Milling

Machine
Patterns

!/2"-DIA.
HOLE

20-TOOTH
FULL-SCALE PATTERN
(6!/8" O.D.)
(NEED ONE)
!/4"-DIA.
HOLE

DRIVE GEAR
FULL-SCALE PATTERN
(3!/4" O.D.)
(NEED ONE)

LOCK GEAR
FULL-SCALE PATTERN
(NEED ONE)

1" -DIA.
HOLE

%/16"-DIA.
HOLE

ShopNotes No. 115

Page 1 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

INDEXING WHEEL
FULL-SCALE
LEFT HALF-PATTERN
(NEED 1)

&/16"-DIA.
HOLE

NOTE: USE CENTERLINES

TO ALIGN BOTH INDEXING

WHEEL HALF-PATTERNS TO
FORM A FULL PATTERN

CL

!/4 "-DIA.
HOLES

!/2"-DIA.
HOLE

4!/2"-RAD.

ShopNotes No. 115

Page 2 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

INDEXING WHEEL
FULL-SCALE
RIGHT HALF-PATTERN
(NEED 1)

&/16"-DIA.
HOLE

NOTE: USE CENTERLINES

TO ALIGN BOTH INDEXING

WHEEL HALF-PATTERNS TO
FORM A FULL PATTERN

CL

!/2"-DIA.
HOLE

!/4 "-DIA.
HOLES

4!/2"-RAD.

ShopNotes No. 115

Page 3 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

CL

NOTE: USE CENTERLINES

TO ALIGN TWO 30-TOOTH
HALF-PATTERNS TO FORM
A FULL PATTERN

30-TOOTH
FULL-SCALE
HALF-PATTERN
(9" O.D)
(NEED 2)

CL

!/2"-DIA.
HOLE

!/4"-DIA.
HOLE

ShopNotes No. 115

Page 4 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

10-TOOTH
FULL-SCALE
PATTERN
(3!/4" O.D.)
(NEED THREE)
!/2"-DIA.
HOLE
NOTE: USE CENTERLINES
TO ALIGN FOUR 40-TOOTH
QUARTER-PATTERNS TO
FORM A FULL PATTERN

%/16"-DIA.
HOLE

40-TOOTH
FULL-SCALE
QUARTER-PATTERN
(11!#/16" O.D.)
(NEED 4)

!/4"-DIA.
HOLE

!/2"-DIA.
HOLE

CL

CL

ShopNotes No. 115

Page 5 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

Milling Machine
Gear Setups

The router milling machine allows for six

different gear setups to create spiral patterns
(like flutes and reeds). Depending on the
setup, the gear ratio, and therefore the spacing of the spirals changes. The direction of
the spiral depends on whether one or two
gears are used to connect the drive gear and
main gears, as you can see in the drawings
below and on the following page.
Each set of drawings below shows the
gear setup and resulting spiral pattern. You
can use the information to determine what
will work best for the type of bit youre
using. Its always good idea to try out different gear setups and bit combinations on
a practice blank to determine the best spacing and number of spirals.
Over time, youll develop a sense for the
number of spirals you can use in a design
depending on the gear ratio and the size of
the bit (or a portion of a bit) you use.

SINGLE
SPIRAL
PATTERN

FOUR
COMPLETE
SPIRAL
PATTERNS

{ Spiral Pattern. Each specific gear setup results in a particular

spiral spacing (left example). The indexing wheel ensures that spirals are
evenly spaced for a consistent look once theyre complete (right example).

10-20
GEAR

1-8 GEAR
RATIO







1%/8






INSIDE END VIEW



OUTSIDE END VIEW

10-30
GEAR









2#/8











ShopNotes No. 115

1-12 GEAR
RATIO

Page 6 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.

10-40
GEAR

1-16 GEAR
RATIO







3#/16







INSIDE END VIEW



OUTSIDE END VIEW

10-20
GEAR

10-30
GEAR

1-24 GEAR
RATIO

3












4!#/16









10-20
GEAR

10-40
GEAR
2





6#/8









1-32 GEAR
RATIO



10-30
GEAR
10-40
GEAR
1





9%/8







ShopNotes No. 115





1-48 GEAR
RATIO

Page 7 of 7

2010 August Home Publishing. All rights reserved.