Indexing System For The Lathe

In this video I build an indexing system for the lathe. The indexing plate is over 14" in diameter, and it has 21 rings of holes to maximize the number of indexing combinations.
Here is the video for the fluting jig shown in this video - • Router Fluting Jig - P...

[@billgilbride7972]

FOURTEEN INCHES!!! You have done an amazing job on this one. Once you are past the disc, it's all Gravy!

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Yes, it was large, and a lot of holes to drill. Thanks for watching.

[@Rustinox]

Hell, you drilled holes for a lifetime on this one. Nice work.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Michel. Yes, I didn't know when the drilling was going to stop... One thing I did not mention in the video is that I went through all of those holes manually in the drill press to drill them out to 4mm.

[@Preso58]

Nice job, Jon. Congratulations on getting those hole patterns to work out. So much potential for a bad hole location, but it looks like 100% accuracy.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks Mark. I don't think I made a mistake. It was a lot of concentration for a few days.

[@MyMiniHomeWorkshop]

Very innovative, better you than me drilling all those holes, well done. 👍

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks. I did not show it but I went through all of those holes manually in the drill press to drill them out to 4mm. Some would call me determined, others would call me crazy... I'm still trying to figure out which is correct.

[@MyMiniHomeWorkshop]

@@thehobbymachinistnzMaybe a little bit of each 😁

[@donmittlestaedt1117]

Thanks, I liked your project and narration.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thank you.

[@paulwomack5866]

The old school indexing arm didn't have your nice clamping. Where you're using a ball as the indexing object, the old technique used a finely tapered pin; the was affixed to a springy arm. If the arm was short, the entire arm was springy, in your case a spring "end" on a long rigid arm might be needed. The tapered pin made the hole size non-critical. The taper was slight enough that normal forces were not going to force the pin out (allow the disc to rotate slightly, very bad). The spring action mean moving the disc was quick and easy, and since the arm was normally NOT fixed radially, so you had to be careful to follow a row of holes consistently.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks for watching. The smaller indexing system that I made for my metal lathe has a spring loaded pin like your describe. I will be testing this ball bearing one as I need to do some practice. I think it should work ok, but we will see.

[@paulwomack5866]

@@thehobbymachinistnz No, the style I'm thinking of is MUCH simpler - the pin doesn't move, and the arm itself is the spring. I found a video showing this on a wood lathe; kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3WtYpytj9qBbKs The pin is shown around 4:40 and the "how to use" sequence is around 7:50

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

@@paulwomack5866 Ahh Mike Peace. I have watched a lot of his videos. I see now, it is just the springy arm that holds the pin into the hole. Thanks for the video link.

[@paulwomack5866]

@@thehobbymachinistnz It's so elegant - instead of a massively rigid arm, with a separate linear spring loaded pin, just use a springy arm!

[@badjuju6563]

I think the indexing arm needs triangulation so it does not accidentally pivot and drift the effective angle of index. may also need to put a pin from the indexing wheel to rear of chuck so that. cant drift either.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks for your comments. The nyloc nut holds the arm plenty tight so I don't think I will get any movement there. I have used these types of indexing plates from other woodturners and the chuck hold it tight (unless you forget to tighten the chuck of course).

[@paulwomack5866]

In use, the arm is fixed by a pin at both ends. It ain't going anywhere.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

@@paulwomack5866 Yes, that is correct.

[@kevinwatts73]

You should've asked the Aussie cricket team to sand that orange paint off.

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Ha ha.

[@noodles7011]

you need a CNC mill with a 4th axis . get with the times

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Get them to send it to me once you have sent them the cheque...

[@noodles7011]

@@thehobbymachinistnz they said it will be there in two weeks

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

@@noodles7011 Send me a plan of what you need made and I will get right on it when the machine arrives...

[@noodles7011]

@@thehobbymachinistnz ill just use my machine at work but thanks anyway. Cheers Bro

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

@@noodles7011 No problem. Thanks for watching.

[@timmienorrie]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Thanks.

[@All.In.Good.Time.]

What club is the demo at?

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

It is at the South Auckland Woodturner's Guild