Industrial Turntables
Industrial turntables are a type of lift used in commercial and industrial applications. In manufacturing and production contexts, industrial turntables provide a rotating platform, for example, with items stationed on the platform at intervals. As each item passes a production station, as on an assembly line, work may be performed on it. Turntables come in a large variety of configurations and may be powered or manually operated. Industrial turntables are used in factories, warehouses, and in many different applications, from automotive to food production.
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Types of Turntables
Turntables may be either standard duty or heavy-duty ring bearing. Standard duty turntables are more economical and offer better value for most industrial applications that are not too demanding. Heavy-duty ring bearing turntables offer more accurate positioning, higher capacity, and more stability. Platforms on turntables may be standard or reinforced. Conveyors can be mounted onto turntable platforms. Turntables can be powered by pneumatic air or electricity, and some varieties offer adjustable legs and casters for rolling the unit from place to place and balancing loads on uneven surfaces.
Ways to Place Loads on Industrial Turntables
There are three main ways that loads are placed onto industrial turntables: edge loading, sliding loads on and off, and lifting or stacking loads onto the turntable. Items may be loaded onto the turntable platform with forklifts, wheeled carts or vehicles, or crane-like machines. Loads can also be placed on turntables via sheet feeding or conveyor operations. The capacity of an industrial turntable is the total weight placed on it. This is the sum of the live load and dead load weights, where the live load weight is the total weight of the items placed on the turntable and removed. The dead load weight is that of any fixtures, conveyors, or other equipment permanently attached to the turntable platform.
Industrial Turntable Applications
Industrial turntables have a vast array of uses. In factories and production facilities, they can rotate piecework items on a platform so that as each passes by a worker or robot, work is completed on that piece; then, the platform rotates the next item to be worked on to that station on the assembly line. Industrial turntables can be fitted with scales to weigh the product for food production processes, and turntable platforms can be made with holes to allow water or other liquids to drain off the product. Some turntables have variable speed settings and can rotate either clockwise or counter-clockwise, while others may have platforms that can be lowered or raised, either manually or via a power source. Turntables can make production processes more efficient, as loads can be placed onto the turntable while others are being worked on at the same time.