Indexing for Myford lathes

**Bony** · Aug 19, 2018, 06:09 AM

My smallest lathe is a Myford Super 7, purchased new over 40 years ago. It's extremely well made, very versatile and still in perfect working condition. I now use it only occasionally for small jobs and to utilise (no z in Au) the very handy T slots machined across the saddle to hold various accessories, eg. for turning spherical shapes.

Attachment 25152

A closer view.

With chuck removed showing the locking (screw in) pin, made from an old plumbing tap, with the shaft turned down to fit snugly into the slots on the plate attached to the back of the chuck. This fitting screws into an existing otherwise unused tapped hole, very handy as no modification to the lathe is needed.

Chuck removed showing indented plate on the back.

Rear view on the chuck with plate attached. there are 3 bolts holes on the chuck which I have used for 3 countersink screws, 1/4 inch Whitworth I think they are, to hold the plate in position.

This is the plate with 24 slots machined into it, plus a recess to reduce the width of the protrusion at the rear of the chuck to gain sufficient clearance. I think I used a gear cutter to mill the slots, it was some time ago now. Any form of slot would do so long as the shape of the pin to mate with it screws in place with no movement whatsoever.

The other parts.

This form of indexing is extremely rigid and is suitable for any milling operation on the lathe. The indents are number stamped, a bit pointless really. The best idea is to colour code them (yes we add a "u" in Au, as the Brits do) using nail varnish (as shown on my other indexing post about a week or so ago). Dab a drop of say yellow nail polish on every 4th slot to use for 6 divisions, red for every 6th indent for 4 divisions, blue for each 8th slot for 3 divisions etc. 24 slots will provide a handy combination of 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 and 24 divisions. if you want 5 and 10 or any other combination simply make another plate.

A very handy indexing method which requires no mods to your lathe and is rock solid in use.

Hope you find this as useful as I do.

Bony

**Suttmike1** · Aug 21, 2018, 05:32 PM

That’s a great post. Would your idea work on a Southbend Nordic 15? I would love to have this as an option for my lathe. Thanks

Michael Sutton

**Suttmike1** · Aug 21, 2018, 05:34 PM

What is the name of the other post you spoke of? I’d like to see it

**DIYer** · Aug 22, 2018, 06:50 AM

Thanks Bony! We've added your Lathe Indexing Setup to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: Bony's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Lathe Indexing Setup by Bony

tags: indexing unit

**wizard69** · Aug 22, 2018, 02:25 PM

Had a bit of a laugh here thinking you guys down under varnish your nails before driving them into the wood.

In any event a great little improvement for your lathe!!! I might ask, did you cut the index slots with a gear tooth form cutter? They just have the appearance of being cut with a rack tooth cutter.

**Bony** · Dec 12, 2018, 08:39 PM

I think I used a gear cutter, don't remember now as I made this about 30 years ago. And it's still very useful indeed.

**Toolmaker51** · Dec 12, 2018, 09:07 PM

I really like this, converting rotation to indexed spindle degrees would benefit user with milling attachment. Bet milling isn't only possibility. Inspecting bolt circles, multi-start threads, layout keyways, simple cams...Wonder if a lineal ramp [like taper attachment] and cutter arrangement could trace an oil groove helix. Indexing parts for each pass is needed.