[studysession]

The attached picture is someone cutting a gear on the mill.

What is the tool called that is being used to hold the gear? And where can I get one?

Thanks for the help!

[wms]

That would be an Indexing head...you can get them from most any tooling supply house. MSC, Enco, and many more.

[studysession]

Thanks - do any of those places have a website so I can see how much they are? I am new to this and want to get one just like in the picture.

Thanks again.

[studysession]

I did some searches on Google and I can find information on indexing heads but not places that sell them.

Any idea of costs??? I am hoping that it is affordable.

Thanks again!

[Al_The_Man]

I think the name is also dividing head here is a link to make your own http://www.atmsite.org/contrib/JSAPP...e/divhead.html
Al

[wms]

Also called a Dividing Head. Try a google with "Dividing heads"

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=203-
4000&PMPXNO=953522&PARTPG=INLMK3

Although the one at this link may be bigger than you need.

[wms]

Sorry Al got there before me..should have told you about Dividing head in first post. Me bad.

[studysession]

Thanks - I do not think I am at the point where I can make one yet. I just want to buy the finished product of whatis in the picture I posted.

Any help is appreciated.

[mtechserv]

These are typically referred to as an indexing head or dividing head. There are many machining supply companies in the US that sell these. Most of the new models are manufactured in the far east. I've never used any of the far east manufactured units, so I'm not sure of the quality.
Here is a link to MSC, a large industrial supply company in the US.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...PMPXNO=1656786

That web page shows a typical dividing head. Prices may vary depending on what size you decide to buy.

You could also search ebay for new or used dividing heads. There is usually several on there at any given time.

[studysession]

Thanks for the replies!

Looks like there are different kinds:
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...PMPXNO=1795236

How do I tell which one I need? Have any links to the ones made in the far east? I searched EBay and from what I can see. There are not to many to choose from.

[studysession]

OK - did another search on EBay and instead of indexing head I put in dividing head and had better luck. Seems like there are many different kinds. How do I tell which is the correct one I need?

I want to make 48 pitch and Mod-1 pitch gears. Thanks!

[Ken_Shea]

Studysession, the unit you link to at MSC is the import version, a nice size and that it can be rotated up or down could be useful. These are available from Enco for $245 and is the unit Ward linked to I think. Since MSC and Enco are both owned by the same company, likely it is the same unit. Most of us hobby machinist will have to purchase the import versions as the cost difference is just too great. The high quality version are also very heavy, many over a 100 pounds (this is good). The height would control the maximum diameter gear you could machine, and I would suspect that it will index any number of teeth you or I could ever imagine needing.
The geometry of the gear you are needing to cut is controlled by the gear cutter and not the dividing head, the dividing head provides for precise indexing between each gear tooth.

[HuFlungDung]

You seem determined to get into this up to your neck (or more ) so I would recommend a universal dividing head such as in this link below. See all the gearing and stuff on the outside? You'll need that to do helical gear milling (when you get around to it).

It will also help you to do differential indexing, which is used to get certain tooth numbers that cannot be gotten using the standard plates that come with the unit. I believe that the standard plates will allow you to index every possible hole circle up to 50, and then multiples of those thereafter.

I'm not saying you have to go and spend that much, but this type of unit will give you the most flexibility.
http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...PMPXNO=1656786

Believe me, as soon as you buy this kind of stuff, its worth about 1/2 that when you go to sell it, so buy the correct unit to begin with.

[studysession]

WOW! Now that is nice. I was hoping to only spend around $200 - $300 on everything needed not including the actual cutters themselves.

Thanks for the link!

[Ken_Shea]

Murray, is not the universal dividing head similar to what you showed a picture of on the OneCNC forum or perhaps her on the zone?
I remember seeing it powered by the table feed, is this required for the helical type gear cutting ?

Studysessiom shipping weight on this sucker is 140 pounds.

[HuFlungDung]

There's got to be units like that sitting around unused, its just a matter of finding one that has all the gearing and attachments with it. There is a big stack of change gears, some gear brackets and a couple more plates that go with that unit.

The unit will have to be connected to the table feed screw (X axis). Have you rounded up a mill to use it with yet? Best get one before you go and purchase the attachments.

[HuFlungDung]

Murray, is not the universal dividing head similar to what you showed a picture of on the OneCNC forum or perhaps her on the zone?
I remember seeing it powered by the table feed, is this required for the helical type gear cutting ?

Studysessiom shipping weight on this sucker is 140 pounds.

You're right, Ken. The pictures are in my gallery here on cnczone. You gotta love machinery (and gears) if you want one of these babies.

See what happens when my parents gave my brother a better toy than me? It was a simple thing: a plastic board, with 9 tits sticking out of it, and 6 plastic gears that you could place on the tits and one of them had a little crank pin you could grab and turn the gear train. Gosh, I loved that thing (insert crying smiley here ) That, and later on, my MetalCraft.

[kong]

You could try this one, http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.a...sfile=1&jump=0
Or you may find something over at www.chronos.ltd.uk
I have no experience here though, so can't say how good it is, sorry

[HuFlungDung]

Kong,
The first one is a plain indexer. Good for plain spur gear cutting, etc. Helical milling not possible.

The second link you gave has a unit, the BS2, which is the universal model:
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/acatalog/i...ml&CatalogBody

Those writeups are incorrect for the BS0 and BS1: they cannot do differential indexing (which permits all spacings up to 380). Of course, they cannot do spiral (helical) milling, either.

Differential indexing requires use of the external gear train from the back end of the universal unit. This drives the hole plate slowly around while you turn the crank handle. Quite sexy to watch if you ever do it It would be a rare occasion that you'd ever need to do it, but I did have to make a special hole number indexing hole plate once, in order to do some helical gearing with a special tooth number. It is not possible to do helical (spiral) and differential indexing simultaneously.

BTW, simple indexing is making use of the simple "pin in the hole" principle: all these units have a 24 hole plate behind the faceplate, with an engaging pin that you slide in and out of the plate, to lock it in position. This permits quick indexing of 1,2,3,4,6,8,12,24 spacings.

Indirect indexing is making use of the 40:1 ratio of the internal worm gear assembly, and the crank pin and hole plates on the outside.

[studysession]

Right now I want to cut just spur gears. Looking for most inexpensive solution. I want to cut Mod-1 and 48 pitch gears.

Looks like the Chronos.ltd.uk link may have what I am looking for. Will call them on Monday. Thanks! Now it is just figure out how soon I can do it. Depends on how much it costs.