So what is this and how do I use it?

[Truebane]

So when I bought my Mill and Lathe a year or so ago it came with these two things and I have no clue what they are or how to use them.

After looking around here it looks like they may have something to do with cutting gears...but WTF?

 

[Truebane]

Oh, and do they go on the Lathe or on the Horizontal Mill?

 

[Desburnett]

The dividing head requires a chuck to be mounted on the back plate. Normal gearing will take 40 turns of the crank handle to turn the chuck 1 turn. The crank handle is adjustable radially to engage the pin in the selected hole pattern. For simple indexing say 2 flats 180 degree opposed you would mill the first flat then turn the crank 20 turns to arrive at the position to mill the second flat. For a square you would mill the second flat as above then turn the crank 10 turns for the third flat and then a further 20 turns for the last flat.

 

[Truebane]

...Ok...So where would I find information on how to mount this beastie and use it properly? I have found a couple of dozen blades that I think go with it? ...This may just be out of my league. :whiteflag:

Karl

 

[12bolts]

Karl,
Just goggle "using a dividing head" for a start. What are the "blades" you refer to?
The dividing head is used for, as explained, rotating a work piece a specific number of degrees, for any number of reasons. Gear cutting, drilling hole patterns, milling flats....
They are a very useful accessory to have in any shop.

....actually, on 2nd thought, it sounds like it is most certainly out of your league. I think you should box it up and ship it to me asap.

Cheers Phil

 

[Hawkeye]

Can you post a picture of the 'blades'? Sounds like you might have something else there as well.

 

[Truebane]

Can you post a picture of the 'blades'? Sounds like you might have something else there as well.

Well aside from size they all look a lot like like the ones in Shawn's pic.
That said, here are some pictures of my own:

The 3 shown are:UDT (HS-12) 6 x 1; Gooddard 6 x 1/2; Unknown manufacturer 2 1/2 x 3/16.

Oh, and I did a better count, it is more like there are 4 dozen+ of these heavy little f-ing things!

Karl

 

[Truebane]

....actually, on 2nd thought, it sounds like it is most certainly out of your league. I think you should box it up and ship it to me asap.

Cheers Phil

... um sure... :idea2: Just send me US$1000 to cover post and handling and I will send it right off! :thumbsup:

Karl

 

[Hawkeye]

Karl, I have two racks full of those cutters. They are for use on a horizontal milling machine. Looks like they've had a bit of use. If your mill has the power, you can mount two of them (if matched) on the arbor and cut both sides of the work piece at the same time. Just get the cutting speed right. Larger diameter cutter means slower cutting speed.

 

[Old Iron]

Not all Dividing Heads are 40 to 1 some are different, You'll will need to find out what brad you have to see if it is. Or you could make a mark on it and count the turns to get one full revelation.

Paul

Send me your email address and I'll send you a little program that will help you.