Rose indexer

I watched a YouTube on milling, the operator used a Rose Indexer, what a useful tool, does any one know where I can buy one here in UK ?

print one maybe

If you have a mill and a rotary table making one should be easy as well. Possibly why they are hard to find commercially.

Martin C

Or get a set of Stevenson Collet Blocks? No octagonal option though...

Stevenson's ER32 Collet Blocks - Arc Euro Trade

It is easy enough to do a first pass of 90 degree steps with a square collet, the component just needs a rotation of 45 degrees within the collet to complete the pattern for an octagon on a second pass.

Brian

Edit    Why not go for a 12 step version with the hexagon collet block? Exactly the same logic applies.

Edited By Brian Wood on 12/05/2023 11:16:32

Many thanks to all respondents, I had thought of making one, but thought if they are readily available and not to expensive I would buy one. Will be another job for next winter, after a summer of hedge and lawn. John

A semi-finished version is available here:

https://d-gray-drafting-and-design.myshopify.com/products/indexing-plates-the-complete-kit

I have always liked the idea here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qYdcolOhGQ

Edited By DC31k on 12/05/2023 13:10:12

Seems like for hexagons (my most common shape to need milling) you could use a large nut with hole drilled and tapped for the clamping screw.

Still trying to get my head around how the Rose Index makes an evenly cut hex, or square or octagon etc when it is mounted well off-centre to the job the way the large hole and grub screw works on smaller diameter jobs. Hard to imagine without having one in the hand. But apparently it must work. Neat idea that seems so obvious once you see it.

Imagine a square of metal. Superglue it any old how to the end of a piece of bar. If each edge of the square in turn is kept parallel to the mill table below it, the square cut on the workpiece will be correct.

Keeping it parallel is fiddly (as the distance keeps changing) so it is easier to keep one edge of the square vertical using an engineer's square. Sure, the stock of the square will slide back and forth on the mill table each time you turn the part, but the blade will always be vertical.

It is a good technique to know. If you wanted a seven sided thing, you can just print one out on paper, glue it on the end of your stock and away you go.

Thanks. That makes sense.

Less faff that I have been doing with a digital inclinometer on the freshly milled flat. It gets you there but can be fiddly on the small stuff. The bigger hex on the Rose index looks easier.