Easy lathe indexing tool

This easy to make tool doesn't require any mods to your lathe, well mine at least, but the idea should apply to most lathes with a screw on cover at the gearbox end.
Attachment 24986


This is what I started with
Attachment 24987


And here are all the parts
Attachment 24988

I rummaged through my box of gears and sprockets to find something with 24 teeth, a number divisible by 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12 (and 24 of course). All regularly used workshop divisions. This sprocket came off a small obsolete and junked printing press I dismantled a few years ago, which also had lots of handy motors, shafts, gearboxes, bearings, springs etc etc.

The shaft is 40 mm in diameter which fits neatly inside the headstock bore, onto which I have machined 2 slots at right angles. The 10 mm hole through the centre has a Dynabolt (with a conical end) which, when tightened expands the slots to firmly grip the inside bore of the headstock. On the right is a spring loaded pin which engages in the sprocket to hold the headstock (and attached chuck) firmly in place to stop any rotation.

Attachment 24990
The business end of the shaft showing the slots and countersunk hole to engage the Dynabolt.


Attachment 24991
The sprocket lightly, but sufficiently welded onto end of the shaft.


Attachment 24992
Spring loaded locking pin made up from bits and pieces from the junked printing press.


Attachment 24993
Look closely, red dots to index four, yellow dots for 6, and blue dots for 3 divisions. I just use nail varnish, cheap and dries quickly, use it everywhere for things like this.


Attachment 24994
And finally with the addition of an aluminium disk I made up and bolted on later with 10 indents (machined on a rotary table) to accommodate indexing 5 and 10 divisions (eg for dial making).

I leave the spring loaded pin assembly in place all the time and just insert and tighten up the Dynabolt on the shaft when I want to mark out parts for machining. The nylon ring is now redundant with the addition of the aluminium 10 indent ring. The whole setup isn't really made to hold parts in the chuck with extreme rigidity, I use a rotary table for heavy duty work and for more complex dividing. But it takes a whole lot more time to set up, which is why I devised this quick and easy solution.

Hope this also helps you.

Bony

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

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Found it. This one would definitely work on my lathe. One question, to use the 10 divisionare you able to use the same pin you used to lock into the 24 ring? I noticed that they were different pieces and the aluminum ring sat a little lower. Or is the pin long enough to fit them both?

Thanks,
Michael Sutton
Midan Gunsmithing

The pin is long enough to fit both the 24 or 10 division rings. Just make sure you make them the same diameter before machining the indents. This indexing method should be suitable for most lathes whereas I made the Myford one to suit that lathe and utilise an existing threaded hole. That method is much more rigid too. Happy to answer and other questions, good luck with it.

A great and simple idea. Perfect addition to any lathe. Thanks. Mr Mikey.

You are very welcome, enjoy making and using it, it's a very handy additional lathe tool. I use mine often.

My wood lathe didn't come with an indexing feature. I'm looked at many homemade options over the years and none of them seemed like they were worth the effort. This one, however, will be integrated into my lathe as soon as I can squeeze it into my schedule.

Thanks.