Second video of my Sherline Mill CNC conversion

[panofish]

Here is the second video of my Sherline Mill CNC conversion.
Please provide feedback.

http://home.comcast.net/~panofish/WE...Sherline_CNC_2

[HackMax]

Originally Posted by panofish Here is the second video of my Sherline Mill CNC conversion. Please provide feedback. http://home.comcast.net/~panofish/WE...Sherline_CNC_2

Super video! If anyone was looking to do this to their sherline these videos would be great primers.

Rick

[escott76]

Originally Posted by panofish Here is the second video of my Sherline Mill CNC conversion. Please provide feedback. http://home.comcast.net/~panofish/WE...Sherline_CNC_2

Not sure if you are doing anything to guide your tap handle, but you might want to consider it for the future. Since you'd gone through the trouble to locate the base in the drill press, all you need to do is find a tap wrench with either the floating back section or a pin that fits the hole on the back, which you chuck in the drill press. No power, but you use the pin to keep the tap straight.
Alternately, you can drill a hole in a block the same size as the major diameter of the screw. Hold the block against the work. There are also commercial versions of this method.
Either of these methods will ensure your tap goes in straight, lessening the chance of cross threading and tap breakage.
You mention liking the two flute taps. Couple of other things to consider. On through holes spiral point or gun taps will provide the best performance. These will shoot chips ahead of the tap, which fall out in a through hole. In a blind hole these will build up at the bottom of the hole, eventually stopping the tap from going deeper. This can cause problems as it can jam the tap in the hole causing breakage. Spiral flute taps will bring the chips back out of the hole, and can work better for blind holes.
You will ALWAYS find a difference in quality taps sold by a lot of online stores, McMaster, Enco, MSC, Fastenal and those taps sold at Home Center stores. Buy good taps, and experience far less pain and frustration.
You conversion is pretty cool by the way! Nice job.

[panofish]

Thanks for the good feedback escott76!

[Jason3]

That was most interesting, thank you - first time I've actually had a really decent look at the Sherline mill. They seem to be very nicely made machines. I especially liked the falling machines at the start - can I ask you how you made that animation? (don't feel obliged to reveal any trade secrets though )

About taps - personally, I really like the fluteless forming taps. They are somewhat self aligning, don't create any chips to clear out of blind holes, and the formed threads are stronger. The drill size is very important though, as is a good tapping lubricant.

I've just received a Sherline rotary table (CNC version) and am currently mounting a little Nema17 brushless servo to it. I must say, I was pleased with the quality, and also a little surprised how small it actually is - it's hard to tell from the photos. The 'T' slots are minute! I bought mine (new) on Ebay - saved $14.00 over the direct price. Every dollar counts these days

Will you keep us posted when there are more videos of your conversion?

Best regards,

Jason

[panofish]

Thanks Jason3. I wonder if you bought my manual sherline rotary table from ebay... wouldn't that be weird? I replaced it with a cnc rotarty table.

The animation is complex to make without a background in animation and 3d graphics. I used 3ds max, reactor, and mental ray to model, animate and render the pieces.

[Jason3]

Originally Posted by panofish Thanks Jason3. I wonder if you bought my manual sherline rotary table from ebay... wouldn't that be weird? I replaced it with a cnc rotarty table.

Heh, that would be quite a coincidence! I don't think I bought yours though, my rotary table was the CNC ready one. It's still new too! - haven't used it yet I did get the Nema17 mount made though, and I must say I do like the smaller size motor - it sticks out much less on my small mill.

Originally Posted by panofish The animation is complex to make without a background in animation and 3d graphics. I used 3ds max, reactor, and mental ray to model, animate and render the pieces.

Hmm... Perhaps I'll leave the nice intro sequences to others then!

Best regards,

Jason

[Herbertkabi]

Great work!
Sherline mill is meant for very persevering persons like ´panofish´amazingly does,
Unfortunately Im not so patient, at that Im very autodidact machinist ;-)
Years ago I bought Sherline 2010 - yeah, nice machine but ...
these composite slides ... was tired to tighten shims, and look at those tiny screw nuts and contra-nuts - you need to tighten these several times in day if you dont like few degrees backlash ... continuing setback up till you have to buy a new nuts and or sets of screws and nuts. Lachrymose feeble rigidity comes by my opinion not so much from graceful design but specifically because mentioned above composite shims and fatuous screw-nuts. Also original "one screw fixed" screw supports - its quizzical by my opinion.
I bought this machine via Sherline representor in Sweden, later when spare parts was needed, this Dealer never replied me - seems finito with - Sherline home spoke "sorry, we can not sell to you, you mast to go to nearest Dealer ..." , yes, but he does not reply ... finally they sold me what needed but every next time exact the same opus - infinite codswallop - I waived and sold away my 2010 mill.
Now I have built direct drive spindle motors for friends who owne Sherline,
Somewhere http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...t=72691&page=2 I spoke about.
Please anyone dont feel yourself affronted - I just tried to explane my own experience with Sherline ... sometimes my poor English causes misunderstandings ;-)

With due respect,
Herbert

[Herbertkabi]

Originally Posted by Jason3 Heh, that would be quite a coincidence! I don't think I bought yours though, my rotary table was the CNC ready one. It's still new too! - haven't used it yet I did get the Nema17 mount made though, and I must say I do like the smaller size motor - it sticks out much less on my small mill. Hmm... Perhaps I'll leave the nice intro sequences to others then! Best regards, Jason

Yeah, Jason, I have Sherline Rotary table - also via eBay - by the by the best rotary table when compared with anothers similar size. But again and again - backlash! Thats because I bought Sumitomo Cyclo FAS15-59 - much cheaper than Sherline rotary table - NEW! - $45 + shipping Zero backlash!
Cheers,
Herbert