The Azimuth Base
The challenge with the azimuth platform is finding something with a nice smooth surface. The best material to use here is kitchen counter top. Now try to avoid buying a six or eight feet piece of counter top, when you really only need a piece that's about 15 inches square. 

My solution was the cut-out for a sink. When you install a sink into a counter top, you need to cut a hole just big enough to allow the sink to fit. The people who install sinks are interested in getting the hole the correct size and in the correct position. They normally just throw the piece left over from cutting the hole away. That's the piece you want. They'll probably give it to you to get it out of their way, but if you can't find one try Home Depot or Lowes. Some of these stores will sell these pieces for a few dollars. 

You will need to add a shaft to he platform for the azimuth axis of rotation. I used a small pipe flange and pipe nipple.
This is a picture of the top of the azimuth base.  You can see the short pipe nipple which serves as the rotational axis of the azimuth box.

The four circles surrounding the pipe are recessed T-nuts.  These hold the pipe flange in place on the bottom of the base.

The black "triangle" in the upper left holds the index mark for the azimuth scale.

Azimuth Base-Top View
Here is the bottom of the base.  I've painted it black and drilled a lot of holes to cut the weight down.

The pipe flange is attached with short machine screws and the T-nuts.

The runners make sure the pipe flange clears the table top.  They also straddle the handle inside the suitcase.

Azimuth base Bottom View
This shows the finished base with the azimuth box setting on top of it.  

If you drill the hole in the bottom of the azimuth box the same diameter as the pipe flange you can just set the box on the base.  Gravity and friction will give a smooth steady operation. 

Base on Table
This is a close up of the azimuth marker.  It's just one of the left over corners from cutting out the azimuth setting circle.  

I glued it place, plus a little help from the air nailer.

 

Azimuth Marker

Go to the Setting Circles Page

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