Elliott Vertical and Horizontal Dividing Head

This topic has 7 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 2 December 2019 at 20:00 by Colin Heseltine.

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2 December 2019 at 10:33 #439804
Colin Heseltine
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@colinheseltine48622
I have just obtained a Elliott Vertical and Horizontal Dividing Head which is in very good condition. I cannot find any documentation on this device on the Internet. Tony at lathes.co.uk does not have any information on it apart from a minor mention and picture in an Elliot catalogue. I am trying to find out how to get it to index. The top index ring which has three sets of graduations on 3 levels can be moved around by releasing the locking clamp to the left of the block sticking out of the side to left of brass index line. See photo 1.

Photo 2 shows the index lever and a spring loaded indent plunger. The whole assembly will rotate 180 degrees I understand to select either a 56 or 60 hole index plate ???

I cannot see how to get it to index a run of, for example, 4 x 90 degree turns.

Does anyone have a manual or has one of these and can tell me more.

Many Thanks,

Colin
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2 December 2019 at 10:33 #13717
Colin Heseltine
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@colinheseltine48622
2 December 2019 at 13:13 #439820
Bill Davies 2
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@billdavies2
Colin, it looks similar to this:

Indexing head

Bill
2 December 2019 at 15:08 #439835
Bill Davies 2
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@billdavies2
I've looked for manuals, but not found anything. It looks as thought the handle in photos 2 and 4 should allow a plunger to engage with the holes or slots in the indexing ring. The screw on top of the boss presumably locks it in either the 'in' or 'out' position, if required. It looks as though you can set dead stops for some other angle. However, I've never seen one in the flesh.

Bill
2 December 2019 at 16:54 #439858
Colin Heseltine
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@colinheseltine48622
Bill, Yes the lever moves a detent in and out of the index plate. As you operate it the spring plunger moves in and out. The two outer rings are marked. So the one ring is marked with a 56 to correspond with the 56 index ring and the other is marked with a 60. Each of those rings is marked with the numbers of the various divisions. i.e. the 56 ring has 56, 28, 14, 8, 7, 4, 2 and the 60 ring is marked with 60, 30, 20, 15, 12,10, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. These rings do not move independently. The lever/knob which locks the ring and the stop in the ring do not allow the ring to do a full 360 degrees as it will foul on the section of casting which allows it to be mounted vertically.

I would have expected to be able to set the index plate to a value, e.g. 4 and the device would then only index and lock into 4 positions. I can understand it not necessarily being able to do a full 360.

Colin
2 December 2019 at 18:16 #439875
Colin Heseltine
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@colinheseltine48622
Think I've cracked how its meant to be used.

Ensuring the plunger is located in an index hole, the index ring is set to the value required, e.g. 4. The chuck can then be manually rotated whilst the indent operating lever is held in the unlocked position. Just before the stop reaches the brass index marker the indent operating lever is released and the detent will drop into the next locking position. The locking levers are set to clamp the mechanism and the required operation is carried out. The index ring is again moved to the required value and the procedure is repeated.

Colin
2 December 2019 at 18:23 #439877
Bazyle
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@bazyle
My expectation of how it works is a follows:

The lever next to the square block locks the ring to the table. The other two levers just in sight lock the table solid. In use you lock the table, release the index ring, rotate the scale round to the right anticlockwise until the block hits the bronze pointer, lock the scale, release the table, (not sure about this next part) press the spring plunger to withdraw the catch and rotate the table plus scale ring to the left (clockwise from above) until your desired index number on the outer scale eg 30 appears under the bronze pointer. Repeat. A little tedious but not intended for a full circle of holes.

I am a little puzzled about your explanation that the big lever near the spring detent moves the plunger. I would expect it to select between the two numbers of index holes while only the sprung lever operates the detent and it , or something else, should be provided to release then lock the hole plates to the main table. This being necessary to set the zero to the job then re-zero the indexing part way round. Why would there be both a big lever and spring lever if they both only withdraw the locking detent?

My expectation of how this is intended to operate is to say, drill a hole, index round and drill a couple of holes on a 60 division, then one at a 30 division, then re-zero and drill a couple at a 14 division. I don't know why you would do this very often but that's why this unit is not that common. Plenty of conventional indexers around for run of the mill jobs.

Elliott re-badged a lot of their products so I would expect this item, though unusual, to appear in a grey livery probably from some other 'maker' in the USA. It is a rare occasion when a post on the PM forum might not get snarly comments.
2 December 2019 at 20:00 #439897
Colin Heseltine
Participant
@colinheseltine48622
Bazyle.

I have double checked, the big lever raises and lowers the spring loaded arm every time it is operated.

The body which hold the lever and spring operated arm rotates through 180 degrees when the two allen bolts on the clamp mechanism are released. In the photograph the number 60 is at the top indicating the 60 notch index wheel is selected. if rotated through 180 degrees the 56 indicator is at the top.

I can understand it working the way you say. The only downside I can see is that there is not a solid stop when you reach the required position. You would have to go slowly up to that point and not accidentally go an index notch further. Working the opposite way the end block acts as a full dead stop.

I would like to try and find an original manual or photocopy to see exactly how Elliott addressed its usage. It would also be good to know what lubrication should be used on the oil/grease nipples.

Regards,

Colin

PS How are the Die Filer Arms coming on.
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