Indexing head and its uses?

[SamIAm]

All,
I have seen may indexing heads, and can see their many uses. But I cannot see how one would use an indexing head on a lathe for?

The setup Im referring to would be the indexing portion is on the same plane as the Lathes main shaft.

Also I could see if your lathe had a drill press right above it. the indexing head would be immediately useful.

But for a typical lathe how (I'm sure theirs hundreds if not thousands of applications) is this indexing head to be used for?

fwiw I have a 10" Atlas lathe. it has some indexing holes as part of one of the main gears located right behind the Headstocks main bearing. also with a indexing pin.

Thanks.
Sam

 

[Hawkeye]

Hi, Sniper. First, welcome to the forum. The easiest way to make the indexer useful would be to make a toolpost drilling attachment. This would do most of what a drillpress over the bed would do, plus allow drilling parallel to the lathe axis - i.e. toward the headstock.

It is basically a drill chuck on a shaft, run through a bushed block that mounts in your toolpost. It can be swiveled to any angle, as seen from above. A normal electric drill drives the chuck.

 

[SamIAm]

Hawkey ,
Thanks for the resp. Any chance you have a pic of this drll attachment?

Hi, Sniper. First, welcome to the forum. The easiest way to make the indexer useful would be to make a toolpost drilling attachment. This would do most of what a drillpress over the bed would do, plus allow drilling parallel to the lathe axis - i.e. toward the headstock.

It is basically a drill chuck on a shaft, run through a bushed block that mounts in your toolpost. It can be swiveled to any angle, as seen from above. A normal electric drill drives the chuck.

 

[Charley Davidson]

Here's a pic of one, you just mount it on your compound slide then use a portable drill to drive it, you can then drill a hole at any angle or position you wish.

 

[SamIAm]

Here's a pic of one, you just mount it on your compound slide then use a portable drill to drive it, you can then drill a hole at any angle or position you wish.

I see thanks for the pic.
So on the one in the pic. I suppose you would need an extension shaft to attach a drill and then drill while in place.(at the desired angle) right?

 

[Charley Davidson]

I see thanks for the pic.
So on the one in the pic. I suppose you would need an extension shaft to attach a drill and then drill while in place.(at the desired angle) right?

It's already on there you just can't see it from this angle, but the rest of what you say is correct