Lathe dividing system

[Robert Hornby]

I don't have dividing head (not really been able to justify buying one) so on occasion when I need to mark out say hole centers on a PCD I utilise a 72 gear that I fitted to the main shaft on the rear. I made a crude pointer to align with one tooth and then just rotate the chuck by hand whatever angle is required. I scribe a line on the job via a sharp point mounted in the tool post.

[steamer]

That looks like it gets it done Robert!

Dave

[Goldstar31]

If you make a detent with a matching tooth, you can get 144 degrees by going to the top of the tooth as well as using the bottom. Seriously, two things arise. the first is drill the chuck backplate and the second is make a little gear train bracket to get to the 360 degrees. It's all in George Thomas's Workshop Techniques if interested. I made one up years ago before I went 'the whole hog' and made his little dividing head with two sets of worms to do any gear. I must have been mad