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Anyone use their chuck index plate?

Douglas Ladendorf

Douglas Ladendorf

Joined
Jan 26, 2013
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Pennington, New Jersey
There are a number of chucks that have an indexed backing plate. However, I don't recall seeing any examples of these in use for indexing. I would like to consider using the index on my VM120 rather than buy a third-party index wheel . If you have done this or know of examples where this is used please post! Doesn't look like it would be difficult but if someone has already thought this through why not start there?!

Thanks,
Doug
 
I don't have any pictures but I have seen a nice set up used in demos by Cliff Sessions.
Cliff was a marvelous turner a great problem solver but has passed away and I can't ask him for more detail.

It had small bolt with a point ground to fit in the index hole on the end of a flat piece of spring steel.
This was attach to a wood frame that could be clamped to the ways or to the headstock
The spring steel was strong enough to hold the Chuck in position for marking what ever it was holding.

It probably would not hold for routing or something like that.

Al
 
The Vicmarc VL300 has built in indexing, so it must be for we unfortunate folks who are forced to use lesser lathes. 🙄

I don't recall ever seeing any commercially available fixture that is specifically designed to interface with the plate on the back of the Vicmarc chucks.

My Robust has built in indexing and so does my lowly Delta 1440 boat anchor lathe, so I haven't had a need to use the indexing on the back cover plate of my Vicmarc chucks.
 
Bill Boehme said:
I don't recall ever seeing any commercially available fixture that is specifically designed to interface with the plate on the back of the Vicmarc chucks.
Click to expand...

Right, I haven't seen a fixture for ANY chuck though this is touted as a feature. I haven't even seen home made versions of this or any suggested plans from a manufacturer. It seems odd to call out a feature but have zero suggestions on how it could be utilized!
 
Grizzly's clone of the Vicmark chuck has the index holes in the back plate.

Several years ago, a member of Australia's woodworkforum posted a device for the MC900 lathe ( a Jet clone). It had a strap attached to the motor housing reaching across the top of the chuck, with a screw extending into the index hole.

Link here: http://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/index-jig-mc900-87645
but you can't see the pictures without membership and login (same as here for embedded pictures).

Of course, this only works for lathes with the motor encroaching the work space. For others, you could probably devise something attached to the headstock.
 
Douglas Ladendorf said:
Right, I haven't seen a fixture for ANY chuck though this is touted as a feature. I haven't even seen home made versions of this or any suggested plans from a manufacturer. It seems odd to call out a feature but have zero suggestions on how it could be utilized!
Click to expand...

I think of it as decoration for the back cover. 🙄

Maybe Vicmarc was hoping that somebody would jump in and create a fixture specifically for Vicmarc chucks. I think that you would be better served by making a fixture that isn't married to one particular chuck.
 
I've played with the idea many times but never built something. The IronfireLLC index wheel is so inexpensive and gives so many more options that I went that route instead. http://www.flutemasters.com/index-wheels I now have upgraded to the Alisam index wheel. It is built a lot better and comes with a way to lock the index wheel in place. You have to build one for the Ironfire but it's really easy. The problem with using the index plate on the back of the Vicmarc chucks is the index pin pretty much has to be spring loaded because there isn't enough room between the chuck and lathe face to use just a pin or screw. the hole in the back of the chuck is also quite small making this even more critical. couple that with only 24 index possibilities and your limited in what you can do. A lot of people are making their own by simply downloading a drawing off the internet. Fasten it to a board and then simply using a hand spring clamp to lock it to a fixed bar or plate. Harvey Meyer does this for his basket illusion pieces. The advantage of making your own is you can use really odd numbers of spacing if your designs call for it.
 
A really great add on index wheel is A design I have seen J. Paul Fennel use.
He wrote an article for the "American Woodturner" spring 2004 page 18. (19.1)
Paul shows the step by step process of building it and he clamps it onto a ONEWAY which has a great index system.

This is a locking design that will hold the piece in place for some carving, drilling, etc
Like John said a big advantage of the ads-on index wheel is that you can have divisions on 5 or 7 or 9.
Lathe index wheels are always multiples of 2 and 3 (12, 24, 48). 3 because of some stools and small tables have 3 legs.
 
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