Dividing Head vs Spindexer vs Rotary Table

[UMDJesse]

With regard to the Dividing head, rotary tables, indexing collet fixtures, etc, Can you more experienced guys tell me if any of these tools are redundant? I was looking in to some new tool purchases and obviously dont want to buy multiple tools that can do the same thing. Thanks

 

[Winegrower]

I have all three, and there is always one that does the particular job the best. Examples:

Mill a hex end on a shaft: Spin indexer
Cut a 62 tooth gear: Dividing head
Mill a 3” radius quarter circle: rotary table

 

[jwmelvin]

I agree with [mention]Winegrower [/mention] and would only add that there is considerable overlap in what one can do with the three fixtures, so you could use a dividing head as a rotary table by mounting a plate on it (if you have enough z height). Most dividing heads also seem to have some quick indexing features (24 positions).

 

[Bi11Hudson]

I have all three, and there is always one that does the particular job the best. Examples:

Mill a hex end on a shaft: Spin indexer
Cut a 62 tooth gear: Dividing head
Mill a 3” radius quarter circle: rotary table

There are always "multi-function" tools that do everything in a "more or less" fashion. But don't do anything exceptionally well. Then there are tools that do one thing exceptionally well and everything else "more or less". (quoting Rudyard Kipling) I also have all three, a couple of times over. One dividing head is actually a rotary table with retrofit fraction plates. There is some interchangability if you want to chew up the time. (considerable) But a whole lot simpler to have all three.

.

 

[ttabbal]

I love having the dividing head on the mill for quick operations on round parts. I don't have a spindex, partly because I don't want another collet type and because the dividing head works good enough for me. Collet blocks still get some use, don't underestimate them.

I also used a rotary table a while back to cut a radius slot in material that the 3-jaw couldn't hold safely. With a plate or jig of some kind, the dividing head could do that as well. I might have to make something for that.



Kind of an oddball use for it, but it was there and did what I needed it to do. I later put the tailstock in the vise to get rid of some chatter, but it worked great and making cuts at 90 degree intervals was a snap.

 

[Uglydog]

All the above posts are accurate.
Size also matters. How much weight can your knee support? How wide is your table? What is the throat on your mill? What size parts do you make? How will you secure those parts?

Most of what I do is large stuff. My RT is a heavy 11" Advance with XY. My DHs are a 10" Horizontal and 10" Vertical. All of these are too heavy for me to safely lift without a cart or hoist. I also use a 5c collet indexer. I've got friends who make little stuff. A 6 inch RT or DH is excessive for one of them and a 3inch won't fit on the other guys mill table (intricate jewelry).

Really depends on what kind of work you want/need to do. Also, understand that some people will never have actual need for a DH or RT. For them acquisition just ties up shelf space and dollars.

Daryl
MN