Super Spacer Adjustment

darkzero

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This is how I had to use my super spacer. Mounted on a piece of MIC plate. What I hated about it is that everytime I wanted to use the SS in the horiz position I had to remove the plate. Then when I wanted to use it in the vert position I had to remount the plate & reindicate. That started to become old very quick.

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This was the problem, in the vert position the slots on my table would not line up with the SS's slots & is why I had to use the plate. As you can see the slots are not narrow enough for my table.

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So I set out to fix that. I don't have any angle plates large enough to hold the SS, well I don't have any at all yet. But I did have some thick pieces of AL flat bar laying around so I decided to make some & see how well it would do. I only milled the mounting & mating surfaces. Wasn't sure what to expect at this point.

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Ok, time to dial it in. Didn't need to be that perfect for what I'm doing so close enough would have been fine. First I indicated to be parallel with the table's surface.

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Then I dialed in the X axis.

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Next I checked to see that the key slot matched. Yes it did.

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Finally I wanted to check the Y axis to see how far off my AL angle plates were. About 1 thou, I just trammed the mill last week (tilt & nod) so not bad, I can live with that. Ok, now on to a bit of milling.

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The slot was about .73" wide. I didn't want to widen it anymore by going through it with a 3/4" endmill. The next size smaller I had was a 5/8" which is what I decided to use. The largest bolts I use with my table are 1/2" so 5/8" is good enough for me. I use M12 for the SS anyway.

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Next I needed to face the top side for the nuts (well bottom with the way it's mounted). I made a boring bar to be used in reverse like a fly cutter. I don't have any broaches yet & I didn't feel like trying to make a square hole by broaching on the lathe. A round hole with a screw is good enough for this. I set the cutter at 5° & put a larger nose radius on it.

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Now I am able to use the slots & mount the SS directly to the table without that annoying plate. I made the slots wider than needed for different table sizes if/when I get a new mill. Ok, not really, I miscalculated & overshot my mark but I compensated when facing so it's still perfectly fine.

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I'm not a fan of using locating keys with my vises but for the SS I decided to try using them. Sometimes I'll dial in the SS, start milling, then decide I want to use the tailstock. A few times I didn't mount the SS very center on the table & the tailstock would not line up (I use the keys on it). The keys for the SS are 5/8" & my table slots are 14mm. I milled them a tad bit undersize to allow for indicating.

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Dial the chuck back in. I already "rebuilt" the chuck & SS internals when I first got it.

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Now to check for nod. Oh, very nice, with the unmilled plate I used to get a thou & a 1/2 using the same bar at the same distance. I coudn't ask for better than that!

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And finally, I added another point of reference. Not sure what this was for but it came with my lathe. The 0 mark is on the backside of the SS, I like to use the SS on the left side of the table so this makes it easier for me when I need a quick reference & not having to look on the back. I clocked it at 90° from 0.

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Now I'm Super happy with my Super spacer! Thanks for looking!

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Re: Super Spacer (Indexer) Adjustment

Nice job and it makes life easer. :thumbsup:
 
Re: Super Spacer (Indexer) Adjustment

Good deal. And I like that light you added to your quill. There is never anything blocking the light from there.

I need some kind of indexer. What brand and size is your SS? I am still undecided on a SS or Dividing Head. I have been eyeing the dividing head Matt has on his site, but I just don't know.

Rick
 
Re: Super Spacer (Indexer) Adjustment

Good deal. And I like that light you added to your quill. There is never anything blocking the light from there.

I need some kind of indexer. What brand and size is your SS? I am still undecided on a SS or Dividing Head. I have been eyeing the dividing head Matt has on his site, but I just don't know.

Rick

Actually things like my ER chuck & drill chuck will block light from the spindle light. I use it in addition to my machine's light. But it does make a difference & I really like it.

Not sure of an actual brand, just the Chinese manufacture's name. It's the same thing as a Phase II only less expensive, same with my two tail stocks. It's a 6" but it's actually 6.5". I wish it was an actual 6" & sometimes I wish I had a 5" but I've never seen an Asian import in that size.

It weighs like 80 lbs & is why I wish it was smaller but I'm used to it now. I was originally going to get a super indexer (super spacer & rotary table combined). I decided it would be too big & much too heavy so I decided to go with a SS instead & I'm glad I did. I ended up getting a separate rotary table.

Super spacers & dividing heads are different, each have their own advantage. A diving head can do what a SS can do but slower. A SS can't really do what a dividing head can do. For what I do a SS is more useful to me.
 
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