Group Project: Dividing Head - Organization and Design

If we are sure that this is a go, can somebody let me know (1) how much of (2) what material is needed for the spindle shafts? Medium carbon steel (such as 1045), 4140 prehard?

I have all of my weekends to work on this. All my other fun time activities will be pushed back.
 
I think 4140. Im not sure about hardness though. I know when i got to make my collet chuck at some point in the summer on my southbend it was going to be 4140 annealed
 
Brento said:
What is the worm crank so i know exactly what part it is.

Edit: feel stupid asking that lol but its just another handle on the indexing plate side?
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The worm crank would be the shaft that holds the piece of acme rod that drives the gear. Then there is the complicated, spring loaded pin that locks the arm into the index plate holes.
 
erikmannie said:
If we are sure that this is a go, can somebody let me know (1) how much of (2) what material is needed for the spindle shafts? Medium carbon steel (such as 1045), 4140 prehard?

I have all of my weekends to work on this. All my other fun time activities will be pushed back.
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Unfortunately, we won't know exact dimensions until we finish with drawings, but the spindle should be 5" or so, I would think. 3" to pass through the trunnion, 1/2" on the rear for the nut, and 1.5" for the nose?

Brento said:
I will try to tackle it. I will of course back out if i have trouble with anything once i get a print so i dont hold you guys up.
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1) Drawing (@Flyinfool)
2) Worm, Gear, Selector Crank Arm, Spindle Lock with Indexing Pin (@Shotgun ) - - 7071 aluminum
3) Spindle Shaft (@erikmannie) - - 4140?
4) Trunnion and Bearing (@ttabbal)
5) End Plates
5) Base (@ErichKeane) - - A35?
6) Worm Crank and Selector Pin (@Bento) - -
7) Index Plates (@Ianagos)
8) Chuck/Front Index/Backing Plate,

Currently, each participant will be responsible for 7 copies of the part they've agreed to make. But, we still have a couple sections that no one has signed up for. (I just signed on to making the spindle lock.) None of this will be final until we've finished with the drawings, of course.

At this point I have two questions:
First, what are y'all's expectations of timeline? (weeks? months? sometime before Jesus comes back?)
B) What do you envision making the part you signed up for out of? I'd like @Flyinfool to have that guidance as early as possible.
 
I'm thinking, keep scheduling loose, but have some requirements. Maybe 3 months? One part for inspection, once we have a go, the clock starts. It is a hobby, but we all need everyone to at least make a good effort not to be too long. So 6 parts in that time frame. Doesn't sound too bad. We can all give a better estimate when we've made one of them, of course. I'm not in any great hurry, but I'd like to enjoy the final product some before I pass on. :)

I'm not 100% sure of the material I have. I'm 95% sure it's 4140PH.
 
I have aluminum some brass and steel. I have stainless but i do not have much time using stainless let alone on the little lathe.

Timewise? I mean if this project was still going up into the summer i can tell you i could possibly do more bc then i will have power run to my bigger machines. With just getting back into the swing of things since its been almost 2 years since ive done machining i am going to take my time as expected everyone will be. I plan to document how i do everything just so i have notes for production time. I am in no rush as i dont have a full use for the indexer yet. This project will bring me (and my wife) joy as it will save money later on as i wont need to buy one. Also will be a great project to join.
 
At the moment I am the hold up, it is hard for anyone to proceed until I finish the drawings and the BOM.
It is hard for me to finish the drawings until I can get on the phone with each person as I get to their part to discuss how they plan to make it, what they have to make it from so that I can design it to work with them and their shop.
The trunion and the spindle can be almost any steel other than something like soft 1018. It does not need to be hardened. Since the spindle will be blank it would be best to not be hard so that everyone can put the end they need on it.
As for starting stock dimensions it is still to early to know for sure.

I think there are a lot more parts than most are considering, There will be a lot of little things. There will be a number of off the shelf purchased parts. Rather than have someone buy all the purchased parts it MIGHT be best for each person to source their own purchased parts. If any of the purchased parts are of a special or expensive nature and come in packs of some quantity then it may want to be included somewhere for sharing.

Just being realistic, I would expect this whole thing to take until at least late summer.
 
I know i will outsource the springs. With it being my part and i seem to have a smaller role i dont mind buying the springs for each one. As things progress we can talk more.
 
Brento said:
I know i will outsource the springs. With it being my part and i seem to have a smaller role i dont mind buying the springs for each one. As things progress we can talk more.
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I've made springs before, it is fun! Works best on a bigger lathe though. I DO have a bunch of piano wire for making springs, so depending on the spring-thickness, I could possibly run off a couple of those.
 
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