Built A Fixture To Index The Spindle On The Lathe
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Owners of old Logans know how small the dials on the cross feed are and how hard they are to read. I plan on making
a set of bigger dials, but to do that I need to index the spindle to inscribe the marks. So I built a fixture.
First, an old but unworn 100 tooth gear was sourced on eBay. In order to securely lock the gear I need a solid mounting
point for the fixture. By removing the lathe's reverse gear assembly, I was able use it's mounting hole and the bolts that secure it
to the headstock. A 6061 spindle with an offset flange was turned and cross drilled for a 1/4 inch steel pin. The end of the pin
was ground to fit between the teeth on the gear, and a set screw provided to secure it. A spacer was turned and pressed
into the gear to adapt it to the aft end of the spindle, and a brass plug with an MT3 taper was turned to fit into the opposite
end. All those parts are held together with a length of all thread acting as a drawbar. My 4 jaw chuck can
be mounted right over the top of this stuff, and I was pleased to find that the gear locks up solidly when it's all in place.
Loosening the set screw is all it takes to move the gear to the next tooth. Now all I have to do is make the part!