My other frame table is bulky and a pain to set up. It's 6' x14' and takes up a lot of room when it's in the shop. So I decided to build a new table. This one is a rotiserie....it also is self leveling. Sorta. You don't have to worry about the legs being off level and throwing the table out of wack. It's easy to level side to side but front to back could be a little bit of a pain. When designing it I thought I would need some help flipping it. I had a motor and tried to use it. Unfortunately it's not geared low enough. It spins way too fast. Overkill anyway. It spins easy. I used some big bearings I had laying around and it spins with one hand empty. I'll be able to weld the bottoms of frames by simply flipping them. Grinding might also be nice in the verticle position. Not to mention it will not take up too much space in the verticle position. I still need to work on the holding system for the table. I had planned on the motor holding it, but now that the motor is coming off I need a brake. I tried bolts tightened to the spindle but it needs more. Clark
We have similar set-ups for our check fixtures at work. We use a simple key stop rig. Basically a round section of 1/2 steel with holes drilled for locating/locking at the desired location. If you want me to get you some pic.s let me know.
think gearbox, or a small geared hand winch, that basically requires a heap of turns for it to rotate, then adapt a old startermotor and a battery with a switch..... Cheers, and looks good, Drewfus
I just picked up steel to build one too. I'm just going to use holes and pins like an engine stand uses.
Clark, this thing frickin rules! I'm buildin one now! You knew I was lookin for ideas! Great timing! Oh yeah, wheres the beerholder??? -Shiny
I've used similar fixtures for large ***emblies at work. If you get something heavy on it with a high center of gravity and go to turn it, watch out! I would look to drop the CG below the axis of rotation, or possibly make it adjustable to accomplish that. Bob
Hey that is cool but as Concrete B pointed out, with a load (frame etc) you may need the motor to "over center" the unit. It would really **** to release the table and it roll at light speed and nail you to the wall or lay you out on the floor! My $.02 in the name of safety. Rick.
Very nice table, and it looks like it'll work really well. Is the tubing 3/16" wall? Really like the way it won't take up much room when not in use.
The table has it's first victim on it. I'll post more on the car as soon as the body starts to look like something. The only time flipping it will be a problem is with a body on or motor in and other than a roadtser there isn't enough hieght to flip a coupe. I've flipped it with a partial frame and it was easy. I did offset the table. The pivot point is centered side to side but is offset top to bottom. On the 6" tube the center is at 4" from the bottom. This should equal out with your average frame. I like the hand crank idea but I still need a brake. Maybe some sorta motorcycle disc brake would work. Be nice if it wasn't hydraulic. I forgot the dimentions. It's 4'x13', made with 2"x6" 3/6 tube. I really like it so far. It's easy on the back. It's a little taller than my old table and not being as wide keeps me from leaning over to reach the frame. Clark PS...I did make a place to set your beer, pencils and other required stuff I'll get a pic of that soon.
You could use a manual slack adjuster and the shaft off an air brake setup it would spin it and hold it we use one on our engine stand and it works good if you know somebody that works on semis you should be able to get some used ones pretty cheap or free