Welding Positioner

jbolt

Active User
H-M Supporter Gold Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
1,844
I blame RayC for planting the seed in my head to build a positioner. See his post https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/welding-rotary-table.64640/

I have another project that has a lot of round bits to weld so it made sense to make one. This is my slightly more complicated re-mix of Rays concept.


The table is 6" x .5" steel. Slots are sized for a 1/4" nut across the flats. No need to make special nuts. Slots were machined on the CNC mill. I had to get creative on holding a 6" disc in a 4" vise.

20180428_113209.png20180428_113815.png


Main shaft, bearing block, taper roller bearing and retainer/ground commutator.

20180428_114415.png


Main shaft is pressed into the table. No welds.

20180428_120106.png


The base is made from 11 ga. steel sheet. I had my local supplier cut them to size for me. Cost me $13 out the door. 12v power supply and speed control are mounted to 1" x 1/8" flat and then to threaded stand-offs welded to the underside of the base top. There is a anti-rotation bracket attached to the motor gearbox with a slot that engages a 1/4" dowel pin which is pressed into the bearing block. A set screw secures the gearbox shaft to the main shaft. The motor/gearbox are only supported by the shaft.

20180430_112935.png
20180430_113317.png


The stand is made from 1" square tube and 3/8" x 2" steel flat. The table can be set from 0 - 90 degrees in 15 degree increments.

20180430_161752.png


Adapter for a 5" 3-jaw chuck

20180502_204332.png


Painted, wired up and ready to go. I did the table ground a little different than RayC. I used 3 strands of 1/4" copper ground strap which wraps around the shaft retainer and is tensioned with a spring. There is a ground lug for the welder ground clamp on the bottom strip that holds the power cable gland and the 2-pin foot switch connector. I also added an adjustable hand support system.

20180515_165319.png20180515_173029.png20180515_173037.png20180515_173058.png20180515_173859.png20180515_173916.png20180515_174102.png
 
Man, I wish I had one like that!

Very nice!
 
Fantastic Build!

Thanks for sharing this.
-brino
 
Well thought out and nicely executed. Fantastic build, congrats.
 
Back
Top