Mini lathe spindle indexer

**Jughead** · Jun 2, 2019, 07:15 AM

Very nice work Dimitris!

Just a few questions. Firstly, what would happen if you turned the lathe on while the indexer was engaged?

Do you need to detach it from the lathe when it is not required?

Regards
Guy

**Dimitris Polychronis** · Jun 2, 2019, 07:13 PM

Thank you Guy, I appreciate that you like it!

Well...a lot can happened, from bending to breaking the plunger of the indexer, or breaking the plunger and the drive gear of the spindle, to bending the plunger and breaking the screws that locking in place the indexer and many other combinations that I don't want to know!!!!! That's why I always turn off the mains switch and for be 100% sure, I press also the emergency switch down!!

Yes, I must detach the indexer when is not in use.

All the best
Dimitris

**old_toolmaker** · Jun 2, 2019, 08:54 PM

Dimitris Polychronis,

Great idea and well done! It looks to be very solid.
How many teeth in the gear?

**Jughead** · Jun 3, 2019, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by Dimitris Polychronis

Thank you Guy, I appreciate that you like it!

Well...a lot can happened, from bending to breaking the plunger of the indexer, or breaking the plunger and the drive gear of the spindle, to bending the plunger and breaking the screws that locking in place the indexer and many other combinations that I don't want to know!!!!! That's why I always turn off the mains switch and for be 100% sure, I press also the emergency switch down!!

Yes, I must detach the indexer when is not in use.

All the best
Dimitris

OW. Non of those scenarios would be good.

Just an idea with regard to having to detach it when not in use. Would it not be possible to extend the longitudinal slot you cut down the length of the pin 90 degrees for a short distance. That will allow you to lift the pin and rotate it the 90 degrees and lock it in place out of the way?

Something like this:

**Dimitris Polychronis** · Jun 3, 2019, 03:10 PM

Hey Guy,

You are speaking for a J slot; to tell you the truth, I didn't thought it at all, not when I started the project and either when it was finished. I found a few comments on the video referring to the J slot and thought that it could been a nice feature for the indexer especially when I will be needed to machine identical parts, it could save time. Unfortunately even if I had thought of it at the beginning of the project it was impossible to make it, since I don't have a mill and a rotary table. Anyway, I'm not using the indexer so often; so the trouble of attaching and detaching it, is bearable. Thanks again!

Cheers
Dimitris

**Dimitris Polychronis** · Jun 3, 2019, 03:27 PM

Thank you Dick, I'm glad that you like it!

Although it's small in size, it is indeed very solid. The spindle's drive gear has 40 teeth, the bigger gear you saw at the end of the video has 60 teeth. I think that both gears give a relatively good number of divisions.

Cheers
Dimitris