High Tech Systems LLC Tooling Plate

I bought a Tooling Plate from High Tech Systems LLC.

I didn't like how far back the tooling plate extends with the default mounting (thus limiting the Y axis movement). I also didn't like the fact that the rotary table mounted near the front instead of the rear.

Mounting Holes

Since I already have a pretty much permanent tooling plate already on the table, I just went and drilled some mounting holes in the existing tooling plate. I circled them in red to make them easier to spot. Bigger...

Modified Tooling Plate

Here's a photo of the modified tooling plate. I put a new set of holes for mounting the rotary table. The holes are 2" apart, and 0.63" in the short direction. The left holes are 0.75" from the left edge of the table. The notch is 1.15" wide, 0.75" from the edge and 0.16" deep. I used a 0.5" endmill to machine the notch. The notch is required to allow the stepper motor mount to not touch the tooling plate.

In order to keep the holes straight (not slipping sideways into the T-slot) I drilled a 1/8" pilot hole before drilling the 10-32 clearance hole. Bigger...

Rotary Table

To mount the rotary table, I found it easy to rest the top part on something of an appropriate height. Remomve the 2 screws holding the mounting tab to the body. I moved two of the set screws from the four on one edge to fill the two holes left. Bigger...

Place Spacers

Place the spacers over the four holes. Bigger...

Drop in the Screws

Drop in the screws. Bigger...

Square it up

I found that the rotary table wasn't quite square to the tooling plate, but that I could make it square by controlling the tightness of the mounting screws. Bigger...

In Place

And here we see it in use. Bigger...


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