Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
USING THE ACCESSORIES
Tenons
The dividing head is usually set parallel to the milling machine table. Often
the dividing head will have a tenon under the body to locate in a table slot.
Depending on the size of the table slot and the size of the tenon, you may
have to make new tenons that fit the slot. You should be quite capable of do-
ing this simple modification using the techniques you have learnt in this topic.
Lining up the centre
To line up the centre of the dividing head, it is best to use a wobbler.
◆
Put a piece of bar into the dividing head's three-jaw chuck or preferably
use a collet. Wobble from the bar and note the reading.
◆
Rotate the dividing head 180 degrees and note the reading.
◆
Move the table so the spindle is in the mean position of the two readings.
You are now
1
⁄
2
of the wobbler and
1
⁄
2
of the bar diameter away from the
centre line of the dividing head.
◆
Add these two dimensions together and that is how far you have to move
the table so the spindle is above the centre line of the dividing head.
Aligning the tailstock
To set the dividing head tailstock parallel and at the correct height you need to
put a dial test indicator into the collet or chuck. Fit the tailstock tenon into the
table slot so it is close enough to the dividing head for the dial test indicator to
touch on the tailstock's centre.
Use the dial test indicator to centre the tailstock at the correct height. If ne-
cessary, adjust the centre height of the tailstock making sure it is parallel as
well as at centre height. Once the tailstock is at centre height and in line with
the dividing head, you can move the tailstock backwards and forwards along
the T-slot to accommodate any work that needs to be held between centres
or between the tailstock centre and chuck or collet.
