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Thread: Vertex quality?

  1. #1
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    Default Vertex quality?

    Machinery house has a sale on later this week and I'm considering either a rotary table or dividing head.

    What is the Vertex brand quality like? The Vertex rotary table and dividing heads are made in Taiwan.

    Thanks in advance for any opinions!

  2. #2
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    The Vertex stuff I've used seems to be quite well built. The quality out of Taiwan is head and shoulders above China, I wouldn't have any problems buying from them.

  3. #3
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    I have a an 8" vertex rotary table and a vertex milling vice. They seem OK. I had no previous experience in metal work before I purchased them so I guess I have nothing to compare them to but I'm very happy with them. Vertex stuff is certainly the best that I can afford/justify when it comes to RT and vices so it was an easy choice for me.

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

  4. #4
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    You won't waist your money buying one.
    There pretty good for the price. My 10 inch rotary table has a slight tight spot in the gear, seems a lot of people complain about the same thing on theirs, but it doesn't affect it in anyway.
    The test report that comes with them is just a photo copy, and everyone gets the same copy. I checked mine over after unpacking it. For the few tests I did it was as good or better accuracy than the report from memory. I bought the dividing plates and tailstock with it to make it more useful.

    Just remember to buy the biggest possible as you run out of room with clamps etc really quick. I originally bought the 12 inch, but returned it for a 10 inch because it was just to big for my mill vertically also the table slots and was way too heavy for me lifting it.
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  5. #5
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    We have heaps of vertex stuff at work ( including a $12000 indexing table), and the quality is very good for the price. i wouldn't hesitate to buy it for my home shop.

  6. #6
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    My only complaint about the vertex rotary tables is how thick they are in the z direction, making them very hard to use on mills like mine with limited Z, for instance the 8" one is about 31/2" thick and the 10" even thicker. Fine on something like a bridgeport though with lots of Z axis.

  7. #7
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    Hi Guys,

    I have a 6" inch Vertex RT and a set of dividing plates that I bought for it, I've yet to use them ! I thought it was a good idea at the time. Otherwise I'm very happy with it. I do agree with the comment about the amount of Z that it takes up, particularly if you have anything mounted on top like a jig.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

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    I agree with Dave in regards to buying the biggest that you can afford, fit or lift. I have the 8" but i nearly bought the 6". I have struggled to fit and clamp some parts to it without running out of room for the clamps.

    10" would have been ridiculous for my needs and bloody heavy so in hindsight my choice of the 8" was a good compromise.

    Simon

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  9. #9
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    Simon, you can always get better size like this -
    //metalworkforums.com/f303/t200012-table-disasters

    Michael

  10. #10
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    I have had a Vertex rotary table, dividing head & foot stock for over 10 years & have not had any problems with them. I can recommend them all.
    Regards,
    Don.

  11. #11
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    Thanks for everyone's replies, I'm confident in Vertex now.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave J View Post
    I bought the dividing plates and tailstock with it to make it more useful.
    I'm thinking if you have the dividing plates and tailstock then it does most of what a dividing head can do?

  12. #12
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    They do simple dividing but not complex, I don't think they can do 127 for instance. Or extremely high numbers.

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  13. #13
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    A rotary table is a versatile device and (provided the right model is bought) can be used so the axis can be positioned both horizontally and vertically. They are geared down enough so that the crank can be turned while the spindle is rotating to cut a curve. With plates they can do simple dividing. Without plates, a rotary table in theory can position anywhere, but the plates are a nice touch that reduces errors due to overrun and so on.

    Dividing heads come in two types. Semi-universal allows divisions up to 50 from memory, as well as some divisions over 50 but there are patches where no divisions are available. The usual method of use is to position the work to the division, lock the head, cut and then repeat. Gears can be cut, as can anything that requires a circular pattern of features.

    The other type of dividing head is the universal type. 2 to 3 times the price of the semi-universal, it has change gears and features that allow it to cut those missing divisions. If you have the right type of mill, you can also connect it to cut helical gears and other forms of spiral milling where the table feed also drives the dividing head.

    There is also a simplified version called an indexer which uses plates to position the table to fixed positions. Fine if you want to put a pattern of say 18 holes around a flange but would not be sufficiently flexible to cut a large range of gears.

    If I could only afford one, it would be the rotary table as although a little more awkward, it is able to be used as a simple dividing head. Unless you have a yearning to do spiral milling, I would steer clear of the universal dividing head as they are larger, heavier and more expensive. If you only want a dividing head to put hexes or other other features like flats or holes, you may even find a collet block is sufficient.

    Michael

  14. #14
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    Thanks Michael, that was my understanding but its good to get it in a clear summary.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Michael G View Post
    Simon, you can always get better size like this -
    //metalworkforums.com/f303/t200012-table-disasters

    Michael
    Hi Michael,

    you may have made a mistake initially but you sure did fix it up nicely. That plate came up a treat.

    On the subject of making mistakes with spacing using the DRO, I have done similar things. Sometimes my dimensional mistake is so big, that if I took the time to physically look at the spacing instead of being fixated on the DRO reading, I would have picked up on it BEFORE making chips!

    I like the plate. I think it should be on my long list of things to make!

    Simon
    Girl, I don't wanna know about your mild-mannered alter ego or anything like that." I mean, you tell me you're, uh, super-mega-ultra-lightning babe? That's all right with me. I'm good. I'm good.

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