Another digital dividing head

So I needed a dividing head and at my advanced age I have trouble concentrating. I knew I would lose count or forget where I was entirely and thats why this was born.
It is powered by an Arduino,driver, stepper motor and a 60:1 worm.
My son is a talented programer and a God send for this project as I don't know hot from neutral. There is an interlock switch which tells the program and LEDS that the spindle is locked so I can't advance even if I don't pay attention to the lights. I bypassed the dip swiches in the driver so the program can choose an appropriate fraction of steps for what I have chosen. I can also go forward, backward,go to an inputted step and choose a speed. Hopefully soon a feature to select angles as an option to steps will be added.
The head uses an Atlas spindle mounted in an AL. structure with tapered roller bearings. I rebuilt the chuck ( company went out of business in 1948) and reground the jaws to insure concentricity. I do not have sophisticated measuring equipment so checking accuracy is iffy at best, but an initial go shows it to be quite accurate, certainly within .001/.002.
I am not a photographer or the son of one so please don't think badly of me for the pic quality.
Dick
Attachment 21937Attachment 21938Attachment 21939Attachment 21935Attachment 21936

Very nice sir! Can you describe the locking mechanism?

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Hope this helps. The lock is basically a clamp pivoting below the spindle using a 1/2-13 shaft as a clamp and brass inserts to clamp. There is also an eccentric collar on the shaft retained with a set screw to activate the switch that is not in the pics.
dick

That is very nice.

It would be great if you (or your son) posted the schematic of the electronics. Maybe even the ardunio Sketch. Then I could maybe build one...

I have the wiring diagram and will ask my son to post the sketch.

Oops I meant I will post the diagram tomorrow and the sketch asap.

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The 8 page wiring diagram.

Hi. Fantastic work and thank you for posting. Does the Arduino require any code? and if so would it be possible to post it please.

Thank you.

I will post the code soon.
Dick

Here is the code that is currently running on this Divider. Happy to answer any questions.

Attachment 21993

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Thanks Eaglewood! We've added your Digital Dividing Head to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: Eaglewood's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-digital-dividing-head"> <img src="/uploads/210141/homemade-digital-dividing-head.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/homemade-digital-dividing-head">Digital Dividing Head</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Eaglewood">Eaglewood</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/arduino'>Arduino</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/divider'>divider</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
<!-- END /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->

<!-- BEGIN /var/www/html/homemadetools/protected/modules/zeus/views/tool/postUpdate.php -->
Thanks Eaglewood! We've added your Dividing Head Locking Mechanism to our Machining category,
as well as to your builder page: Eaglewood's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-dividing-head-locking-mechanism"> <img src="/uploads/210146/homemade-dividing-head-locking-mechanism.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/homemade-dividing-head-locking-mechanism">Dividing Head Locking Mechanism</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/Eaglewood">Eaglewood</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/divider'>divider</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/lock'>lock</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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How'd I miss this? A digital indexer's been on my list for ages; with confession building one hadn't surfaced. Anything Haas or FANUC is $3-6000 used.
I'm not literate in Arduino, besides knowing their capabilities are extensive. This looks like a perfect launch to new skills.
First will be the spindle. Something patterned along line of a toolroom lathe, threaded outside/ 5C inside. Chucks are nice, but collets have far less obstruction for short parts.

TM51,

There are several great Arduino projects for making a digital indexers. This is on by Herb Blar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcGrBMMkXCI .


Another very detailed project for an article at Home Model Engine Machinist that looks promising. It is entitled "Arduino Rotary Table for Dummies" and just what I wanted with step by step instructions (see https://www.homemodelenginemachinist...dummies.26744/ ). This is the project I want to work on because of the included programming.

Regards,
Paul

You are right, a 5c spindle would be more accurate and vesitile but I am cheap so I used a spindle from a hanger queen that I had��. Been using it a lot and seems to work very well. I just made a new index ring for my tool grinder and the slots are within .0005.
Dick