The Indexing or Dividing Head
The Indexing or Dividing Head
The Indexing or Dividing Head
Dividing Head
Session 14
Indexing (Dividing)
Head
Once one of the more important
attachments for milling machine
Used to divide circumference of
workpiece into equally spaced divisions
when milling gear teeth, squares,
hexagons, and octagons
Also used to rotate workpiece at
predetermined ratio to table feed rate
2
Spindle
Mounted in swiveling block with 40-tooth worm
wheel, meshes with worm
Worm
Right angle to spindle, connected to index
crank
Section view
of a dividing
head
6
Methods of Indexing
1.
2.
3.
4.
Direct
Simple
Angular
Differential
10
Direct Indexing
Simplest form of indexing
Performed by disengaging worm shaft
from worm wheel by means of eccentric
device in dividing head
Spring-loaded tongue lock engages
numbered slots in index plate
Direct Indexing
Divisions
Direct indexing plate usually contains three
sets of hole circles or slots: 24, 30, and 36
Number of divisions possible to index limited to
numbers that are factors of 24, 30, 36
Slots
24
2 3 4 _ 6 8 _ __ 12 __ __ 24 __ __
30
2 3 _ 5 6 _ _ 10 __ 15 __ __ 30 __
36
2 3 4 _ 6 _ 9 __ 12 __ 18 __ __ 36
12
Example: Direct
Indexing
Whatdirectindexingisnecessarytomilleight
flutesonareamerblank?
Sincethe24holecircleistheonlyonedivisible
by8(therequirednumberofdivisions),itisthe
onlycirclethatcanbeusedinthiscase.
Slots
24
2 3 4 _ 6 8 _ __ 12 __ __ 24 __ __
30
2 3 _ 5count
6 _ _ the
10 __hole
15 __
30 in
__which
Never
or __
slot
2 3 4
_ 6 _pin
9 __
__ 18 __ __ 36
the
index
is 12
engaged.
36
13
15
16
Simple Indexing
Work positioned by means of crank,
index plate, and sector arms
Worm attached to crank must be
engaged with worm wheel on dividing
head spindle
40 teeth on worm wheel
One complete turn on index crank cause
spindle and work to rotate one-fortieth of a
turn (ratio of 40:1)
17
Simple Indexing
Calculating the indexing or number of
turns of crank for most divisions, simply
divide 40 by number of divisions to be
cut or,
40
Indexing =
N
18
Simple Indexing
The indexing required to cut eight flutes:
40
5 full turns of index crank
8
The indexing required to cut seven flutes:
40
5
5 turns of index crank
7
7
The five-sevenths turn involves use of
an index plate and sector arms.
19
Sector arms
Fit on front of plate and may be set to any
portion of a complete turn
20
15-16-17-18-19-20
Plate 2
21-23-27-29-31-33
Plate 3
37-39-41-43-47-49
15 /21
One side
24-25-28-30-34-37-38-39-41-42-43
Other side
46-47-49-51-53-54-57-58-59-62-66
21
15-16-17-18-19-20
Plate 2
21-23-27-29-31-33
Plate 3
37-39-41-43-47-49
One side
24-25-28-30-34-37-38-39-41-42-43
Other side
46-47-49-51-53-54-57-58-59-62-66
22
15-16-17-18-19-20
Plate 2
21-23-27-29-31-33
Plate 3
37-39-41-43-47-49
One side
24-25-28-30-34-37-38-39-41-42-43
Other side
46-47-49-51-53-54-57-58-59-62-66
23
15-16-17-18-19-20
Plate 2
21-23-27-29-31-33
Plate 3
37-39-41-43-47-49
One side
24-25-28-30-34-37-38-39-41-42-43
Other side
46-47-49-51-53-54-57-58-59-62-66
24
15-16-17-18-19-20
Plate 2
21-23-27-29-31-33
Plate 3
37-39-41-43-47-49
One side
24-25-28-30-34-37-38-39-41-42-43
Other side
46-47-49-51-53-54-57-58-59-62-66
25
28
29
Angular Indexing
Setup for simple indexing may be
used
Must calculate indexing with angular
distance between divisions instead
number of divisions
Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 45
45
Indexing
5
9
5 complete turns
32
Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 60
60
2
Indexing
6
9
3
33
Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 24'
Divide
24'/540' = 4/90
4/90 = 1/22.5
Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 2430'
First, convert angle into minutes
(24 x 60') = 1440' now add 30' = 1470
Convert 9 to minutes 9x90 = 540
Divide
1470'/540' = 2 13/18
2 full turns and 13 holes on 18
hole circle
35
Differential Indexing
Used when 40/N cannot be reduced to a
factor of one of the available hole circles
Index plate must be revolved either
forward or backward part of a turn while
index crank turned to attain proper
spacing (indexing)
Change of rotation effected by idler gear or
gears in gear train
36
Differential Method
Number chosen close to required
divisions that can be indexed by simple
indexing
Example: Assume index crank has to be
rotated 1/9th of a turn and only 8-hole
circle
Crank moved 1/9th, index pin contacts plate
at spot before first hole
Exact position would be the difference
between 1/8th and 1/9th of a revolution of the
crank
37
Differential Method
cont.
1 1 9
8
1
8 9 72 72 72
38
A
driver (spindle) gear
Gearing
Simple
One idler for positive rotation of index
plate and two idlers for negative
rotation
Compound
One idler for negative rotation of index
plate and two idlers for positive rotation
40
Example:
on 21-hole circle
41
Example: continued
40
Gear ratio (A - N) x
A
40
40
5
(56 - 57) x
1 x
56
56
7
5 8
40 (spindle gear)
Change gears - x
7 8
56 (worm gear)
The fraction is negative and simple gearing is to be
used, the index plate rotation is counterclockwise
and two idlers must be used.
42
Example: continued
For indexing 57 divisions, a 40-tooth
gear is mounted on the dividing head
spindle and a 56-tooth gear is mounted
on the worm shaft.
Index idlers must be used. plate rotation
is negative and two
After proper gears installed, the simple
indexing for 56 divisions should be
followed
43
Wide-Range Dividing
Head
Possible for 2 to 400,000 divisions
Large index plate contains 11 hole
circles on each side
Small index plate mounted in front of
large, contains a 54 hole and a 100hole circle
40:1 ratio between worm and dividing
head spindle
44
G gear housing
D - crank
A
large
index
plate
B - crank
C
small
index
plate
45
46
47
Number of
Divisions
48
3 20
40|00|00
1250
20 holes on the
100-hole circle
small plate
N
(indexed on large plate) 17 1 8 turns
9
9
9
36
N
3 with r of 6'
Minutes
(indexed on large plate)
10
10
(6' x60) 18 378
N
63
Seconds (indexed on small plate)
6
6
6
Degrees
Linear Graduating
Operation of producing accurate
spaces on piece of flat or round stock
Align workpiece parallel with table
travel
Dividing head spindle geared to lead
screw of milling machine for accurate
longitudinal movement of table
1 revolution of index crank = 1/40th
revolution of spindle and lead screw
52
.001
1
turns
.00625 6 1
4
4 holes on 25-hole circle
53
54
55