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Modifying a Southbend Headstock for Indexing

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Bernd:
I've decided I need a break from engine building, so the Coke Bottle project will take a short hiatus as I pursue some tool building. I really need the change.

Now that I've got the Bridgeport I can do some serious milling. So what I need for the milling machine is a nice piece of indexing equipment. I've always thought of building one those that have been written up in the magazines for the Grizzly mini-mill but never got around to it. But now having a much larger mill I figured I needed an index. So keeping in with the spirit of Madmodder I need to modify something to fit.

Just so happened that my dad was going to toss out a lathe he had for longer than either of us could remember. It had been given to him by a friend when dad was looking for his first lathe. Problem was it was missing a tailstock, lead screw, bed support at the tailstock end and a few other things. Dad had in mind of restoring it to use for building steam engines. He scrapped the ways and the bottom of the head stock. Then for some reason it went under the bench and stayed there for quite a number of years. Just this past year he was cleaning house and wanted to through it in the dumpster. I took it home figuring I'd find something that could be done with the parts.

Enter "Mainer" on HMEM with his pic of what he did.  Link Here

This is the pic that got me all excited that Mainer posted. I figured I could do that.


Here's a pic of the Southbend headstock I've got all taken apart and ready for modification.


I'm going to make myself an indexing head for the Bridgeport.

It all needs a bit of cleaning and some lathe work. Don't quite know how I'll do it. Need to think on it a bit before I dive in and start turning down parts.

Bernd

sbwhart:
Ho Ho I'm going to like this one

 :mmr:

Have fun with the project.

Cheers

Stew

Darren:
That would make an interesting project Bernd....

Wonder if I could stick the whole Union lathe on my miller  :jaw:

I'm kidding of course....or am I  :ddb:

Bernd:
Don't if it would or not since I have no idea how big your lathe is or your mill.  :)

But hey you never know untill you try.  :D

Bernd

Bernd:
Well I started to modify the two parts from the old South Bend spindle, the bull gear and the pulley shaft.

First I started with the bull gear. I made a stub arbor for the bull gear to fit on.


Next I drilled a 1/2" hole through the center of the stub arbor to put a 1/2"-13 all thread rod through the whole works. A washer and nut holds it all in place.


I turned of the teeth, but when it got to the part I'm pointing to the lathe sounded like some one was beating on the gears with a hammer because to the interrupted cut. What to do?


Why you put your mill to work, that's what. Here I'm milling one of the sides off. That's the hole that the pin was in when you used back gear on the lathe.


And here's the side 180 degrees opposite.


All milled off. Now back into the lathe………….


…………..for a smooth up job.


Next is the pulley part. I didn't want all that mass on the shaft and that includes the gear. It's all one piece. I used the same stub arbor and all thread rod. I center drilled the rod for a live center to help make the setup more rigid.


Another view. I was hoping to be able to see the chips come off.


Taking a .005" finishing cut to smooth up the shaft.


And there we have it all nice and smooth.


Here are the parts temporarily stacked up.


Next will be drilling holes into what was once the bull gear. I need to do a bit of thinking as to how many holes to put in.
I know how I'm going to do it. My question is how many of you can figure out a way to accurately put indexing holes in without an indexer or DRO at your disposal?

Hopefully I'll be able to get it all together before the weekend is up and show you.

I'm going to start a thread in the "How do I" section on drilling indexing holes.

Bernd

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