Cole
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10,
- Location
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Oklahoma City, OK
I'd like to have a benchtop welding positioner, maybe a 4" chuck and 1" thru hole. Does one exist that isn't $?
In a land far away there exists the place called EBAY.
This gives you a start, build what you need using these components.
But 4" chuck and 1" thru hole for under $1K is asking for a LOT.
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Rotary Welding Positioner Turntable Position Workstation w/ Manual Lathe Chuck at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
Oh wait, here's this one for $645 almost an 8" chuck.
It is mainly used to tilt and rotate workpieces and keep them in a horizontal or vertical position for further welding. This welding positioner can also be connected to an automatic welding machine to ensure an auto welding process.
Last edited: Jul 21,
DDoug
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 18,
- Location
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NW Pa
I made one for a special job, made from the surplus bin.
Cole
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10,
- Location
-
Oklahoma City, OK
I saw those. There seems to be the chinese amazon stuff or jump to 2k plus.
I have the stepper components to put together a small setup, but have 0 arduino skills to drive it.
Cole
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10,
- Location
-
Oklahoma City, OK
I made one for a special job, made from the surplus bin.
Mind detailing the drive arrangement?
I saw those. There seems to be the chinese amazon stuff or jump to 2k plus.
I have the stepper components to put together a small setup, but have 0 arduino skills to drive it.
Stepper?? Arduino??? It's not rocket surgery. Besides High Frequency and IC's do not play well together.
A rheostat and plain DC motor is the highest tech needed.
DDoug
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 18,
- Location
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NW Pa
Mind detailing the drive arrangement?
I tried to post some pix, but it said they were too large.
Odd, as I have posted them here before the "change".
Simple worm drive gearbox (with hollow shaft) and belt reduction to a 1/4 hp 90 vdc motor, with drive.
I happened to buy the gearbox used from a scrap yard, but you could probably go with chain drive with a large sprocket. Maybe pull apart a bicycle for the sprockets, the crank sprocket might be big enough.
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WeldPositioner-1.JPG
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WeldPositioner-2.JPG
Scottl
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 3,
- Location
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Eastern Massachusetts, USA
I saw those. There seems to be the chinese amazon stuff or jump to 2k plus.
I have the stepper components to put together a small setup, but have 0 arduino skills to drive it.
Don't need to. Many of the "maker" sites sell small stepper controller boards and even pulse generator boards (often LM555 Timer IC based) to provide the input signal.
Perhaps an oddball suggestion but how about a cheap spindex with a 5C mount chuck as a basis? Biggest issue is you would need a good low resistance wiping ground to prevent current going through the spindle and mount. Could be as simple as a piece of heavy copper braid pressed down by a spring or weight and lubed with nozzle gel.
EDIT: After reading what dkmc wrote about high frequency and electronics I completely agree. Could be as simple as a 12vdc gearmotor run off a battery through the rheostat and charged between uses.
Cole
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10,
- Location
-
Oklahoma City, OK
EDIT: After reading what dkmc wrote about high frequency and electronics I completely agree. Could be as simple as a 12vdc gearmotor run off a battery through the rheostat and charged between uses.
This is the answer.
You guys serious put the practical back in practical machinist, thank you.
CalG
Diamond
- Joined
- Dec 30,
- Location
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Vt USA
The wheel bearing cartridges fitted to GMC light trucks (and many other vehicles) make useful rotary mounts. A pair of flanges with taper roller bearings.
DDoug
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 18,
- Location
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NW Pa
This is the answer.
You guys serious put the practical back in practical machinist, thank you.
What's wrong with the way every other commercial positioner does it ?
Garwood
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 10,
- Location
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Oregon
I have a Starley Roto-Star chuck positioner, the design is pretty damn hard to beat. I find it insane how much those things retail for. They're made in a little shop not far from me. There must be one hell of a dealer markup on those things these days. They used to be a good deal.
IMO, The absolute best motor/drive for a weld positioner is an old wire feeder. I picked up a pretty old Hobart feeder just for that. All the electronics are in a sealed heavy fiberglass box and the DC gearmotor is a tank. Plugs in to any 120 outlet. I've used it to power lots of things and currently building a roller style weld positioner to permanently house those parts.
bsg
Titanium
- Joined
- Jan 17,
- Location
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Imlay City, Michigan
Here’s another option……
The Weld Positioner Kit is finally here! It is CertiFlat's newest product and 100% made in the U.S.A. Our Welding Positioner was designed to help you take your craft to the next level without breaking the bank! This one of a kind weld positioner kit is perfect for your shop. We've eliminated...
Kevin
dana gear
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Feb 27,
- Location
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Northern califorina, usa
Here on the west coast, I have never seen a decent priced used weld positioner.
I have been to a number of equipment sales over the years and in all cases American made beat to crap positioners bring big money. That said. We have 3, one purchased new for a kings ransom years ago and the other two inhouse copies of the first one.
The inhouse built units only cost us about 500.00 to build, we had some old somewhat worn out 14" 3 jaw chucks in surplus and a couple 90 degree 1 to 1 gear boxes. we purchased the veri speed drives from Dayton, back in the day before Dayton thought all their stuff was made of gold, their hell for stout and will last forever.
true temper
Stainless
- Joined
- Jun 19,
- Location
-
Kansas
Here’s another option……
The Weld Positioner Kit is finally here! It is CertiFlat's newest product and 100% made in the U.S.A. Our Welding Positioner was designed to help you take your craft to the next level without breaking the bank! This one of a kind weld positioner kit is perfect for your shop. We've eliminated...
Kevin
I watched the video, not impressed. They power it using a cordless drill, the worm gear they are using doesn’t provide near enough reduction turning the work table too fast. Slow the drill way down and the table gets jerky. You have to use one hand to hold and control drill.
I like the one I built forward and reverse and knob to control speed. Using a foot pedal to control stop and go.
DDoug
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 18,
- Location
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NW Pa
Here’s another option……
The Weld Positioner Kit is finally here! It is CertiFlat's newest product and 100% made in the U.S.A. Our Welding Positioner was designed to help you take your craft to the next level without breaking the bank! This one of a kind weld positioner kit is perfect for your shop. We've eliminated...
Kevin
So you only get a stack of cut parts for $500.
Note the "add your drill motor" part.
Don't get a chuck either & no thru hole (OP wanted a thru hole)
Last edited: Jul 24,
Garwood
Diamond
- Joined
- Oct 10,
- Location
-
Oregon
Here’s another option……
The Weld Positioner Kit is finally here! It is CertiFlat's newest product and 100% made in the U.S.A. Our Welding Positioner was designed to help you take your craft to the next level without breaking the bank! This one of a kind weld positioner kit is perfect for your shop. We've eliminated...
Kevin
That really looks like a POS. Amazing what people will spend to "DIY" stupid shit.
Cole
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10,
- Location
-
Oklahoma City, OK
I actually own one of those kits that I'd totally forgotten about. I bought one of the original units ~5 years ago, maybe $200 at the time.
Guess I just need a DC gear motor and to assemble the kit.