Evolution of NC Rotary Table Technology and Innovation

Table of Contents

Evolution of NC Rotary Table Technology and Innovation
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Spintop Machinery began its journey in 1996, initiating the production of NC rotary tables in collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). This partnership laid the foundation for a series of innovations in rotary table technology, with a focus on delivering reliable and precise solutions for the machining industry.

Decades of Experience and Product Development
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Building on years of expertise, Spintop Machinery has developed a diverse range of NC rotary tables and NC Indexing Tables. These products have earned recognition and appreciation from both industry professionals and valued customers. In 2005, the company expanded its portfolio to include dual-axis NC rotary tables—commonly referred to as 4-axis and 5-axis rotary tables. This addition enabled Spintop to serve a global market, receiving positive feedback for its advanced capabilities.

Embracing Five-Axis Machining Trends
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As five-axis machining became increasingly prevalent, especially in advanced manufacturing countries, Spintop Machinery responded by integrating dual-axis NC rotary tables into existing three-axis CNC machines. This approach significantly reduced machining time and improved process accuracy through simultaneous multi-angle processing, ultimately enhancing overall efficiency.

Advancements in Direct Drive Motor Technology
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Recognizing the future potential of direct drive (DD) motors and torque motors—known for their high speed, accuracy, and zero backlash—Spintop Machinery began developing rotary tables equipped with DD motors for 4-axis and 5-axis CNC machines in 2008. This research, supported by PMC, culminated in the presentation of a dual-axis NC rotary table at the Taipei International Machine Tool Show 2009 (TIMTOS 2009). The showcased rotary table featured a direct drive motor and a European-sourced encoder, integrated with a Heidenhain controller. An optimized cooling circuit was incorporated to maximize torque output from the DD motor.

Integration and Control Solutions
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Modern NC rotary tables with DD motors are now compatible with existing controllers for 4th-axis or 5th-axis machine integration. However, DD servomotors require high-precision control systems, often necessitating advanced controllers such as HEIDENHAIN, Siemens, Fanuc 31iM, or Mitsubishi M70. While these solutions enhance performance, they can also increase overall system costs.

To address this, Spintop developed an external CNC controller that interfaces with original or lower-level CNC controllers. This innovation allows for precise DD motor control—enabling rotation at any angle with a minimum increment of 0.001° using a midrange encoder. Depending on customer requirements for accuracy (such as ±5 sec, ±15 sec, or ±30 sec), the system supports multi-angle or multi-surface processing. The DD motor’s high speed, zero backlash, and compatibility with standard encoders ensure stable performance and reduced error rates.

Seamless Machine Integration
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The DD motor NC rotary table is designed for straightforward integration into existing machines, utilizing available spare M-codes for easy interfacing. This approach streamlines the upgrade process and supports a wide range of machining applications.

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