Lecture # 15

Dr. N. VENKAIAH
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
NIT Warangal 506 004

Disclaimer
The content presented here is not entirely my own. Some portions are taken from
different sources with great regard. This content is solely for class room teaching and
not for any commercial use.

Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by

what you should have accomplished with your ability.

~ John Wooden
 Types of dividing heads
Plain dividing
head
Used for Used for Used for
small number of precise indexing and 1.Setting the work in
divisions on the for checking the accuracy vertical, horizontal or in
periphery of various angular surfaces inclined positions relative
to the table surface
2.Turning the w/p
Drawback: periodically through a
cannot be used in milling given angle to impart
of helical gears. indexing movement
3.Imparting a continuous
rotary motion to the w/p
for milling helical grooves
This is the most widely used type of
dividing head.
Periodical turning of the spindle (3)
is achieved by rotating the index
crank (2), which transmits the
motion through a worm gearing 6/4
to the WP with a gear ratio 1:40;
(One complete revolution of the
crank corresponds to 1/40
revolution of the WP).
The index plate (1), having several
concentric circular rows of 1 – index plate;
accurately and equally spaced holes, 2 – index crank;
serves for indexing the index crank
(2) through the required angle. 3 – spindle;
4 & 6 –worm wheel and worm;
The WP is clamped in a chuck 5 – plunge;
screwed on the spindle (3). It can 7 – sector arms
also be clamped between two
centers.
The dividing head is provided with either Brown and Sharpe type (three index plates) or
Parkinson type (two index plates) index plates
 Simple Indexing

Work is positioned by means of index crank,

index plate, and sector arms

– 40 teeth on worm wheel

– Single threaded worm
– One complete turn on index crank causes spindle
and work to rotate 1/40th of a turn

7
Kinematic balance equation:
40
Number of index crank revolutions, n =
Z

Z = Number of divisions on the job

1 – Index plate
2 – Index crank
3 – Work spindle
4 – Lock pin
• Determine the suitable index plates (Brown and
Sharpe) and the number of index crank revolutions
(n) necessary for producing the following spur gears
of teeth number 40, 30, and 37 teeth.
• Solution:
40 Teeth 30 Teeth 37 Teeth

Select any index plate Select index plate 1 Select index plate 3 with
with 18 holes 37 holes
To avoid errors in counting the number of holes, the adjustable sector on the
index plate should be used.

7 – sector arms
 Angular Indexing

• Setup used for simple indexing may be used

 Must calculate indexing with angular distance
between divisions instead of number of divisions
• One complete turn of index crank turns work
1/40 of a turn
 1/40 of 360o = 9 degrees

No. of degrees required

Indexing in degrees =
9

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 Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 45o Calculate indexing for 60o
45 60 2 10
Indexing = = 5 Indexing = =6 =6
9
9 3 15
5 complete turns 6 full turns plus 10 holes
on 15 hole circle

Plate 1: 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20

Plate 2: 21, 23, 27, 29, 31, and 33
Plate 3: 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 47, and 49

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 Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 24º30'
• First, convert angle into minutes

24o x 60' +30' = 1470'

9°x60' = 540'

Divide 1470'/540' = 2 13/18

2 full turns and 13 holes on 18 hole circle

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 Angular Indexing
Calculate indexing for 24'
24' 24' 4 1
Divide = = =
9x60 540' 90 22.5

1 hole on a 22.5 hole circle

The nearest is a 23 hole circle. Indexing would be 1 hole

on a 23 hole circle with a slight error (approximately 1/2
minute).

A need for higher accuracy requires differential indexing.

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• It is employed where simple indexing cannot be
effected;

• That is, when an index plate with required number of

holes for simple indexing is not available.

• Index plate must be revolved either forward or

backward as the index crank is turned to attain required
spacing
– Change of rotation is effected by idler gear(s)
 1 – index plate
2 – index crank
3 – the work spindle
4 – lock pin
5 - plunge
c a, b, c, d – differential
change gears
Z and Z’ – Required and
approx. no. of teeth

from which

The change gears to match Brown and Sharpe index plates:

24(2), 28, 32, 40, 44, 48, 56, 64, 72, 86, and 100 teeth.
• Simple gear train
– One idler for positive rotation of index plate and
– No or Two idlers for negative rotation
• Compound gear train
– One idler for negative rotation of index plate and
– No or Two idlers for positive rotation
Select the differential change gears and the index plate (Brown and
Sharpe), and determine the number of revolutions of the index
crank for cutting a spur gear of Z = 227 teeth.
Solution:
– Assume Z’ = 220

a = 64, b = 32, c = 28, and d = 44 teeth with an idler gear

(-ve sign)
After arranging these gears, Indexing would be 6 holes on a 33
hole circle
Index 83 divisions

Solution:

Let Z’ = 86

Index crank movement = 20/43

Change gears = (72/24)x(40/86) with no or two idlers

Setting the dividing head for milling helical grooves
• The table is set to the spindle axis at an angle
Where
ωh = helix angle of the groove
thel = lead of helical groove (mm)
D = diameter of the W/P (mm)
The table is swiveled clockwise for left-hand grooves
and CCW for right-hand grooves

• The kinematic balance equation is given by:

Change gears

Where, tls = lead of worktable lead screw (mm)

It is required to mill six right-hand helical flutes with a
lead of 600 mm; the blank diameter is 90 mm. If the
pitch of the table lead screw is 7.5 mm, give complete
information about the setup.