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Turntable Question

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Topic: Turntable Question

Posted By: Nino
Subject: Turntable Question
Date Posted: 3/04/04 at 3:15pm

Hi'

I'm new to a discussion board...What I'm looking for is some detailed information on how to build a revolving stage. Our (amateur) group is considering doing this. It'll be about 18' - 20' in diameter. I have some good general info but need details regarding tne pivot point, materials, degree of accuracy, etc.

Thanks

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Nino

Replies:

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 3/05/04 at 12:41pm

The turntables I have built in the past have used fixed direction wheels (instead of swivel casters). The wheels are placed on the bottom of the platform so they are perpendicular to a line between the piviot point and the center of the wheel. To put it another way the axels on the wheels should all point toward the pivot point.

The pivots where never anything special, just a piece of 2" diameter threaded pipe that was screwed into a pipe flange attached to the stage. On the bottom of the platform I drilled a coreponding hole into the frame in the center. The pivot wasn't doing anything more the preventing the platform from drifting when it was turned.

I have never build on bigger the 8' in diameter but the same principles should apply.

Dan

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 3/05/04 at 2:01pm

I don't know what your stage is like, but ours and many of the ones we have worked on, has imperfections cracks, waves and or bumps. A trick we learned to keep the turtable turning freely and without becoming unlevel at the imperfections, is to mount the wheels on the floor, facing up. That way we can shim the wheels to a near perfect hight and the table sits squarley on the wheels all the way around. Other wise Dan's info on the pipe, flange and stationary wheels is the same for us. I have gone as big as a 12 foot table, and that took a lot of muscle. There use to be a great link on either this or the ACCT Bboard that had a video that showed them building and then operating a large turntable with like eight rooms on it.

Marty W

Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 3/05/04 at 10:04pm

I'm webmaster for Marshalltown Community Theatre and we have a short video of a LARGE turntable we built for the sets of THE WOMEN. The process was very similar to what has been stated above, but if you want to see the video, check out:

http://www.mctiowa.org/Season%20Bill%20Archive/Women/Archive40-2.htm - http://www.mctiowa.org/Season%20Bill%20Archive/Women/Archive 40-2.htm

Scroll down to the bottom of the page. The file is about 2MB in size so it might help to have a DSL or cable connection as well. Dial up will work, it's just kinda slow. Enjoy!

Posted By: MartyW
Date Posted: 3/08/04 at 8:52am

Thats the one Bill. Thanks.

Posted By: Gaafa
Date Posted: 3/26/04 at 1:18am

You have probably produced the revolve by now?
But if you run into to any strife, with the central pivot - Try utilising an old car ?s(vehicle) wheel stub axle assembly, with out the wheel. You can pick these up cheap form any auto wreckers usually. Because the axil has a housed bearing the revolving action is very smooth. They are easy to modify as most of what you need is on it. The wheel studs are utilised to mount a modified plate to lock in each of the revolves wedged sections. The axils mounting plate is used to bolt to a stage plate.
The trick of inverting the fixed castors, suggested by arty, is an excellent idea. However if your not allowed to screw or bolt anything to your stage. We used MDF boards under the revolve to hold the revolve, which because of the weight holding down the MDF to the stage, had no sideways slip at all. Further to turn the revolve, we ran a cable around the revolves plinth & utilised a simple barrel windless to operate it. If you use wedged sections, a good idea is to make the tops or plates over lap on one side, so they interlock the next section. To hide the cable if your not using a false stage to surround the revolve. Can be easily masked by decolouring the cable or rope with dye or a thinned paint solution - the same colour as the plinth of course!

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Joe
Western Gondawandaland
turn right @ Perth.
Hear the light & see the sound.
Toi Toi Toi Chookas {{"chook [chicken] it is"}
May you always play
to a full house}