Making an indexer

[spkrman15]

Hey guys,

Ok i want to build an indexer for my lathe/mill. I was figuring i would use a 72 tooth gear that was with the lathe when i bought it. I figured i would be able to do almost any jobs i want to do. Make bolt heades etc. I am not ready to cut gears so i doubt i would be doing that soon. What i am looking for are plans or suggestions as to what works and what doesn't.

Should i build it to take 5C collets or make my chuck fit on it. Those kind of questions. How should i make the feet, etc. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sprkan15

[Thrud]

Make it the way it serves your own purposes best. I simple indexer can be just a shaft in an appropriate stand/holder/fixture with the gear mounted on one end. A simple pivoted arm can be used to index with. You need to be able to lock the shaft position with a clamp of some type while machining. What ever work holding device you put on the other end is up to you. If you want to use a 5C collet you could build or buy a spin indexer just for 5C (Bison makes a nice one).

Most commercial indexers can tilt from around -15* to +105* from horizontal. In my case, mine (unfinished) has a 1-1/2"x8tpi nose with a MT#3 in the spindle - basically a copy of my lathe spindle. I obtained a 90:1 bronze gear and precision worm from a piece of scientific gear I bought at auction and parted out for that purpose ($5). I am going to adapt my unit to use the indexing accessory set from my Vertex rotary table.

The Phillip Duculos (sp?) workshop book from Village press has an article on building a modellers indexer.

[JCHannum]

You can pick up spindex fixtures pretty regularly on eBay for about $25.00. Yhey will do all you want and more. Handle 5C collets. Make an adaptor to hold your chuck on a stub shaft.
I built the Duclos indexed. Nice project, and it works as advertised. Small though.
Rudy Kouhoupt and Steve Acker have both had articles on simple indexinf fixtures as well, you can research on this site.

[SGW]

I'd duplicate my lathe spindle nose: thread and collets. Then you can easily move work from the lathe to the indexer on the milling machine.

72 will give you a good selection, and I think you're right -- it will most likely take care of 99% of anything you want.

I just submitted an article to HSM describing how I converted an extra lathe headstock into a dividing head. It's the same as my lathe headstock, so I get the duplicate spindle nose, etc. Assuming they accept the article, if past experience is any indication it ought to be published in about 2 years, so stay tuned....


[This message has been edited by SGW (edited 05-04-2002).]