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Case Study  |  8.26.25

HD LIFTING ROTARY TURNTABLE

PROBLEM:

Our client required a 10-foot diameter lifting rotary turntable capable of rotating and lifting up to 35,000 lbs. The unit was to be installed inside a large furnace at their glass manufacturing facility, requiring all components to withstand temperatures up to 180°F. To meet performance standards, we designed the turntable with a minimal vertical deflection requirement of just 0.01 inches. Additionally, lift position feedback was a key requirement to ensure precise operation.

SOLUTION:

Carousel USA engineers designed a high-performance rotary turntable featuring a rigid platform coupled to four 10-ton Acme jack screws. Each screw driven by a series of gearboxes and a 3 HP high-torque, continuous-duty gear motor. This design ensures perfect synchronization of the jack screws, allowing the rotating platform to move smoothly while maintaining a flat and level position.

Figure 1:
Gearbox system and Stober Gearboxes fastened to a machined base plate for precision axial alignment of input shafts

FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS:

  • Turntable Velocity: Variable 0.35-2.0 RPM

  • Top Surface: 3⁄4” ASTM A36 Steel Plate

  • Flatness: ±1/8”

  • Load Capacity: 35,000 lbs. Distributed, Rated for continuous use

  • Lift Travel: 21.5”

  • Lift Platform Velocity: 3in/min (7.2min for 21.5”)

  • Controls: CUSA Custom Control UL508A Listed

    • Digital Readouts

      • Rotary Turntable Speed: Accuracy ±0.05 RPM

      • Rotary Turntable Height: ±0.0625”

      • Outside Temperature

      • Inside Temperature

    • Adjustable RPM Control on front panel

    • Directional Control

  • Electrical Requirements: 480VAC, 3Φ, 15A

Drive system for a lifting rotary turntable
Drive system, full component, of a custom lifting rotary turntable

Drive system (top) and full component assembly testing (bottom)

Carousel USA Logo
Carousel USA Logo
Carousel USA Logo
The Turntable Drive system of a custom lifting rotary turntable
Rotary Turntable Drive System with 3HP gear motor and internally geared slew bearing
The Turntable Drive system of a custom lifting rotary turntable

Figure 2: Turntable Drive System with 3HP gearmotor and internally geared slew bearing

Figure 1 & 3: Flatness survey process (left) flatness results (right)

DESIGN PROCESS:

The custom lifting rotary turntable was designed using SolidWorks 3D CAD software for mechanical modeling, along with advanced simulation tools for precise finite element analysis (FEA). This approach allowed us to evaluate structural integrity, identify areas where deflection exceeded our strict 0.01-inch requirement, and refine the design accordingly. By iterating through multiple design optimizations, we ensured that the turntable met all performance criteria while maintaining durability and reliability under load and high-temperature conditions.

Figure 1:
Gearbox system and Stober Gearboxes fastened to a machined base plate for precision axial alignment of input shafts

Limit Switch Control of a custom lifting rotary turntable

Figure 4: Limit switch control of the turntable height is very important to protect components from over travel

IMPLEMENTATION:

To meet the demanding requirements of a glass manufacturing facility, Carousel USA designed and built a custom 10-foot diameter lifting rotary turntable capable of rotating and lifting up to 35,000 lbs. The unit was engineered to operate inside a large furnace, requiring all components to withstand temperatures up to 180°F while maintaining a minimal vertical deflection of 0.01 inches. Our solution featured a rigid platform supported by four synchronized 10-ton Acme jack screws, driven by a series of gearboxes and a 3 HP high-torque, continuous-duty gear motor. Designed for precision and durability, the turntable included variable speed control (0.35–2.0 RPM), digital readouts for turntable speed and height, and a UL508A-listed custom control system.

To ensure flawless performance, we conducted a rigorous assembly and testing phase, verifying synchronization of the jack screws, load distribution, and system responsiveness under simulated operating conditions. Using Solid-Works 3D CAD software and finite element analysis (FEA), we optimized the design to ensure structural integrity, smooth operation, and compliance with strict performance criteria. The result was a high-performance, reliable lifting turntable tailored to the client’s needs.