Simple Degree Indexing on a Lathe Without an Index Plate!

Comments · 117

• TH

  @TheCommo81 · 4 years ago

  Magnetic digital angle finders are great. Put it on one jaw, zero then turn to 90, scribe, 180, scribe, etc. It takes about 20 seconds and just as accurate.

  6

• RO

  @robertlewis4666 · 6 years ago

  I use a degree wheel, double sided tape to hold it on the rear spindle, and a paper clip taped to the head as a pointer. Dirt cheap, amazingly accurate and no limit to the amount of holes needed.

  5

• MI

  @michaelbabatunde3915 · 6 years ago

  I really appreciate your method of index four equal position. <br>This your method can not rule out an error.<br>I would like you to try this method:<br>- set tool point at centre<br>- with the tool point touch work longitudenerally to the axis of the machine and mark face by moving forward the tool.with cross slide and mark both sides of the. face.<br>- With engineering square placed on the cross slide rotate the marked line on face Vertical to the axis of the machine with the aid of the engineering square..<br>- Rotate to Mark the two other lines axially.

  3

• DU

  @DustinRogersinMO · 6 years ago

  Another simple method that could be used is to take a strip of paper wrapped around the circumference of the chuck. Cut the paper to length so it fits tightly on the chuck with the ends touching. Remove the paper strip and fold it in half twice (for 4 segments). Add additional folds if more segments are needed. Tape the paper strip onto the chuck and add a pointer (straightened paper clip ?) to the head stock.

  9

• HA

  @hanspijpers2100 · 5 years ago

  I have seen someone using his phone mounted at the &nbsp;other side of the spindle, and using an app called protractor with a plumb modus. A simple plate and double sided tape does miracles. I did forget which you-tube I saw it on, but to me that looked great, as soon as I need it , I&apos;ll try it out for myself. But I have to buy a lathe first. Kind regards.

  1

• SP

  @spencersaul2086 · 1 year ago

  I made a similar spider, but I did the indexing in the mill. True everything up in the lathe. Then put it in the mill vice, putting a .050” flat on the top. Then flip, placing that flat on the bottom of the vice. That gives you two matching sides. Then place those flats against the sides of the vise to get the other two. Very quick and gives me a flat spot to keep the drill from walking.

• FO

  @forgeteverythingyouknow5413 · 5 years ago

  That&apos;s some pretty neat thinking there, Buddy.

• RO

  @RollingEasy · 8 years ago

  At the back end of the spindle where you have the internal thread, build an arbor of sorts that will thread in and pick up a circular saw blade. Probably about 8 inches in diameter. Depending on the number of teeth is the number of degrees when you set up a &apos;Pawl and Ratchet&apos; arrangement spring loaded somehow. My standard blade is a 24 tooth so I get 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 degrees........ All X 4. Easy. Only once the indexing is done, be sure to unscrew the gadget else its a spinning saw blade.

  10

• ER

  @eriklarsen1599 · 5 years ago

  Many more options - Take top of spindelstock and index from a fixed point to different teeth in different gears - Many options - takes a bit of work on the calculator - Your method is fine and clever

• SR

  @sradowazyszczadoniecki6567 · 5 years ago

  if you want to do like this much precise is a smartphone with protractor app and digital read out

  1

• SQ

  @Squid434 · 8 years ago

  It occurs to me that a similar result is possible by choosing the correct change gears such that the overall gearing is divisible by four and then indexing (with a dial test or dial indicator) on the appropriate teeth. It will take a bit of math though.

  2

• BR

  @brandonluxton195 · 3 years ago

  I use the spindle back gears as a crude indexer, my lathe has a 40t gear on the spindle so tooth crest to tooth crest = 9 degrees or tooth crest to root = 4.5 degrees. ;)