<h1>Rocket Surgeon Indexer</h1> <h4>Thursday 22 January, 2026</h4> ## 2026 Edition of the Rocket Surgeon #### Something interesting goes here What couhts as done? + + + Abandoned features (with reasons) + + + Why? Too much time? Wait till next version? Not essential for enjoyment? Feature cool but not required? // Indexer The original Rocket Surgeon was developed as a concept study for addressing one of the most common shortfalls I encountered within the current Fab Lab capability. Making shaft couplers required concentric machining and cross drilling. This is something that would normally require a lathe with milling attachment, something agreeably too dangerous for a Fab Lab environment. This is not to say that the Rocket Surgeon was a safe device, but it was designed to be lightweight and minimal risk of crushing or entanglement. The use of CNC control would also allow users to be far away or protected by a screen from broken bits or chips. In principle, it should not require much more than safety glasses and that the user not come near the working space of the machine. Rigidity and damping are important Stiffness is manageable, but mass is the other factor in the equation. Requirements: Able to do 4th axis operations for example bolt PCD and cross drilling Able to do basic turning operations Able to machine circuit boards Able to do flip machining for PCB and simple rigid geometries Abandoned features: Lightweight, simple components mostly sourced within a Fab Lab Expandable design to machine outside the footprint of the machine, for example reconfigurable to be indexed on a large wooden panel for machining precise and specific details such as square holes, drill hole patterns, etc. mount ball screws Reinstate PCB CNC with BLDC spindle print tpu feet for rails Move fusion project into consultationing Mount rotary table with 4-jaw Indexer with powered gang tools <img src="media-2026/04-cycloidal-2021.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-1a.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-1b.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-3a.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-3b.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-octoprint-grbl.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-4b-parts.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-4b-parts.jpg"> <img src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-4b-stepper-bldc-mount-black.jpg"> <div style="width:40%; float:left"> <video width="100%" autoplay loop controls muted><source src="media-2026/04-indexer-idea-4b-stepper-bldc-mount.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>Your browser does not support the video tag.</video> <legend>"Outback Australia. I wonder how that all fits into the Fab Lab ecosystem."</legend> </div> <div style="width:40%; float:left"> <video width="100%" autoplay loop controls muted><source src="media-2026/04-cycloidal-2026.mp4" type="video/mp4"/>Your browser does not support the video tag.</video> <legend>"A cyckiudak druve that I designed to fit in line with a NEMA 17. Coupling is not yet figured out but the mechanism is backdrivable and does not have much backlash (though the spindle needs a retention feature to keep it coaxial)"</legend> </div> <br><br> --------------------- ## Credits and Licencing Do the right thing and credit where it is due. I am trying to be a better person and do the same. Licence information is in the root folder of this Repo and covers everything in it unless otherwise specified. </div>