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Brown and Sharp dividing head, $750, Calgary, AB

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For those that want a look inside one, this is from 3 years ago:


and here's the Artisan Makes video (2 years ago):

 
'K, so the rookie has another question...

With the ability to motorize a rotary table w/ a stepper motor for relatively cheap, why would one want a dividing head? What does a dividing head do that a motorized rotary table won't?
 
great question.

As you can see in the above stills, a dividing head can be rotated to any angle. A rotary table us limited to flat and upright,. There is a hybrid RT that allows any angle, but it is as much a dividing head as a RT.

The gear ratio is different. A dividing head has a usually has a 40:1 ratio, making it convenient to do certain divisions, and is usually used for differential indexing, which allows any number of divisions, including prime numbers such as 127. This can be done with a RT, but it seems less popular for this purpose. The RT usually has a 90:1 ratio, giving more torque to making curved cuts with a milling cutter.

Where a RT shines, is in work holding on a fixture plate in the most secure way possible (when used flat on the table). When supporting work in the upright position on a RT, or using a dividing head, there is little difference between the 2.

DH shines in doing stuff to round stock conveniently using the chuck, and RT is used to do things in the horizontal position such as milling flat plates with curved paths.

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I have both. I use the most appropriate one for the task at hand. My unpopular view is that if I had only one of these it would be a dividing head.

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A RT or DH can be converted to CNC. Their difference is in how they hold the work, not in versatility.
 
Dabbler said:
great question.
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Great response! Thx, Dabbler. That clarifies much.

Shortly after this response was posted, I rec'd a phone call from Dabbler. He noted that if I had any further questions, he would be happy to clarify.

Of course, our conversation soon drifted to another project of mine waiting in the wings & Dabbler went over some of the challenges therein w/ me.

We are truly fortunate to have a resource such as this website & members willing to disseminate their knowledge & experience available at our finger tips.

Thanks again!
 
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Follow on question...what makes a dividing head "Universal" v. "Semi-universal"? Is it the external drive input?

Dividing head types.jpg


I got a crusty old BS-2 with the external input similar to the one shown on the left above. I may be seeking some group advice on it shortly.

Since I'm asking, I know that the Brown and Sharpe design has been copied numerous times. So far, I can't see any identifying marks on mine except one of the knobs says "Lasing". (Not "Lansing" like you might expect.) I still have much schmoo and surface rust to remove, however.

Craig
 
trlvn said:
what makes a dividing head "Universal" v. "Semi-universal"? Is it the external drive input?
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Great question! I've always wondered that too. I've read in a few places that the universal tilts and the semi does not.

Screenshot_20240519_074853_Amazon Shopping.jpg

A few references actually said the exact opposite. I have no clue.

My tilting one came with my mill/drill along with a 5C spin indexer. I've used the indexer many times, but the dividing head gathers dust. Love to know more about using one.
 
One of the big differences between dividing head and RT is amount of room taken up on a table/bed by the DH (comparable size of each), add a chuck and can be more so.
As was typing this, a thought arose, has anyone seen a dividing head with a slotted t-nut face plate on it, used one? -- I know, I am in a very small world of my own.
As to the first statement, just get a bigger mill!
I wish I could remember the title of a book I looked/read through on ornamental metal/watch?? turning. A large number of turning chucks and methods used, multi adjustable sliding axis, some times chucks in chucks rather amazing in many ways, things done and known for some 100's of years, and not a computer in sight!
As to how that relates to dividing heads and RT is that much of the equipment was marked in degrees and was capable was working as dividing and or rotating while being on movable slide ways. Compounds upon compounds etc.
 
Bandit said:
As to how that relates to dividing heads and RT is that much of the equipment was marked in degrees and was capable was working as dividing and or rotating while being on movable slide ways. Compounds upon compounds etc.
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This is an example of such a setup:
 
Since the dividing head isn't all that interesting at that price, I'll diverge from that theme....

Quite coincidentally, Stefan Gotteswinter rebuilds his Deckel rotary table:

 
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Susquatch said:
Boy @trlvn , I think @Bandit and @Dabbler missed your question...... I wanted an answer too!

@trlvn asked......what makes a dividing head "Universal" v. "Semi-universal"? Is it the external drive input?
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A universal DH allows for differential dividing. All others (semi universal, direct) do not.

Yes, for differential dividing it needs the external gearing to “back feed” the “difference“ by either advancing or retarding the reference point into the dividing plate.

Edit: a universal DH is capable of all three types of division: direct, indirect & differential.
 
RobinHood said:
Yes, for differential dividing it needs the external gearing to “back feed” the “difference“ by either advancing or retarding the reference point into the dividing plate.
Click to expand...

Great answer Rudy. Now I know that my universal dividing head....is not! LOL!

A bit disappointing, but I always need to remember it was free with my mill drill. I think the accessories I got with it were worth 4x what I paid for everything, and the mill drill itself might be worth more or less what I paid. So all in all it was a very good haul a long time ago.
 
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