Thread: question for the 45 size mill owners

Hi Johno,

I bought my RT about 12 months ago and I started a similar thread at the time too. While most would agree that ignoring all else, bigger is generally better as there is more room and options for mounting the work. However, it's never that simple and as always what we purchase as always going to be a compromise. While the HV8 is bigger, it weighs 30Kg while the HV6 is 12Kg. This has been a deciding factor for many who may have issues lifting this weight. Don't forget, sometimes you have to lift not only the RT but also the workpiece attached as one, this could be 45Kg. Then again I figure if you had 15Kg of workpiece on the RT then it probably wouldn't fit on the HV6 anyway. Another factor is the headroom of the mill. A 45 size mill has limited headroom and after you install an ER collet, drill chuck, face mill or the likes then the room between the top of the table and the tool gets less and less. Mind you there is only 25mm of height difference with the HV6 at 80mm and the HV8 at 105mm but many would say they need all they can get. Finally it also comes down to cost. The bigger they are the more expensive they get. You didn't mention cost being a factor or a basis for your decision so I figure it's not going to come down to that.

Lifting 30Kg is not an issue for me (At the moment) and my mill has quite a bit of head room for a 45 size mill so I decided to lash out and get the HV8. I'm glad I did. It has come in handy on more than one occasion and the project I am working on at the moment I doubt I would have fitted the workpiece on. Actually it's not the workpiece that does not fit, it's the clamping of the workpiece that gets challenging.

I don't know for sure what projects you intend to make(Edit: Derrr I just re-read you post!), why hell I didn't even know myself when I got mine but I'm happy I got the 8 inch.

Hope this helps.

Simon

Yes, the weight issue certainly concerned me. At 30kg the RT8 is quite heavy, add to this a 16kg chuck and it is a bit outside my lifting capacity.

That was one of the reasons I went for the RT6 at 12kg + 5.6kg chuck it is a bit more manageable.

It was also easier on the pocket and I haven't run out of room (yet!).

Originally Posted by Big Shed

I haven't run out of room (yet!).

I think this maybe more of an indicator of your work holding skills rather than the fact I build bigger projects! Work holding on these things seems to require a whole new approach with the limited room.

Simon

Hi texx I have the 6" from Hare and Forbes that comes with chuck and dividing pates etc so you also have a dividing head as well. You can also get a 8" or 10" aluminium base plate and still have room to mount some larger pieces. Good luck with your upcoming purchases........Phill

I have an MD46 (RF45/HM46). I went for the Vertex HV-8, which I must say is a quality item. I have a 200mm 3 jaw chuck on it. It is certainly heavy! That said, at 30kg it is not too heavy to lift up onto the table. I wanted the extra flexibility of a larger rotary table and the slots match my 14mm slots on the table. So the T-nuts are no headache. The Fuerda chuck bolts straight too the slots which is great! No backing plate needed and the holes line up with the slots perfectly.

You can see my machine and the DRO I installed here: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/md...uested-169053/

As a side note, I run Vertex VA-5 vices. The same type as Glacern rebadges. They are not bad at all. I have a couple each weighing 31kg with the base. Without the base I figure they weight around 26-27kg. So the 30kg Rotary Table is really not much more..

I bought a 6" rotary table and I wish it was bigger, although I didn't get the 8" table due to the weight......picks ya poison....

Originally Posted by simonl

I think this maybe more of an indicator of your work holding skills rather than the fact I build bigger projects! Work holding on these things seems to require a whole new approach with the limited room.

Simon

Not too sure about that

In anticipation of running out of room I picked up a 10" diam 12mm aluminium plate at the Bendigo Model Engineers Exhibition some time ago. I intend to drill a series of concentric holes in this and a suitable mounting method on the RT. That should give me more room and flexibilty if and when required.

Here are some pics of the chuck and RT6

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/mo...tex-rt-162158/

was just looking at this one as a matter of interest . bit more money than the H&F deal one but 4 slots instead of 3 , no brand though .

ROTARY TABLE HV-8 8", Rotary Table - Engineering Tooling Supplies

Originally Posted by texx

was just looking at this one as a matter of interest . bit more money than the H&F deal one but 4 slots instead of 3 , no brand though .

ROTARY TABLE HV-8 8", Rotary Table - Engineering Tooling Supplies

If you are going to mount a 3 jaw chuck on the RT, I would say that 3 slots would be easier than 4. However for work holding without a chuck (eg in horizontal mode) perhaps 4 slots would be more convenient?

Pricewise, that one is certainy getting up there.

Tex, I haven't got a 45, but as a rule of thumb, a rotary table should be roughly about as wide as the mill table simply because if it is wider then the table travel will be restricted because of the overhanging table. Nothing saying that you can't go larger but you need to be aware that it may cause other problems.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

Tex, I haven't got a 45, but as a rule of thumb, a rotary table should be roughly about as wide as the mill table simply because if it is wider then the table travel will be restricted because of the overhanging table. Nothing saying that you can't go larger but you need to be aware that it may cause other problems.

Michael

Good point Michael. The 200mm RT fits on my table without overhang. My table is slightly larger than the Hafco 45. I think the Hafco table is 210 deep.

You can make a little table pretend it's bigger.


13 Table Adjuster 25 4 11 008 (Large).jpg 13 Table Adjuster 25 4 11 010 (Large).jpg

I like the clamps, but is that one of those Jerry Lee Lewis moments? (Whole lot of shaking going on?)

Michael

You never let me down Bob!
Another great pic. Not a skeric of swarf and not a thing out of place. Another Donna Hay cookbook moment!

That setup must be quite rigid, the cut looks nice and clean and I can't see any chatter. Even an 8' RT would not have fitted the workpiece with such a radius cut. Those clamps are nice, better than the G clamps I'm using!

Simon