Carter Index Plate Kit for the Taig Microlathe II

The index plate has 60 1/8" diameter holes around the rim, three countersunk holes for mounting to the pulley, and a 1.1" center hole to clear the lathe spindle. I supply 3 #6 screws for mounting to the pulley. 

Price: $35.00 with free US First Class Mail. (Other shipping contact me, I will ship to the UK, Canada and Australia)

40-50-60 hole deluxe index plates, $75.00 with free US First Class Mail.
See the new 40-50-60 hole plate below.

Contact me to order.

Although I previously sold a complete kit including the pin and block that locks the pin, I have found it uneconomical to do so. 
I am only selling the index plate itself, with mounting screws, but without the index pin and block. You can easily make one yourself, or come up with a spring loaded plunger, etc.

The Index plate. 60 holes 1/8" Aluminum recycled sheet. Made on the Taig CNC Mill.

Here are the dimensions of the 60 hole index plate. Dimensions may vary somewhat.

The center hole is now 1.1" so it fits the new spindle.

You will need to make a Centering Plug to mount the index plate to the pulley.
Fit the centering plug to the index plate bore as the bore dimensions may vary by +/- .005"

(both items not included with the kit)

I now provide 3, 1/8" holes spaced equally with the countersunk holes so you can use a standard 1/8" transfer punch instead of making your own .14" one. If you do make one, make it 1/8".

The centering plug dimension should now be 1.1" rather than .75" as I have changed the design to fit the new spindle.

Index plate mounted to the headstock, showing one design of indexing pin (not included). Top view.
This is one design for the indexing pin block. Other possibilities: Spring loaded plunger, spring arm, ball detent...
(items not included with the kit)

 

Installation Instructions:

  1. Use a 1/8" transfer punch in the non-countersunk set of holes.
  2. From a scrap of 1.1" or larger diameter steel, brass or aluminum bar, turn a centering plug so that the plate can be mounted concentric to the pulley. It should consist of two diameters:
    One section should be 1.1" +/- and about 1/4"+ long. Use the plate as a gage while turning, the ID isn't always consistent.
    The other section should be .624 +/-, or a slip fit on the pulley ID, and about 1/2"+ long. This will determine how concentrically the index plate is mounted, so take care making this piece.
  3. Remove pulley from lathe headstock. Use a gear puller or arbor press, do not hammer! Email me if you are having problems. (felice@casco.net)
  4. To ease reassembly, file a small flat where the setscrew has contacted the shaft.
  5. Place plug in pulley and place index plate over other end. Using a transfer punch, mark the locations of the three screw holes which mount the pulley to the plate. (Some users have reported that the prefer to mark one hole, tap for that hole and mount the plate, then mark where the other two holes go.)
  6. Drill and tap holes 6-32, about 3/8" long
  7. Screw the plate to the pulley, leaving the plug in place, to ensure concentricity. Remove the plug. You can check for runout of the plate at this point with a dial indicator - try and get runout to +/- .002 or less, the less runout the better the plate will perform.
  8. Remount pulley, making sure setscrew goes into the flat you filed.

NEW 40-50-60 hole deluxe index plates, $75.00 with free US First Class Mail.
(Other shipping contact me, I will ship to the UK, Canada and Australia)

The plate has three rows of holes, 1/8" diameter. I am only offering it with a 1.1" center hole, but it can still be used on the older lathes with no problems.

The 40 hole circle will divide 2,4,8,10,20,40
The 50 hole circle will divide 2,5,10,25,50
The 60 hole circle will divide 2,3,4,6,10,12,15,20,30,60

The deluxe plate mounted on a Taig headstock. You will have to figure out a index pin mounting system, there is a lot of room on the top and sides for one.
 
Ignore the implied precision of the 4.1000" diameter (when I was young I loved calling out dimensions to 5 places...what a newb), in practice it's 4.1" with some wiggle room as the OD doesn't need to be exactly to size and it depends on a lot of factors when milling and truing up. Most dimensions are +/- .001"

 

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