An apparatus for use in a multi-axis tooling machine to add a rotation axis, the apparatus comprising:
- an indexer disk having a central portion defining a rotation axis, the indexer disk having an upper annulus having an outer periphery with a plurality of grooves spaced at predetermined radial angles with respect to the rotation axis, the upper annulus having an upper surface with visual indicia immediately adjacent the plurality of grooves, wherein the visual indicia identify the predetermined radial angles of the plurality of grooves;
- an adapter base having a first side disposed adjacent to a central portion of the indexer disk, and a second side configured to engage a work piece holder;
- a keyed member having an arcuate groove concentrically disposed about and radially displaced from the rotation axis;
- and
- a key extending vertically through the adapter base, indexer disk, and arcuate groove of the keyed member, wherein the key is adjustable with respect to the keyed member between a fixed state in which the indexer disk and adapter base are vertically clamped between the key and keyed member within the arcuate groove against movement about the rotation axis, and a released state in which the indexer disk and adapter base are released for co-rotation about the rotation axis as the key rotates within the arcuate groove of the keyed member;
- a pointer mechanism disposed immediately adjacent the outer periphery of the upper annulus of the indexer disk, the pointer mechanism including a tip for releasable engagement with the plurality of grooves, the tip having an alignment mark, wherein the pointer mechanism is radially movable with respect to the indexer disk between a released position in which the indexer disk is rotatable about the rotation axis while the key is in the released state, and an engaged position in which the tip of the pointer mechanism engages one or more of the plurality of grooves to maintain the indexer disk at one of the predetermined radial angles while the key is adjusted to the fixed state, wherein the predetermined radial angle at which the work piece is supported about the rotation axis is identified by alignment of the visual indicia adjacent the plurality of grooves with the alignment mark of the pointer mechanism, wherein the alignment mark and visual indicia are visible to a user as the user rotates the indexer disk between the predetermined radial angles;
- and
- a base unit in fixed engagement with the keyed member, wherein the base unit is configured for support by an existing axis of the tooling machine.