Precision table that can move on x,y, and rotation?

[julianf]

This is for print. It's to micro adjust the registration.

The part to be printed sits on a solid table (possibly with vaccum hold down) and this whole table moves in X and Y, but also in rotation.

We are only talking under 5mm of travel, but it has to be lockable and precise.


I don't want to buy a commercial print table as I don't trust artists view of precision.

Is there somthing from the engineering world that would give me the precision X,y and rotation, and support, say, an a2 size plate?

Thank you.

 

[Brad93]

This is for print. It's to micro adjust the registration.

The part to be printed sits on a solid table (possibly with vaccum hold down) and this whole table moves in X and Y, but also in rotation.

We are only talking under 5mm of travel, but it has to be lockable and precise.


I don't want to buy a commercial print table as I don't trust artists view of precision.

Is there somthing from the engineering world that would give me the precision X,y and rotation, and support, say, an a2 size plate?

Thank you.

A table off a scrap jig borer

 

[hotponyshoes]

Can you mount a rotary table onto an XY table?
What size does it need to be?
I have got some medical kit like samplers and microscopes that might have that sort of arrangement in?

 

[Agroshield]

A table off a scrap jig borer

How many jig borers do you know with X-, Y- and rotary? There is the BCA one, which is tiny (he is looking for A2 size, roughly 400 x 600mm). At least 50% of the Y- axis will be part of the knee, so 'table' is a rather inadequate description.

What size does it need to be?

He said A2 (paper), roughly 400 x 600mm. As you say, a microscope stage provides the three axes of movement with the necessary precision, but is a little small.

----

To the OP. It would be good to show a link to the commercial version so we can see how it works. You do not say what weight will be on it while you are positioning it, what pressure it needs to withstand once positioned or what flatness or rigidity you need from the A2 sized surface.

The aspect ratio (roughly 3:2) of what you want does not really fit many machine tools: mills are long and thin. The closest to what you describe is a horizontal boring machine (The Metal Raymond on YT) but that is ludicrous.

 

[Brad93]

Loads.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Ah right, I thought the A2 might be a reference to some sort of standard for these things
No, nothing I have is that big.

 

[julianf]

The weight supported is minimal. And, indeed, most of my work is more like a6 (paper size) parts but some are up to about 2 foot in length by 7 inches or so

The commercial offerings show nothing of the mechanics. Let me find a photo...

Those knobs on the front do, probably y and rotation, and there will be another somewhere.

But I don't want anything like that size.

To be honest, as I say, the majority of my work is no bigger than A4 (paper size) and the rest I could use somthing else.

...and the weight / down force is nothing in engineering terms. So if a part needs to overhand the side it's kind of acceptable. Or just glue gun a bit of MDF on for that job. Again weights and forces are nothing.

Thanks to all so far.

 

[julianf]

How many jig borers do you know with X-, Y- and rotary? There is the BCA one, which is tiny (he is looking for A2 size, roughly 400 x 600mm). At least 50% of the Y- axis will be part of the knee, so 'table' is a rather inadequate description.



He said A2 (paper), roughly 400 x 600mm. As you say, a microscope stage provides the three axes of movement with the necessary precision, but is a little small.

----

To the OP. It would be good to show a link to the commercial version so we can see how it works. You do not say what weight will be on it while you are positioning it, what pressure it needs to withstand once positioned or what flatness or rigidity you need from the A2 sized surface.

The aspect ratio (roughly 3:2) of what you want does not really fit many machine tools: mills are long and thin. The closest to what you describe is a horizontal boring machine (The Metal Raymond on YT) but that is ludicrous.

I probably shouldn't have said a2 as that's just what my current lash up is.

Long and thin actually works just fine.

 

[Arc Tourist]

Can you mount a rotary table onto an XY table?
What size does it need to be?
I have got some medical kit like samplers and microscopes that might have that sort of arrangement in?

Probably to large for the OP's application, but I think " Palmgren " still makes XY rotary tables. This one is 8" in diameter and graduated in thousandth's.

 

[Kram]

For what your doing it would be best to make one up from industrial lego. Build a frame, buy some linear rails and TR screws, bit like a large 3d printer. Microscope slides often use micrometer screws for the movement, but a dial gauge would do just as well to show movement by a normal screw.

Does it need full 360 degree rotation?

 

[daedalusminos]

As @Kram says, I think 3D printer would be closer, if you don't need much theta adjustment then two leadscrews or belt on each end of one of the axis would suffice. Leadscrews would also provide locking and if needed anti backlash nuts.

 

[mtt.tr]

Pretty confident @Johnnybravo could make something, but I doubt you'd want to pay

 

[bricol]

You could do it all with one plate plate sat on another, or on a simple support frame.

Jacking screw each corner to wind in/out to move x an y. Wind one end in to rotate around the opposite corner

 

[julianf]

Probably to large for the OP's application, but I think " Palmgren " still makes XY rotary tables. This one is 8" in diameter and graduated in thousandth's.

View attachment 306215 View attachment 306216

That would be perfect... apart from, i suspect, the market price of such a thing!

 

[julianf]

For what your doing it would be best to make one up from industrial lego. Build a frame, buy some linear rails and TR screws, bit like a large 3d printer. Microscope slides often use micrometer screws for the movement, but a dial gauge would do just as well to show movement by a normal screw.

Does it need full 360 degree rotation?

Doesnt need 360. 5 or ten degrees would be fine.

I built the cnc machine that does most of my work, about 15 years back, and thought of using linear stuff, but couldnt see a clear option for the rotation (?)

 

[Johnnybravo]

What about using a microscope stage?

 

[julianf]

Pretty confident @Johnnybravo could make something, but I doubt you'd want to pay

Custom always costs. Better if i can get somthing off the shelf and then diy butcher it!

I do, believe it or not, pay for some stuff.

 

[julianf]

What about using a microscope stage?

I suspect that may be too small and light weight. Again, i mostly only do small parts, but a small amount of pressure is applied in the print process, and, whilst it is small, i think there would be limts to a scope part.

Im not sure they do rotation either?

 

[Brad93]

Recently missed some very cheap large rotary tables. Accurate to probably +/- 5 arc seconds.

 

[Johnnybravo]

I suspect that may be too small and light weight. Again, i mostly only do small parts, but a small amount of pressure is applied in the print process, and, whilst it is small, i think there would be limts to a scope part.

Im not sure they do rotation either?

Some of them do