Owner'S Guide: 4Th Axis
Owner'S Guide: 4Th Axis
OWNER'S GUIDE
4TH AXIS
Page 1
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
OIL SIGHT
GLASS
NOTICE! Before you begin to operate the 4th Axis, you must
make sure that the rotary table is lubricated and adjusted for
backlash.
Figure 2-1: Oil fittings on a standard rotary table.
OIL POINT
Required Tools 2
Lubricate the Rotary Table 2
Adjust the Backlash 3
Required Tools
This procedure requires the following tools. Collect them before you
OIL POINT
begin.
OIL POINTS
l #2 Phillips screwdriver
l Dead-blow hammer (or similar)
Figure 2-2: Oil fittings on a tilting rotary table.
l Magnetic dial indicator
OIL POINTS
l Newspaper (or similar) OIL POINTS
The rotary table is shipped without oil. Before operating, you must
fill the rotary table with oil. Only use AGMA 2 gear oil or SAE 30
weight motor oil. Do not use way oil. Figure 2-3: Oil fittings on a super spacer rotary table.
2. On the standard rotary tables (6-in. Rotary Table or 8-in.
Note: After the rotary table is filled with oil, you must
Rotary Table), identify the oil reservoir.
allow it to drain the excess oil, which may take up to two
3. Use a trigger-style oil can to fill the oil fittings: Insert the tip
days. You may use the 4th Axis while it drains.
of the oil can into each fitting, and pump in oil until you can
feel back pressure.
4. On the standard rotary tables (6-in. Rotary Table or 8-in.
Rotary Table), fill the oil reservoir until the oil begins to leak
out at the bottom of the table. If the If the oil reservoir is
over-filled, it slowly leaks out until it reaches the correct level.
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
protective cover screw on top of it, or loosen a jam nut. 2. Loosen the backlash adjustment screw six turns
counterclockwise.
3. Disengage the eccentric lock and clamp handles.
4. Engage the worm gear: Rotate it completely
(counterclockwise on standard and tilting rotary tables;
clockwise on super spacer rotary tables).
5. Verify that the rotary table does not turn. It doesn't turn when
the motor is engaged.
6. Use one hand to put counterclockwise pressure on the motor
(clockwise on super spacer rotary tables), and slowly tighten
the set screw until you feel resistance to the pressure you're
Figure 2-4: Backlash adjustment screw on a standard applying.
rotary table.
Figure 2-5: Backlash adjustment screw on a tilting rotary Adjust for a minimum backlash of 30 arc-seconds. Measured
table. at the outer circumference of an 8-in. diameter circle with a
dial indicator, 30 arc-seconds will be 0.0006 in. of lost motion.
Setting the backlash to 60 arc-seconds will sustain a thicker oil film,
yielding lower friction and longer life. Measured at the outer
circumference of an 8-in. diameter circle with a dial indicator, 60
arc-seconds is 0.0012 in. of lost motion.
We do not recommend setting the backlash greater than 90 arc-
seconds (1.5 arc-minutes). It won't improve the life of the
mechanism, and could result in chatter during machine operations.
Page 3
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
Page 4
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
2. Set the DIP switches on the motor driver. Depending on your 9. Connect the power wire spade connectors to the DC-BUS
rotary table, do one of the following: board as follows:
l 6-in. Rotary Table or 6-in. Tilting Rotary Table Set the a. Connect wire 241 (brown) to A+ terminal
dip switches as follows: b. Connect wire 240 (blue) to A- terminal
Dip Switch Position 10. Put back the wire trough covers.
7 On 1. Make sure that all wires on the motor driver and the DC-
BUS board are completely connected.
6 On
2. Replace the wire trough covers.
5 Off 3. Connect the rotary table to the A-Axis Encoder connector on
4 Off the side of the electrical cabinet.
4. Power on the machine and the PathPilot controller.
3 Off
a. Turn the Main Disconnect switch to ON on the side of the
2 On electrical cabinet.
1 On b. Twist out the Emergency Stop button on the operator box,
which enables movement to the machine axes and the
l 8-in. Rotary Table, 6-in. Super Spacer Rotary Table,
spindle.
8-in. Super Spacer Rotary Table or 8-in. Tilting
c. Press the Reset button on the operator box.
Rotary Table Set the dip switches as follows:
d. Bring the machine out of reset and reference it.
Dip Switch Position
5. From the PathPilot interface, test the movement of the rotary
8 Off table:
7 On l Press COMMA on the keyboard to jog the rotary table in
the -A direction.
6 On
l Press PERIOD on the keyboard to jog the rotary table in the
5 Off +A direction.
4 Off
3 Off
2 Off
1 On
3. Remove the top, right, and middle (above the DC-BUS board)
wire trough covers in the electrical cabinet.
4. Find the ribbon cable (labeled 423.4) in the top wire trough.
5. Find the green connector and wires in the right wire trough.
6. Install the motor driver in the electrical cabinet with a #2
Phillips screwdriver.
7. Connect the ribbon cable and the power connector into the
motor driver.
8. Find wire 241 and wire 240 in the middle wire trough (above
the DC-BUS board).
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
3.1 OPERATION
Read the following sections to understand how to operate the 4th
Axis:
l "About the Center Hole" (below)
l "Align the Angle of the Tilt Position" (below)
l "Distribute Wear on the Rotary Table" (below)
l "Lock the Tilt Position" (below)
l "Set a Reference Location" (below)
l "Tighten the Rotary Clamps" (on the next page)
Figure 3-2: Vernier scale.
l "Turn the Rotary Table by Hand" (on the next page)
Note: It's easier to setup chucks or fixtures while the
3.1.1 About the Center Hole
rotary table is in the horizontal position, and then
The center hole is ground to an MT taper, or a through bore, to fit
move the rotary table to the vertical position.
workholding. On rotary tables with an MT taper, there is also a
shallow, concentric pilot hole, used to locate a chuck or other
tooling. 3.1.3 Distribute Wear on the Rotary Table
We recommend distributing wear over the whole of the worm gear.
Do the following:
l When doing long runs of constant back-and-forth movement,
occasionally reposition the table top and workholding fixture.
l If the moves are close to 180°, continue rotating in the same
direction to the start point, rather than returning in the
opposite direction.
l Program the start point to change a few degrees each time (if
the part permits).
Page 6
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
Page 7
©Tormach® 2019 tormach.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
Page 8
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
5.1.1 Adjust the Backlash Figure 5-3: Backlash adjustment screw on a super spacer
rotary table.
2. Loosen the backlash adjustment screw six turns
NOTICE! You must complete the steps in this procedure to
counterclockwise.
adjust the backlash. If you do not adjust the backlash, it could
3. Disengage the eccentric lock and clamp handles.
result in premature wear on the rotary table.
4. Engage the worm gear: Rotate it completely
(counterclockwise on standard and tilting rotary tables;
To Set the Backlash by Positioning the Backlash Adjustment
clockwise on super spacer rotary tables).
Screw
5. Verify that the rotary table does not turn. It doesn't turn when
1. Identify the backlash adjustment screw: Remove the the motor is engaged.
protective cover screw on top of it, or loosen a jam nut.
6. Use one hand to put counterclockwise pressure on the motor
(clockwise on super spacer rotary tables), and slowly tighten
the set screw until you feel resistance to the pressure you're
applying.
Page 9
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
We do not recommend setting the backlash greater than 90 arc- 6. Adjust the spacer nut so that — when turned by hand — there
seconds (1.5 arc-minutes). It won't improve the life of the is no axial play in the worm shaft, and so that the shaft moves
mechanism, and could result in chatter during machine operations. freely. Do not over-tighten the lock nut.
About Backlash
Backlash is an important element in managing overall accuracy. On
a rotary table, a number of internal sliding surfaces depend on a
hydrodynamic oil film for low friction and long service life. The
adjustment of clearances between these surfaces helps to achieve
precision and extends service life — much like the adjustment of the
lead screw nut and gibs on a mill or a lathe.
If the backlash is adjusted to zero, the worm screw (and other parts)
are subjected to excessive wear and friction — which may lead to
stalling of the rotary table. As the worm screw turns, the oil shears
off at the gear interface, and provides no film to protect against Figure 5-5: Example of turning the spacer nut by hand.
metal-to-metal wear.
5.1.3 Adjust the Rotary Table
5.1.2 Adjust the Lock Nut To test for correct axial adjustment:
You must adjust the lock nut to adjust for wear in the worm gear. 1. Disengage the worm.
1. Loosen the socket head cap screw and the set screw on the 2. Rotate the table by hand. You should feel a slight drag. If you
motor coupling. Do not remove the screws. do not feel a drag, do the following:
2. Remove the four mounting screws securing the motor to the a. Use a flat-head screwdriver to loosen the three screws in
motor mount. the retaining plate two turns.
3. Remove the motor — with the coupling still attached — from b. Use an Adjustable Pin Spanner Wrench (PN 31118) to
the motor mount. tighten or loosen the retaining plate.
4. Put grease on the back side of the spacer.
5. Use two spanner wrenches to tighten (or loosen) the lock
nuts.
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
l Position the motor so that its cord points down when the
Note: Coolant contains anti-corrosion agents which protect
motor is engaged. Depending on the operational position
the table surfaces. A small amount of coolant and oil
(horizontal or vertical), you may have to reposition the motor
generally forms an emulsion, which you can see as a milky
with respect to the motor mount.
fluid inside the oil view port.
l Make sure that the paint is maintained on the motor body —
in particular, the magnetic laminations in the center.
5.1.5 Examine the Locking Lugs
l Examine the oil view port for a milky fluid or raw coolant.
The 8-in. Tilting Rotary Table and 6-in. Tilting Rotary Table each
To remove coolant from the rotary table:
have two locking lugs. When they are moved out of position (either
1. Drain the coolant from the rotary table.
intentionally or unintentionally), the rotary table will not tilt within
2. Refill with one of the following:
the full range of motion. The more interior locking lug is difficult to
l AGMA 2 gear oil
realign with the recessed groove.
l SAE 30 weight motor oil To manually align the interior locking lug:
1. Manually crank the handle and move the table to a position
About the Rotary Table and Coolant
that allows access to the displaced part.
The rotary table is designed to operate in the presence of coolant,
2. Use your fingers (or a small tool) to move the locking lug back
but not when it's submersed in coolant. It's rarely a problem is
coolant is dripping over the edge. However, it is a problem if there's into place. In its correct position, you should only see the cap
a serious external coolant flow that submerses the joint between of the locking lug.
The oil port on the edge of the rotary table (and on the base casting
itself) provides oil to the sliding surfaces. It's important to
occasionally oil the ports to maintain an oil film, which is essential
to keep water and coolant away from the sliding joint. If you're
using coolant, and you do not oil the ports, coolant will enter the
Figure 5-8: Example of the locking lug in the Out position.
rotary table.
5.1.6 Examine the Motor Coupling
If a motor coupling is loose or cracked, the table will slip relative to
motor rotation and, subsequently, lose position.
Page 11
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
1. Remove the set screw on the motor mount. 3. Remove the motor — with the coupling still attached — from
the motor mount.
The rotary table is shipped without oil. Before operating, you must
fill the rotary table with oil. Only use AGMA 2 gear oil or SAE 30
Figure 5-10: Example of loosening the screws on the motor weight motor oil. Do not use way oil.
coupling.
2. Remove the four mounting screws securing the motor to the Note: After the rotary table is filled with oil, you must
motor mount. allow it to drain the excess oil, which may take up to two
days. You may use the 4th Axis while it drains.
Page 12
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)
TECHNICAL DOCUMENT
1. Identify the oil fittings on the rotary table. 5. Put the rotary table on a stack of newspaper (or similar) to
allow it to drain the excess oil.
OIL POINT
OIL POINT
OIL PLUG
OIL SIGHT
GLASS
OIL POINT
OIL POINT
OIL POINT
OIL POINTS
Page 13
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Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10552: Owner's Guide: 4th Axis (0919A)