Evolution of Precision Rotary Table Solutions #
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 developments in rotary table technology, with a focus on delivering reliable and innovative solutions for the machining industry.
Decades of Experience and Product Development #
Building on years of expertise, Spintop Machinery has introduced multiple models of NC rotary tables and NC Indexing Tables, earning recognition and appreciation from both industry professionals and valued customers. In 2005, the company expanded its product line to include dual-axis NC rotary tables—commonly referred to as 4-axis and 5-axis rotary tables. These products quickly gained traction in global markets, receiving positive feedback for their performance and versatility.
Advancing Five-Axis Machining #
As five-axis machining became an industry trend, advanced markets adopted this technology to reduce machining time and enhance process accuracy through simultaneous multi-angle processing. By integrating dual-axis NC rotary tables into existing three-axis CNC machines, manufacturers achieved improved efficiency and higher precision.
Embracing Direct Drive Motor Technology #
Recognizing the future potential of direct drive (DD) motors and torque motors in mechanical transmission, Spintop Machinery began developing rotary tables equipped with DD motors for 4-axis and 5-axis CNC machines in 2008. This initiative, supported by PMC, led to the successful 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 enabled the system to maximize torque output from the DD motor.
Integration and Control Innovations #
Modern NC rotary tables with DD motors are now compatible with existing controllers for 4th- or 5th-axis applications. However, DD servomotors require high-precision control systems, often necessitating advanced controllers such as HEIDENHAIN, Siemens, Fanuc 31iM, or Mitsubishi M70, which can increase overall costs. To address this, Spintop developed an external CNC controller that interfaces with original or lower-level CNC controllers, meeting DD motor requirements while maintaining cost efficiency. This controller enables the DD motor to rotate at any angle with a minimum increment of 0.001°, utilizing a midrange encoder.
Depending on customer accuracy requirements—such as ±5 sec, ±15 sec, or ±30 sec—Spintop offers solutions for 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. Integration with existing machines is straightforward, utilizing available spare M-codes.
