Indexer tutorial (finding center)

[myxpykalix]

Here is something i did to get me to be able to find center on my indexer each time fast.

I bought a laser line level for $5.00 at Big lots. Lined it up at back of indexer shooting towards front.

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Shooting toward headstock I can see center

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I lower the bit till i hit the laser beam. I know the tip of the bit is now at center (a different bit was used this is just a illustration)


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I zero my Z. I then took a piece of 2"x6" put it there in front of chuck with laser line shining on it made a line. Then i milled the 2x6 down to the line using the Z zero refererence point. Still using the laser line i can turn it vertical and found center in the Y axis and marked the center of the 2x6 with a line.

I use the milled 2x6 as a template. When i want to use the indexer I pull out the template, run the bit down and set my Zzero plate on top of the milled 2x6 and Zzero. I made the 2x6 the width of my aluminum plate so when i set it down to gauge i have the center in Y and Z set.

[Brady Watson]

John,
I helped a buddy of mine set up an indexer and he used a laser pointer (just a dot) that he chucked in the chuck. The pointer shot towards the tailstock and he would adjust it until the point on the live center in the tailstock split the small dot into little pie pieces. It was very accurate and quick to set up.

-B

[myxpykalix]

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "he would adjust it until the point on the live center in the tailstock split the small dot into little pie pieces" what are you adjusting (the laser?) because at that point the headstock and tailstock are not adjustable (are they?)

The part with the laser was just to find the center in order to make the wooden template. Now all i do is pull out the wooden template Zzero to the top and i'm done.

[Brady Watson]

John,
There is some side to side slop in the indexer and you need to make sure that the center of your tailstock is exactly aligned to the center of the chuck. ANY time you move the tailstock, you should check for center to center alignment, otherwise precise or long turnings could have a slight taper to them. If there wasn't any slop in the slot that the t-nuts sit in, then you would have difficulty sliding the headstock or tailstock. It's the nature of the beast.

I'm not sure what you mean about making a wooden template. ALL indexer users should make a headstock-zero block. It should be somewhere near the headstock with sufficient router/spindle clearance & precisely sized to the exact center height of the headstock/chuck (in the Z direction). Then all you need to do is drop the ZZero plate on the block and viola! - you've zeroed out to the center of the headstock. If you do this right the 1st time, it will serve you well for the life of your indexer.

If the indexer is going to be out of alignment, it's going to be side to side...not in the Z direction unless you have chips and swarf jambed underneath it.

-B

[myxpykalix]

AHHHH, now i understand what you meant re: tailstock out of alignment.

What i meant by a "template" was a "headstock-zero block" which was what i tried to clumsily describe.

"You say potato...i say pototo". Thanks!

[dray]

potato

[brian_h]

Doncha mean potatoe? (Um, anyone remember Dan Quail?)