INDEXING

DR B V S RAO, MED CBIT

 Meaning of Indexing:

• Milling operations sometimes, require the rotation of job

correct to fractions of minutes, for each groove, slot etc.,
to be cut evenly on the job surface. The accuracy of
spacing of teeth is very important particularly when the
work is of precision character e.g., gear teeth, shafts,
cutter teeth etc.
• The operation of rotating the job through a required angle
between two successive cuts is termed as indexing.
• This is accomplished with the help of a milling attachment
known as dividing head, which is an accessory to the
milling machine.
• It helps to divide the job periphery into a number of equal
divisions, i.e., square, hexagonal octagonal, etc.
 Dividing Head:

• To rotate a job through required angle, one

needs:
• (i) A device to rotate the job and
• (ii) A source which can ensure that the job
has been rotated through the desired angle.
• In dividing head, the first requirement is met
by an index-crank and the second by the
index plate. The index-plate has a number of
holes arranged concentrically, so that each
circle has a number of holes equally spaced.
• The crank has an arrangement in connection
with the plunger-pin, which can slide through
the slot and the crank is pivoted at the center
of a disc. This crank can be rotated about the
axis and the plunger can be fixed at any
desired hole.
• The rotation of crank is transmitted through a
gear to the job, so that the number of
complete revolutions will result in certain
revolutions of the job.
• The ratio of crank and the shaft on which job
is mounted is 40 : 1, i.e., when the index
plate makes 40 revolutions, the job makes
one revolution.
• For quick-placing of plunger and in order to
avoid the counting of holes, fixed arms
(sectors) are provided which can be set apart
at any number of holes desired.
• The following types of index-plates having the
holes given against them are available.
• Brown and Sharp:
• 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.
• Parkinson:
• Plate 1 : 24, 25, 28, 30, 34, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42
and 43.
• Plate 2 : 46, 47, 49, 51, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 62
and 66.
• Common Methods of Indexing:
• 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.
 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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:
 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
keep¬ing the index plate fixed.
• (ii) By releasing the back pin and then rotating the
index plate with the handle.
• 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/lock pin
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.
• 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.
 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
• 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.
 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