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The spin indexer does have the advantage of being able to do any number that will divide into 360, but an indexer can only do spacings that divide into the number of holes for instance I doubt Jo's will give you a 10 hole spacing You can even rotate them to round over parts again can't do that with an indexer. Oh and my indexer takes ER32 with minimal overhang. Can't think why Jo gave it to me
I thought being newly retired means you have lots of spare money and time
Part of my reason for asking these questions is that I have a cylinder to make that is partly round and two flats.Starts from a rectangular block of material.I wasn't sure if the spindexer could be used (possible if the angles are right) but I'm thinking on two other methods...1) Kozo used a method where he drove a lathe carriage back and forth to shave off the curved sides. Then filed to final shape.2) I've seen others use a rotary table in a vertical position and then mill and rotate to get the curve.I'm leaning towards the 2nd method (which probably means I need to get a chuck for the RT and make up a mandrel).Sigh. More money. Time to play the game of what budget item I can steal from.
JBWelder: I read 5C on that collet.Jo
Standing it vertically in a vice won't give you that crisp joint where the curve meets the flat you will get a fillet the size of the cutter radius.Also you would need a long series cutter as your cylinder looks to be about 1.5 long