Spindle indexing on a lathe!

[Tenn]

Mike is dead on right about co-ordinates being the most accurate way- check out the jig borer section of Machinery Handbook.
you can lay out and scribe and use a drill press and probably match the accuracy of a cheap rotary table. make the index wheel bigger than the part you`re making and you get an error reduction.

i was convinced i needed a dividing head until Mike turned me on to this method. saved the cash for other stuff.

THX for the tip on where to look in Machinery's Handbook :tiphat:

 

[ftownroe]

CAD Software

Could you please elaborate on what free software you use?
Thanks

 

[geckocycles]

I use http://solvespace.com/index.pl
Easy to learn and he supports it too. What I like about it is that there is no installer. Just run the .EXE file and you are up and running. Very small and powerful.