04-12-2012, 08:58 PM
I believe Jerry is referring to establishing the "zero" mark on his ro-tab to align with the X or Y axis on his machine table. Notice how the hand wheel (and indicator plate) is sitting at a 45° angle to the table travel?
It doesn't need to be square to the table though to cut equal features that will run the full 360° on a simple part. You can start at any point as long as no one particular feature needs to aligned at a specific point on the part.
As long as you have equal divisions, 0 - 60 - 120 - 180 - 240 - 300 it will come out OK no matter which way "zero" is pointing when you begin.
I have the same issues on my drill press table. The spacing of the T-slots don't jive with the spacing of the mounting tabs on my ro-tab or my indexer. Standards? What standards???
Of course I could be totally wrong (sure wouldn't be the first time) and Jerry means something else entirely!
It doesn't need to be square to the table though to cut equal features that will run the full 360° on a simple part. You can start at any point as long as no one particular feature needs to aligned at a specific point on the part.
As long as you have equal divisions, 0 - 60 - 120 - 180 - 240 - 300 it will come out OK no matter which way "zero" is pointing when you begin.
I have the same issues on my drill press table. The spacing of the T-slots don't jive with the spacing of the mounting tabs on my ro-tab or my indexer. Standards? What standards???
Of course I could be totally wrong (sure wouldn't be the first time) and Jerry means something else entirely!
Willie