Assignment # 2

Submitted By: Muhammad Arslan

Roll no. 18-MCE-35

Semester: 5th

Submitted To: Mam Romeeza Usman

Department of Mechanical Engineering

NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research, Faisalabad

Indexing Head or Dividing Head:
An indexing head, also known as a dividing head or
spiral head, 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 Gear cutting Milling cutter
Gear blank Gear blank 20 Manufacturing Processes-III 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.

Figure:1.1 Working principle of Indexing Mechanism

If the pin is moved by one hole on the indexing plate in the circle of 20 holes, the spindle will
revolve by 1/ 40 × 1/20 = 1/ 600 th turn of one revolution.
There are five methods of indexing.
These are listed below:
(1) Direct indexing,
(2) Simple or plain indexing,
(3) Compound indexing,
(4) Differential indexing,
(5) Angular indexing.
1. Direct Indexing:
In this case, the dividing head has an index plate, fitted directly on the spindle. The
intermediate use of worm and worm-wheel is avoided. The index plate has 24 holes and the
periphery of job can be divided into 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12 equal parts directly. This type
indexing is most commonly used for indexing fixture.
2. Simple or Plain Indexing:
In this case, different index plates with varying number of holes are used to increase the
range of indexing. The index is fixed in position by a pin called lockpin. The spindle is then
rotated by rotating the handle which is keyed to the worm-shaft as shown in Fig. 16.61.

Figure 1.2
The following relation is used for simple indexing: T = 40/N, where T gives the number of
turns or parts of a turn through which the index crank must be rotated to obtain the required
number of divisions (N) on the job periphery.
Let us take an example of a gear blank on which 64 teeth are to be cut.

i.e., the worm is to be rotated by the handle through one complete rotation and two-third of
the number of holes of any circle.
3. Compound Indexing:
The principle of operation of compound indexing is the same as that of simple indexing, but
the only difference is that compound indexing uses two different circles of one plate and
hence also sometimes referred to as hit and trial method.
The principle of compound indexing is to obtain the required division in
two stages:
(i) By rotating the crank or handle in usual way keeping the index plate fixed.
(ii) By releasing the back pin and then rotating the index plate with the handle.
For example, if a 27 teeth gear is to be cut, then T = 40/27 i.e., the rotation required for one
tooth spacing is 40/27 which may be written as 2/3 + 22/27 or 12/18 + 22/27.
So for each tooth, the worm will be rotated by 12 holes of 18 hole circle with the help of the
crank and then the index plate is rotated by 22 holes of the 27 hole circle.
4. Differential Indexing:
Available number of index plates with different hole circles, sometimes confine the range of
plain indexing. In such cases, differential indexing is found to be more suitable. Between the
indexing plate and spindle of dividing head, a certain set of the gears is incorporated extra.
Dividing heads are provided with such standard set of gears.
During the differential indexing, the index-plate is unlocked and connected to a train of gears
which receive their motion from the worm gear spindle. As the handle is turned, the index
plate also turns, but at a different rate and perhaps in the opposite direction. Differential
indexing makes it possible to rotate the work by any fraction of revolution with the usual
index plates furnished with the equipment.

Figure 1.3
For making the necessary calculations and to find the change of gears to be placed
between the spindle and the worm shaft, use the following relation:

where N is the number of divisions to be indexed and n is a number slightly greater or less
than N. The relation given by equation (1) will give a gear ratio to be placed on spindle
(Driver) and the work shaft (Driven). The arrangement of gears can be in the form of simple
wheel train or compound wheel train or compound wheel train depending upon the suitability
and requirements.
The difference of N and n causes the index plate to rotate itself in a proper direction relative
to crank. If (n — N) is positive, the index plate will rotate in the direction in which crank is
rotated and if (n — N) is negative, it will rotate in opposite direction to that of crank.
5. Angular Indexing:
Instead of rotating the job through certain division on its periphery, sometimes it may be
needed to rotate the job through certain angle. Angular indexing is used for this purpose.
Since the crank and spindle ratio is 40 : 1 and hence when the crank moves through one
revolution, the spindle or the job moves through 1/40 of revolution, i.e., the job will revolve
through an angular movement of 9°.
If it is desired to index a job by 35 degree, then the index head movement required to perform
the operation will be = (35/9) = 3(8/9) = 3 + ((8 X 3) / (9 X 3)) = 3 + (24/27), i.e., the crank
must be turned three complete revolutions plus 24 holes in the 27-holes circle.
Helical of Spiral Milling in Indexing:
One of the important indexing operations to be performed on milling machine is the helical or
spiral milling. Generation of flutes on twist drills, milling of helical and spiral gears, milling
of worms and cutter, etc. are some of the examples of this class.
In the case of helical milling, the job is rotated and side by side it is moved linearly due to
movement of table under the rotating cutter fixed in one position. This is done by connecting
the worm shaft to the milling table feed screw with the help of a set of gears. Lead of the
helix depends upon the rate at which the job is rotated with respect to table movement.

Figure 1.4