View Full Version : 24 division Spindle index
catndog
14th February 2008, 05:24 PM
I have gone from a very old lathe into something a little more modern. Can anyone tell me in laymans terms what a 24 division spindle index is or does?
wheelinround
14th February 2008, 05:39 PM
check this site out http://www.ornamentalturners.org/
edit also found this old thread with some great pics of other stuff you can do http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=10707&highlight=turning+pencil
petersemple
14th February 2008, 05:43 PM
Basically, it allows you to turn the spindle a prcisely measured amount with regards to the headstock. I have mostly seen it used along with a router, but I suppose there are other uses too. Imagine you have turned a balustrade, and want to rout out a decorative channel on 4 faces of the turning. You can lock the spindle, and rout one channel with a sled above the lathe. You then turn the index mechanism the correct number of "clicks" for 90 dgrees, and do the next one - repeat for 4 channels. You have 4 channels routed at precise intervals on the turning.
Peter
China
14th February 2008, 08:21 PM
Indexing can also be handy for making spoked wheels etc.
weisyboy
14th February 2008, 08:52 PM
basicly it means the lathe spindle can be locked at 24 diferent evenly spaced intervals.
handy for doing barley twists and the like
Skew ChiDAMN!!
15th February 2008, 12:40 AM
It should be obvious from the above replies that Indexing is only useful when the lathe is turned off... it turns the lathe into a 24 position vice.
So... if you ever get one and value your lathe, for God's sake remember to disengage the pin before you hit the lathe's ON button! :;
Gil Jones
15th February 2008, 04:29 AM
Check out this site...in the "Downloads & Misc" part.
http://www.smithart.us/index.htm
catndog
15th February 2008, 06:36 AM
Fantstic. You have answered my question perfectly. Many thanks to all.This forum is great for uninitiated like me.