Indexing Tailstock Assembly

Machining operations often require cutting features in a radial pattern rather than in a straight line. Common examples include gear teeth, splines, and flats on nuts. The Sherline Indexing Attachment provides an economical and highly accurate way to rotate and position a workpiece for machining these types of features.

Features & Benefits

• Ideal for machining radial patterns such as flats, splines, and gear teeth
• Built-in detent mechanism indexes the spindle in 5° increments
• Laser-engraved collar provides 1° reference markings
• Rack gear system allows indexing to virtually any position using simple calculations
• Compatible with many Sherline workholding accessories

Included Components

• Indexing head and tailstock mounted on a 12" dovetailed bed
• Rack gear for measuring radial movement
• Gear tooth cutter holder
• High-speed steel tool blank

Spindle Compatibility

The indexing head uses a spindle with a #1 Morse taper and 3/4"-16 male thread, identical to Sherline lathe and mill spindles. This allows the use of common Sherline accessories, including:

• Faceplate
• 3-jaw and 4-jaw chucks
• Drill chuck
• Centers

Precision Indexing Capability

For positions beyond the standard 5° detents, the rack gear converts spindle rotation into measurable linear travel. This movement can be measured with the depth rod of a Vernier caliper, allowing extremely accurate indexing to an infinite number of positions.

Mounting & Use

The indexing attachment can be mounted directly to the table of a Sherline milling machine. The indexing head may also be used independently in a horizontal position similar to a rotary table.

Note: Use on a Sherline lathe with the vertical milling column is not recommended. However, it may be possible with shims installed to raise the unit high enough to clear the crosslide handwheel.