[Metal lathe] Indexing plate and cranck

Hi,
I needed something to index the spindle of my metal lathe, and I decided to build it, adding the crank feature. I wanted something not too much intrusive and that would be quickly mounted / unmounted as needed.

Here is what I came up with :

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_01.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_02.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_03.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_04.jpg

And here is how I did it :

First the plate, continuing on my idea to source metal in the kitchen utensils, it is made from an induction interface plate. I initially thought it would have been made of plain stainless steel, but I discovered when drilling through it that it is actually principally made of aluminum, coated with stainless steel sheets on both sides. Anyway, this is good enough for me, it is 5mm thick.
The shaft is turned out of aluminum round stock, and will be inserted in the spindle (21 mm on that side).
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_05.jpg

The shaft is cut at 45° using the table saw. Wood cutting tools work well for aluminum.
I don't remember who gave me this idea for locking the shaft in the spindle, I think it's here, maybe Paul Jones.
It works very well and is really much easier to make than an expending system.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_06.jpg

The plate is screwed on the shoulders of the shaft.
On the right you can see the beveled bottom part of the shaft. The inside bore is threaded and a piece of threaded rod will be used to pull it and lock it.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_07.jpg

http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_08.jpg

For drilling accurately the indexing holes, I drew a two pieces template with my
CAD software.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_09.jpg

It was initially planned only to be a template but I left it glued on the plate actually and varnished it to protect it from dirt.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_10.jpg

The crank knob, wood turned out of beech. I inserted a brass sleeve in it to ease the rotation of the knob around the screw.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_11.jpg

Finished Verso. The brass pin will be inserted in a small block of steel screwed on the lathe body.
The tip is threaded M4 and the shaft has a 5mm diameter.
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_12.jpg

Finished Recto :
http://www.labellenote.fr/file/homem...g_Plate_13.jpg

great project, great documentation!

I feel another "tool of the week" coming on........:thumbsup:

Nice work there but I'm not understanding what the shaft cut at 45 is for?

very nice job. I like it . thanks

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Thanks Christophe Mineau! We've added your Indexing Plate and Crank to our Lathe Accessories category,
as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/indexing-plate-and-crank"> <img src="/uploads/146971/indexing-plate-and-crank.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/indexing-plate-and-crank">Indexing Plate and Crank</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Christophe+Mineau">Christophe Mineau</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/indexing-unit'>indexing unit</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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The cut at 45 Deg., allows the short piece to slide when the bolt at the end is tightened and locks to the spindle ID holding the whole assembly in place. Simple and effective.

Nice Job Christophe! Very cool to re-use the induction plate. Really like your protected template with the Octagon and Hexagon for an easy visual from the work side!! Great pictures and docs as well! Thanks for sharing a great build. ~PJ

Hi christophe
Good work buddy, I'm assuming you have a milling attachment on your lathe ? Are you making camshafts ? Crank Shafts ? Mr. Curiosity here LOL.
Anyway great write up & Doc., I'm curious as to what was your main concern for making an indexing plate for your lathe,
Nice Job

Doug

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rossbotics

Hi christophe
Good work buddy, I'm assuming you have a milling attachment on your lathe ? Are you making camshafts ? Crank Shafts ? Mr. Curiosity here LOL.
Anyway great write up & Doc., I'm curious as to what was your main concern for making an indexing plate for your lathe,
Nice Job

Doug

---

Hi Doug, thanks for the kind words !
Actually, more than the indexing feature, I needed the locking feature, especially for side drilling.
(See the other topic)
Example :
Attachment 9890

But Yes, I often do some small milling or grinding with my Dremel attachment, and I have recently purchased a small rooter that I wish to install on the lathe, probably in my milling square to get a Z axis.
I want to use it also for sharpening or grinding some conical reamer for woodwind instrument making.

Cheers !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by scrdmgl

The cut at 45 Deg., allows the short piece to slide when the bolt at the end is tightened and locks to the spindle ID holding the whole assembly in place. Simple and effective.

---

Yes, that's exactly it, quick and easy solution !
Thanks

Excellent solution for your application and purposes Christophe. That happens to be the reason why I have a need for an indexing plate in my lathe. But there's more than that to justify it. Consider this; it is a known fact that is always easier to find and keep a center in a lathe than in a mill if you have one. Accordingly, before moving the part to the mill to continue processing, I use the index plate to locate radially disposed holes in the work piece drilled with a 1/8" (3.175 mm) hole and later transferred to my rotary table and using a pin gauge held in the mill chuck, I locate one hole and then all the others in succession to be enlarged as needed accurately and easily.

Regards

Jorge

Christophe,

This is another example of your well designed, documented and photographed projects. There are many ideas here I want to "borrow". The combination of wood and metal by adding your custom turned beech crank knob is a nice touch.

Thank you for posting, Paul

It's a very nice idea, I wanted to make an index plate and a crank, you are doing both in one tool.

Please could you tell us the diameter of the plate ?

Bonsoir Yves,
The plate has a 236mm diameter. It was purchased at "Géant Casino", kitchen department, it's an induction interface, ~20€.

Bonjour Christophe,
Thanks a lot. I did'nt dare to ask you were it was going from, but it was also a question for me !

I'm just a regular looker. Lots of great ideas.
Thanks, Dave

Congratulations Christophe Mineau, your Indexing Plate and Crank is our Tool of the Week!

Please PM me your email address, and we'll send along a $25 gift card, via your choice of PayPal, Amazon.com, GiftRocket, or bitcoin.

And that makes 8 Tool of the Week wins for Christophe Mineau! :rocker:

Here they all are:

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Congratulations Christophe!

A well deserved award, but I saw this one coming :)

Well, thank you Jon !
I'm greatly honored, and very happy indeed .
This is a really a useful tool, since I've made it, I 've used it already several times and I wonder how I didn't make it earlier...
Thanks again, and thanks also to all, for your encouraging comments !

I take the opportunity to tell all the "readers only" to take the step and start posting what you do, no need for complicated or intricate tool, sometimes the simplest are the most useful and can be worthwhile to be shared !

Cheers !
Christophe

Congratulations Christophe, a well deserved Award for a useful, simple & elegant build with recycled materials! Doesn't get much better than this in my book! Your award "Bling" and "builds" are most impressive, something to strive for and so fitting for HMT!

:clapping::thumbsup::bow: ~PJ :hattip:

Christophe,
Congratulations on winning tool of the week for your indexing plate.
A very useful and nice piece of kit and beautifully made.
Keep up the good work.
Brendon

Congratulations Christophe,

The whole indexing system you created is well designed and made to be universal for many types and makes of lathes. I wish I had something similar on my 12" swing lathe and could have used it for a recent project. Thank you for the creative ideas.

Regards,
Paul

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sking0369

Nice work there but I'm not understanding what the shaft cut at 45 is for?

---

I was wondering the same thing and guessed it must be to wedge the shaft in the arbor hole maybe?

Nice work Christophe!
Thanks for sharing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scrdmgl

The cut at 45 Deg., allows the short piece to slide when the bolt at the end is tightened and locks to the spindle ID holding the whole assembly in place. Simple and effective.

---

This is the same mechanism used to position the handlebars on a bicycle - at least on the ones I had as a kid.

Very nice Christophe. I have had something like that rattling around in my head for quite a while. It is nice to see it out in the open like this.

Bicycles have been using the angled shaft locking method for a long time for the handle bar stem.

Attachment 46391

I still remember when I was 6 or 7, being amazed working with my dad restoring my very first bike. He loosened a bolt on the handle bars. Smacked it one time with a hammer. Magically, the handle bar stem slide out of the fork tube.

He had found an old beat up bike someplace. Brought it home for me. We took that bike ALL apart, cleaned it, painted it, put it back together. It was to big for me, but I grew into it. Ah... one again I digress...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sking0369

Nice work there but I'm not understanding what the shaft cut at 45 is for?

---

When the 2 pieces cut at 45 degrees are drawn together they expand inside the spindle and jam.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by basalt

When the 2 pieces cut at 45 degrees are drawn together they expand inside the spindle and jam.

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Works equally well for square stock; handy for something that needs to lock into a square-sided slot.

To lock it into the spindle bore like the gooseneck in a bicycle :-)