Go onto Grizzly Machine Tools site and down load the manuals

Download the Vertex Pdf here (it is under the 'brochures and manuals' tab) **LINK**

Grizzly **LINK**

and here **LINK**

Steve

Alan

Just a suggestion – Workshop Practice No 37 – "Dividing" by Harold Hall. should explain just about everything you want to know.

Keith

You will find that the numbers on dividing plates are either prime numbers or simple multiples of prime numbers. Therefore it is not possible to make one from another as that is the the thing that makes primes special.

However on this forum and many back issues of ME there are details of lash-ups for making do normally on a lathe for people without a dividing head. You can use these methods on your dividing head too to help you make a new plate. If you so this to make a temporary plate first in say plastic you can use it to next make a plate out of metal which will be even better accuracy.

I see you already have an 18 hole circle. With a little common sense you can split that and have 2x18x40 (from the worm in the head) ie 1/4 of a degree. That should be accurate enough for you to make a lot of temporary plates as it is.

The point I was trying to make was that the circles are prime numbers. ( or simple multiples like 3×7 =21) So if you want a new circle that is a new prime it is by definition not a multiple of one of the ones you've already got or it wouldn't be a prime. I am only talking about dividing to make a new plate not subsequent use for eg gears as the OP asked if he could make the missing plates from the existing one.
Mostly there isn't any point in making plates that are just multiples of what you've already got. The exception perhaps is multiples of 9 because it gets you fractions of a degree.

Does that make sense or am I trying to shoot at right angles?

Hi Al,

Where in the country/world are you.

If you are in the Hampshire area, I would be happy to loan you a set of dividing plates so that you could index off them to drill your own

Suitable 'slices' of 100mm bar can be easily obtained from most ME suppliers.

PM me if you need further assistance

cheers

Graeme

Hello Alan,

Plates are available individually from our usual suppliers as well as a tailstock to suit a BSO head which is the model you have. You might also pick up a handbook that way if you haven't used the pdf link you were sent. The tailstock will be the same as one used for a 6 inch rotary table set on it's side. The centre height is a nominal 4 inches.

Alternatively look for a tailstock on ebay, they are very non precision things really in that you set the centreheight with cross bolts just to put the support centre on axis through the head. After that it needs no further setting.

Index plates also appear on ebay from time to time, useful to have as they may extend your set. They are easy enough to modify [with care] to fit your head too with a little lathework. You can accomodate plates up to 5 inch diameter and still get the dividing head to clear the table without having to use raising blocks.

That diameter will enable drilling for a ring of holes up to #69 and those can be reached with the indexing pin on your head by extending the slot to increase the arm radius.

The standard plate set you need are 3 in number to give

15,16,17,18,19,20 holes

21,23,27,29,31.33 holes

37,39,41,43,47,49 holes

The set will give you all divisions up to 50 and many beyond that are multiples of the numbers you have.

The spindle bore is actually a Brown and Sharp taper, but I have found 2MT fits well enough. The nose on yours will be threaded for Myford chucks.

Enjoy your new toy

Brian