Info Needed.

J

Jon

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Hello,

I've acquired a "Kempsmith" Dividing/Indexing head. I'm in the middle of getting new Plates for it. But would like any information that any of you (Cuemakers/Machinest etc.) might have for this thing. And anybody that might have (or have access to) a manual, which would be great.

Thanks,

Jon
 
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BiG_JoN said:
Hello,

I've acquired a "Kempsmith" Dividing/Indexing head. I'm in the middle of getting new Plates for it. But would like any information that any of you (Cuemakers/Machinest etc.) might have for this thing. And anybody that might have (or have access to) a manual, which would be great.

Thanks,

Jon
Click to expand...

It makes a great boat anchor. Keep the tailstock and buy one of these. Mount them to a plate and you are good to go. Cutting points between centers will not work well. Not ridgid enough IMHO. Probably would be fine for doing inlays.http://www.jlindustrial.com/catalog/product.jsp?origin=SEARCH:KEYWORD&id=IFX-25204A
 
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Murray Tucker said:
It makes a great boat anchor. Keep the tailstock and buy one of these. Mount them to a plate and you are good to go. Cutting points between centers will not work well. Not ridgid enough IMHO. Probably would be fine for doing inlays.http://www.jlindustrial.com/catalog/product.jsp?origin=SEARCH:KEYWORD&id=IFX-25204A
Click to expand...

Ok, I was planning on scrapping the center before i got it. :D It's a B&S taper. I'm going to probably use a small scroll chuck (MT2 taper, not thru type) and find a B&S to a MT2 adapter. I already have a Phase II (24 place) indexer that is a direct copy of the Hardinge 5C Collet Indexer, that i have used for rings so far, but it won't do 16 slots (it COULD, but i don't want to have to fool with it.) So i've got this one, i'm not sure of the ratio as of yet, if it is a 40:1, then 2.5 turns would give me what i want. I'll probably use the 5C collet indexer for points. I'm working on the table at the moment, it's going to be for a Hardinge Horizontal Mill, so the table is the trick... once that is done, the rest is easy.
Do you have any suggestions O' Master of Machine Tools? (I mean that sincerely :p ).
Thanks for the link, i might pick up one of those, you never know when a need might arise.

Thanks,

Jon
 
BiG_JoN said:
Ok, I was planning on scrapping the center before i got it. :D It's a B&S taper. I'm going to probably use a small scroll chuck (MT2 taper, not thru type) and find a B&S to a MT2 adapter. I already have a Phase II (24 place) indexer that is a direct copy of the Hardinge 5C Collet Indexer, that i have used for rings so far, but it won't do 16 slots (it COULD, but i don't want to have to fool with it.) So i've got this one, i'm not sure of the ratio as of yet, if it is a 40:1, then 2.5 turns would give me what i want. I'll probably use the 5C collet indexer for points. I'm working on the table at the moment, it's going to be for a Hardinge Horizontal Mill, so the table is the trick... once that is done, the rest is easy.
Do you have any suggestions O' Master of Machine Tools? (I mean that sincerely :p ).
Thanks for the link, i might pick up one of those, you never know when a need might arise.

Thanks,

Jon
Click to expand...

I have a 40:1 that came over on the Mayflower. I'm sure it was leftover from when my grandfather had the company. My longest time machinist (26 years with the company) can't remember using it and I certainly know nothing about it except that you turn the handle 40 times and the head goes around once. I used it once or twice and then said screw it and built my current jig. I can use it for cutting points, inlays and rings. I use the same 5C indexer in the url above but it was on sale for 29 bucks.
 
Well, the beautiful thing about this one, is i should be able to cut anything i want, as long as i get the calculations right.
So no idea on the table for cutting points on a horizontal? :D .
I'm working on it... All i should need is a rather large piece of aluminum, some pillow blocks, T-Nuts, heavy spring, micrometer handle, and time...
Wish me luck...

Thanks,

Jon
 
BiG_JoN said:
Well, the beautiful thing about this one, is i should be able to cut anything i want, as long as i get the calculations right.
So no idea on the table for cutting points on a horizontal? :D .
I'm working on it... All i should need is a rather large piece of aluminum, some pillow blocks, T-Nuts, heavy spring, micrometer handle, and time...
Wish me luck...

Thanks,

Jon
Click to expand...

I can send you some pictures of mine.
 
You cut your points on a horizontal?
The vertical is easy, all you have to do is angle the plate/table.
The horizontal has to be made See-Saw style, and that is where the micrometer handle, pillow blocks (fulcrum/pivot point), spring, and an good dial angle gauge come in. :D .
Send away, i'm sure it could be of some help. I'll PM you the email address.

Thanks,

Jon
 
BiG_JoN said:
You cut your points on a horizontal?
The vertical is easy, all you have to do is angle the plate/table.
The horizontal has to be made See-Saw style, and that is where the micrometer handle, pillow blocks (fulcrum/pivot point), spring, and an good dial angle gauge come in. :D .
Send away, i'm sure it could be of some help. I'll PM you the email address.

Thanks,

Jon
Click to expand...

Oops. I missed the horizontal part. The shrimp and ritas at the Outback must have caused a reading comprehension malfunction . :rolleyes:
 
Well, send some pics anyway :P .
I might need them.
Oh, and looking at this indexing head? Unlike the phase II (which has the tailstock angle) this one has the entire head that angles :) .
So i don't need a funky table, and the center is shaped just right for this.
Now, i'm going to make a table out of .5" steel, cause this thing is heavy!!!!! And i don't think aluminum would hold it up without flexing.
Thanks your your help in this matter.

Jon
 
jon just use your horizontle for ring billits and get a verticle for points.
oh and through that boat ancor out, it'll be much easier and save you lots of time. timmy used to use a similar set up.
 
Merylane,

I have a vertical Mill, and i just don't like it.
The horizontal is much more stable IMO.
I'm going to use the "Boat Anchor" for points on the horizontal.
In my post before this one I tried to explain how it would work, as opposed to other set up's.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Jon
 
jon i understand very well how it would work, i also have one that i use as i previously described. maybee i'll try to post a pic of the set up your describing.
aslo for ease of use if you get the spin index you can do whatever you want.
they are in 1 degree incriments so you can devide just about all you could need.
if you dont like your vert, through it out too, although i would think it could be worked with, after all sw cuts thiers with a radial arm saw, im sure you want beter quality, but surely any mill can achieve that.
its much simpler no angle plates or hinges and much easier to change for different point combos.
 
BiG_JoN said:
Hello,

I've acquired a "Kempsmith" Dividing/Indexing head. I'm in the middle of getting new Plates for it. But would like any information that any of you (Cuemakers/Machinest etc.) might have for this thing.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest posting to rec.crafts.metalworking newsgroup. They are a fine bunch of folks with a combined depth of knowledge that is truly astounding. There should be someone who can help you if you ask nicely :)

Dave
 
But what about half-degrees??? :P .
If you wanted 16 cuts, that would be 22.5 degrees. That is kinda the whole point of getting another indexer, and this one will do it.

Dave,

I'll try and do that tonight, thanks for the lead.

Thanks,

Jon
 
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