Description

14MAY2024 UPDATE: More are in stock and ready to ship! *Please see the description below for details on this unit. Better videos and photos are coming soon. I am a better engineer than I am a photographer, videographer, or web designer. New Iron Machine and Design is proud to offer our Index Assistor for the Star Reloader . This unit is the result of over two years of development, prototyping, and refinement to address the void left by the discontinuation of the Ray-Vin Moon Unit Indexer. The New Iron Machine & Design Index Assistor, (unlike the Ray-Vin and MA Sytems units), does not automatically index the shell plate. Instead it provides the reloader a simple, smooth, and ergonomic way to index your brass between stations. There are several advantages to this type of indexer as opposed to the fully automatic type: Better "feel" to the operator during press operation, separation of the indexing movent from movement of the toolhead, slower indexing velocity to minimize powder spillage, not requiring mounting additional bulky hardware on or away from the press, and there is no loss of maximum overall cartridge length that happens in auto-indexing designs. (Because in those designs the shellplate begins movement before the toolhead reaches top-dead-center). There are three options of linear bearing (linear guides) to choose from: 1: Generic Chinese import bearing and rail. These are the most economical choice and are actually quite good for the price. Choose this option if price is a primary concern. 2: Genuine HIWIN (Taiwan) bearing and rail. These are very high quality and significantly more costly than the Chinese bearings. Chose this option if you want a good balance between cost and performance and avoid supporting mainland Chinese manufacturing. 3: Genuine THK (Japan) bearing and rail. These are the highest quality bearing and rail on the market and have a corresponding cost. Chose this option if you want the best to match the best reloading machine ever made. As for the rest of the machine, you will see no expense has been spared. The main components of the unit are made with carbon fiber filled polycarbonate. There is never any moving contact between polycarbonate parts that could cause wear over time. In addition to the primary linear bearing, there are four PTFE "Teflon" bearings and an Oilite bearing. The indexer works with all models of Stars, both the older "Progressive" and the later "Universal". (You can see in the photos that I have in my collection I used in testing and development Universals in both .45 ACP and .38 Special, and an original Progressive in .38 Special). The unit can be adjusted/tuned to accommodate any size cartridge case. An Allen wrench used for adjustment is included and is stored under the unit by magnets out of the way when not needed. Mounting the unit is a simple as removing the front two screws you are currently using to mount to the machine to your bench and replacing with the two hex cap screw included with the Index Assistor. I realize that it may seem like a lot for a unit that doesn't automatically index, and I can understand that feeling. When I started this project I spent a lot of time (and money) trying different designs to get fully automatic indexing like the discontinued designs before coming to realize that this unit provides 95% of the convenience and speed of auto-indexing without many of the significant drawbacks that auto-indexing entails. All I can say is I wish you could try it in person. You will never want to go back to indexing by hand again. I appreciate your consideration and getting through all that text. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. ABOUT US : Here at New Iron Machine & Design LLC we have a passion for the "Old Iron" machines that used by skilled operators when it was just expected things would be made in America - and made to last. With many of our machines decades, in not a century, old, it is only natural that even the best of machines will inevitably require replacement parts and upgrades to keep running for decades more to come. Our philosophy is based on the idea of "New Iron" - combining all advantages available today - including computer aided design and additive manufacturing - along with tradition manufacturing - and combining that with a traditional belief that things should still be made in America, made to last, and made to high quality standards. Have an idea for something you think we should offer? We would love to hear from you. New Iron Machine and Design LLC is owned and operated by a two-tour US Army Iraq War veteran.