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The dividing head and tailstock set up on a Dore Westbury Miller

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This is a direct division dividing head in which gears are used as a means of division rather than using worm and wheels.  The advantage of this is that it is both easier to build and use, the disadvantage is it is limited by the gears available. However most divisions that a model engineer would wish for can be accommodated with standard lathe change wheels.

The detent pin can either sit in or straddle the gear teeth. If a standard 60 tooth gear wheel is used it is possible to divide to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 40, 60 and 120.  A second spindle allows for compounding on the main shaft and by using a 60 and 20 tooth wheel on this spindle as well as a 60 tooth gear on the main spindle 360 divisions can be generated providing a means for  indexing protractor plates.

The main body is in two pieces, the lower portion is merely a raising block. when used on the lathe this packing is removed and the dividing head will sit on the lathe cross-slide.  With the packing piece in place the head can be used on the table of a milling machine and a 6" chuck can be accommodated.

The kit is simple to machine and build, the majority of machining being straight forward. The main spindle is supplied drilled and the nose is bored to No.2 MT.  All screws and materials are supplied together with a set of dimensioned drawings and working instructions.  Three gear wheels, one 20 and two 60 are available as option extras