Rotary Table Project - Computer Controlled

[Vinny]

I recently decided to change my CDCO rotary table into one that's computer controlled.  I've seen a few conversions, including one on a table very similar to mine at madmodder (via homemadetools.net) but it's a smaller table and I'll be doing a different interface.

The first step was to select a piece of metal for the stepper mount.  Had a piece of aluminum 2" round and about 2.5" long.  The part of the table where the crank mounts and the backlash adjuster attaches to is 21mm.  So step 1 was to bore a hole in the 2" round to 21mm to match the backlash adjuster, then turn something to 21mm to center everything.  I didn't want to waste a piece of metal on it so I poured a piece of plastic round and turned it down to 21mm.  Plastic is much easier and quicker to machine to size and when you're done you can either toss it or put it in a box of other pieces of plastic you made for another single use.

Here is the backlash adjuster on top of the round ready to get to know a transfer punch.


The round is now punched and drilled for a clearance for an M5-0.8.


The other side is now bored to about 1.250" for clearance for the coupler between the stepper and the 12mm shaft the crank used to attach to.


I cut a piece of 0.250 aluminum plate for the stepper motor to mount to.  I used the 4 jaw chuck that came with my Logan 200 for the first time and I'm now convinced that this chuck wasn't used on this lathe.  The supplied key wasn't even close to fitting it, it doesn't screw on all the way, the jaws barely move, ...

I got the center bored for the stepper to fit into then transfer punched the stepper holes and milled it to sorta fit the stepper.  I say sorta because it's not exact, but it's close enough for this.


Here it is finished except for drilling and tapping for the stepper mount.


Or so I thought it was finished.  I also thought I was finished with that damn 4 jaw chuck.  How do I center the stepper mount and mount it to the 2" round???  

Next chapter, back to the lathe.  Hopefully the bolts ordered to mount all this stuff together are here tomorrow (they were due here today according to the USPS... HAR!).

more to come...