How to make a QTVR Object Turntable, that can take from 1kg to 3 tonne (maybe more, but never tried it).

This just a guide and not an instruction manual, i don't want any Law suits from any clumsy people that fall of the turntable whilst making it etc. Use the materials you feel will to be correct for your photography job.

I am constantly asked how do i make a object turntable that is on a budget and also good enough to be shown to your clients. I produced this turntable in 1999, and it has never let me down, and has photographed Motorbikes, engines, and cars, as well as tiny mobile phones etc. This i sonly a single row movie maker, but you can make a simple multi row attachment, which i will explain.

First of all you need a simple rear hub from a ford front wheel drive car. I used a 1994 Ford Fiesta, but i know for a fact that the Escort, Focus, and Ka are all almost identical, if not the exact same parts. I paid about £5 i think it was, and he would have taken it off the car for me for around £5 extra at the local car breakers.

Unbolt the hub from the car body, and remove all brakes etc, you just need the hub and drum. Now using a Hammer, knock the studs out of the drum, the holes that are left from the studs will be used secure the top plate to the drum.

You can see by the above images the coach bolts (bolts that are round on the top, you can see their heads on the top pic) coming through into the drum. You can also see on here the back plate that used to be bolted to the car. Make sure you keep the original bolts that you removed from the car to remove this, as you will use 2 of them again to secure the metal cross to the hub.

The steel cross is a simple piece of scrap metal that i found in the local scrap yard, but i have since bought new steel like this, and it cost me about £10. I cut the steel so that it would make a perfect cross that is 1 metre in width. Then using an ARC welder welded them together. When i produced another one for a friend, i had it made by a fabricator and he charged me £20 to cut and weld it. So your looking at about £30 ($50 or so) for the steel and fabrication.




When you have the "cross" fabricated you need to drill 2 holes into the cross, so you can bolt the hub to it. Measure up the hub back plate and drill the holes so that the holes in the steel cross will align with the holes in the back plate of the hub. I used only 2 of the holes in the hub back plate to secure the cross to it as I believe that is strong enough for what I need, I used two diagonal holes. But if you needed to, you could use all 4 of the holes, if it makes you feel more secure.

The top plate is just a simple sheet of MDF wood that was cut into a circle with a jigsaw. The DIY centre I bought the wood from did this for me for free. I told them I wanted a circle of wood 1 metre in diameter, and I gave the guy a few beer tokens to say thank you.

The MDF I used was 24mm thick and I added an extra sheet of 25mm plywood underneath it to give it extra support, but there is nothing stopping you even adding another Steel cross under it, which will give it huge support.

I used this turntable upside down to photograph motorbikes, as the tiers fitted into the grooves perfectly, and then I secured the bike upright, by using thin straps to the other 2 steel sections of the cross. The straps where cut out the images with Photoshop.

The divisions marked around the out side, are very simple. Use a tape measure, and wrap it around it, and find the full circumference, then divide it by 36 (or use 3.14 (Pi) x Diameter to find the circumference). The mark it off at the correct intervals all the way around. I then cut slots into the wood (just small marks) so when I paint it to remove marks, like tire marks and easier to photograph, I wouldn't have to keep measuring it. Just make one of the indents larger than the rest so you know where the start and stop is. I have used a marker pen, to mark numbers around it, so you know how far you have gone.

This turn table is VERY strong, and can be heavy; it would be almost unbreakable, if you added a steel cross to the top. and sat the plate on top of the top cross. I was a HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) mechanic by trade, and so I am fortunate in having access to many tools and facilities, and one of them was a 10 Tonne press. We positioned a thrust bearing (a bearing that will spin whilst under pressure from the top and bottom) and then placed 3 tonnes of force onto the wooden plate on the top was applied, without causing any problems and it still span around safely.

Good luck making it, it’s very simple, but if you haven't the skills or tools to make one, ask a Fabricator, (somebody that makes Gates, Fences and general steel works etc), most will make one in their lunch brake for £50 or so as it is very simple to do.

Here are links to just a couple of movies I have made with this exact turntable

Trimbridge Machines
Sub Zero Ice Sculptures

Good Luck
Ian