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Indexing: Universal Dividing Head

Indexing is the process of dividing the circumference of a workpiece into equal parts to machine identical features around the piece. For example, a hex bolt head is made by indexing a circular workpiece into six equal parts and milling a flat surface on each. Indexing is commonly done using a universal dividing head attached to a milling machine. The universal dividing head can position the workpiece vertically, horizontally, or at an angle and divide it into any number of equal parts using an indexing plate and worm gear mechanism to precisely control partial rotations of the workpiece. Common indexing methods include direct, simple, compound, and differential indexing.

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904 views3 pages

Indexing: Universal Dividing Head

Indexing is the process of dividing the circumference of a workpiece into equal parts to machine identical features around the piece. For example, a hex bolt head is made by indexing a circular workpiece into six equal parts and milling a flat surface on each. Indexing is commonly done using a universal dividing head attached to a milling machine. The universal dividing head can position the workpiece vertically, horizontally, or at an angle and divide it into any number of equal parts using an indexing plate and worm gear mechanism to precisely control partial rotations of the workpiece. Common indexing methods include direct, simple, compound, and differential indexing.

Uploaded by

PPSwain
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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INDEXING

Indexing is the operation of dividing the periphery of a workpiece into any


number of equal parts. For example if we want to make a hexagonal bolt.
Head of the bolt is given hexagonal shape. We do indexing to divide
circular workpiece into six equal parts and then all the six parts are milled
to an identical flat surface. If we want to cut ‘n’ number of teeth in a gear
blank. The circumference of gear blank is divided into ‘n’ number of equal
parts and teeth are made by milling operation one by one. The main
component used in indexing operation is universal dividing head.

Universal Dividing Head

It is most popular and common type of indexing arrangement. As indicated


by its name “universal”, it can be used to do all types of indexing on a
milling machine. Universal dividing head can set the workpiece in vertical,
horizontal, or in inclined position relative to the worktable in addition to
working principle is explained below with the help of illustration in Figure
1.15. The worm gear has 40 teeth and the worm has simple thread. Crank
is directly attached with the worm. If we revolve crank by 40 revolutions
the spindle attached with worm gear will revolve by only one revolution
and one complete turn of the crank will revolve the spindle only by 1/40th
revolution (turn). In order to turn the crank precisely a fraction of a
revolution, an indexing plate is used. An indexing plate is like a circular
disc having concentric rings of different number of equally spaced holes.
Normally indexing plate is kept stationary by a lock pin. A spring loaded
pin is fixed to the crank which can be fixed into any hole of indexing plate.
The turning movement of the workpiece is stably controlled by the
movement of crank as explained below.
INDEXING METHOD
There are different indexing methods in popularity. These are:
(a) Direct indexing
(b) Simple indexing
(c) Compound indexing
(d) Differential indexing

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