The Indexing or
Dividing Head
2
Indexing (Dividing) Head
Once one of the more important
attachments for milling machine
Used to divide circumference of
workpiece into equally spaced divisions
when milling gear teeth, squares,
hexagons, and octagons
Also used to rotate workpiece at
predetermined ratio to table feed rate
3
Index Head Parts
Headstock with index plates
Headstock change gears
Quadrant
Universal chuck
Footstock
Center rest
4
Index Head Parts
Swiveling block
Mounted in base enables headstock to be
tilted from 5 below horizontal to 10 beyond
vertical
Spindle
Mounted in swiveling block with 40-tooth
worm wheel, meshes with worm
Worm
Right angle to spindle, connected to index
crank
Direct indexing plate
Engaged by pin and attached to front of
spindle
5
Index Head Parts
6
Section view
of a dividing
head
7
Index Head Parts
Universal chuck
Threaded onto end of spindle
8
Index Head Parts
Footstock
Used in conjunction with headstock to
support work held between centers or in
chuck
May be adjusted longitudinally, raised or
lowered off center, and tilted out of parallel
9
Index Head Parts
Adjustable center rest
Holds long, slender work between centers
10
Methods of Indexing
1. Direct
2. Simple
3. Angular
4. Differential
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Direct Indexing
Simplest form of indexing
Performed by disengaging worm shaft
from worm wheel by means of
eccentric device in dividing head
Spring-loaded tongue lock engages
numbered slots in index plate
Used for quick indexing of workpiece
when cutting flutes, hexagons,
squares, etc.
12
Direct Indexing Divisions
Direct indexing plate usually contains
three sets of hole circles or slots: 24,
30, and 36
Number of divisions possible to index
limited to numbers that are factors of 24,
30, 36
Slots Direct indexing divisions
24 2 3 4 _ 6 8 _ __ 12 __ __ 24 __ __
30 2 3 _ 5 6 _ _ 10 __ 15 __ __ 30 __
36 2 3 4 _ 6 _ 9 __ 12 __ 18 __ __ 36
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Example: Direct Indexing
What direct indexing is necessary to mill eight
flutes on a reamer blank?
Slots Direct indexing divisions
24 2 3 4 _ 6 8 _ __ 12 __ __ 24 __ __
30 2 3 _ 5 6 _ _ 10 __ 15 __ __ 30 __
36 2 3 4 _ 6 _ 9 __ 12 __ 18 __ __ 36
Since the 24-hole circle is the only one divisible
by 8 (the required number of divisions), it is the
only circle that can be used in this case.
Never count the hole or slot in which
the index pin is engaged.
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Milling a Square with
Direct Indexing
1. Disengage worm and worm shaft by
turning worm disengaging shaft lever
if dividing head is so equipped
2. Adjust plunger behind index plate
into the 24-hole circle or slot
3. Mount workpiece in dividing head
chuck or between centers
4. Adjust cutter height and cut first side
15
5. Remove plunger pin using plunger pin
lever
6. Turn plate attached to dividing head
spindle one-half turn and engage
plunger pin
7. Take second cut
Milling a Square with
Direct Indexing
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8. Measure work across flats and adjust
work height if required
9. Cut remaining sides by indexing every
six holes until all surfaces cut
10. Check for finish size
Milling a Square with
Direct Indexing
17
Simple Indexing
Work positioned by means of crank,
index plate, and sector arms
Worm attached to crank must be
engaged with worm wheel on dividing
head spindle
40 teeth on worm wheel
One complete turn on index crank cause
spindle and work to rotate one-fortieth of a
turn (ratio of 40:1)
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Simple Indexing
Calculating the indexing or number of
turns of crank for most divisions, simply
divide 40 by number of divisions to be
cut or,
40
Indexing =
N
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Simple Indexing
The indexing required to cut eight flutes:
crank index of turns full 5
8
40
1
43
For indexing 57 divisions, a 40-tooth
gear is mounted on the dividing head
spindle and a 56-tooth gear is mounted
on the worm shaft.
Index idlers must be used. plate rotation
is negative and two
After proper gears installed, the simple
indexing for 56 divisions should be
followed
Example: continued
44
Wide-Range Dividing Head
Possible for 2 to 400,000 divisions
Large index plate contains 11 hole
circles on each side
Small index plate mounted in front of
large, contains a 54 hole and a 100-hole
circle
40:1 ratio between worm and dividing
head spindle
45
A
large
index
plate
B - crank
C
small
index
plate
D - crank G gear housing
46
Indexing for Divisions
One turn of small crank drives index
head spindle 1/100 of 1/40, or 1/4000 of
a turn
Ratio of large index crank to dividing head
40:1
Ratio of small index crank 100:1
47
Indexing for Divisions
One hole on 100-hole circle of small
index plate C = 1/100 x 1/4000
1/400,000 of a turn
Formula for indexing divisions =
400,000/N
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Indexing for Divisions
No. of turns
of large
index crank
No. of holes on
100-hole circle
of large plate
No. of holes on
100-hole circle
of small plate
4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0
N
Number of
Divisions
x x
49
Indexing for Divisions
For 1250 divisions
400000/1250
40|00|00
1250
Since ratio of large index crank is 40:1 ,
any number that divides into 40 (first two
numbers) represents full turns of large
index crank
No. of turns
of large Index
Crank =
0
One hole on 100-hole
circle produces 1/4000
of a turn; any number
divides into 4000 are
indexed on large plate
20
No. turns
100-hole=
Large plate
3
20 holes on the
100-hole circle
small plate
4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0 0 0
N
3 0
Zero turns of large crank, 3 turns of 100-hole
large plate and 20 holes on 100-hole small plate
50
Angular Indexing with the
Wide-Range Divider
Indexing in degrees, minutes, and
seconds easily accomplished
Both large and small index cranks set
on 54-hole circle of each plate
Each space on 54-hole large plate will
cause dividing head spindle to rotate 10'
Each space on 54-hole small plate will
cause work to rotate 6"
51
Angular Indexing: cont.
plate) small on (indexed
6
N
Seconds
plate) large on (indexed
10
N
Minutes
plate) large on (indexed
9
N
Degrees