the thread? I dont know how fast steppers can spin, but Id imagine its not very fast? Would that be too slow to successfully cut threads?
Here are my predictions:
1: It should be possible and pretty strait-forward. Especially if I use a tailstock or a steady-rest (which I plan doing).
2.1: Again, it seems possible as long as the stepper is strong enough (???) and I can find sturdy mounting points for the off-table components.
2.2: Doubtful, as the stepper is likely either not strong enough or not fast enough.
*edit*
After a few minutes looking through sdp-si.com's online catalog, it looks like I should be able to do a ~6:1 drive ratio. I might find something better locally or somewhere else, also.