You probably know from my regular musings that I have a Sherline Cnc lathe long bed and a universal cnc sherline mill, and I can't resist reading any posts about them.

I don't use them as much as I should do, because they are dead accurate, if I take the time to set it up, I can guarantee parts to within .01 mm shafts and external features, but on my bigger machines, (perhaps due to the way I treat them!) it's more like .05 and i'm happy with that mostly but it always amazes me to see their capabilities.

Quick note on the cnc rotary table, I have that too and it's built to a quality not seen on the other hobby indexers. 

You may notice that on the demonstrations the speed is always up to the top and with carbide tooling because it tends to struggle on lower speeds on high speed steel, it does have a compensation feature on it's board but it's not enough to overcome large cuts, cuts that I could get away with on my bigger lathe, like 4mm roughing stainless steel.

They could probably do with upping their game on the motor side, it's only 1/5hp but you can get a brushless 500W motor with an ER fitting head for about £100 with variable speed. (Not to act as the spindle but simply to hold the pulleys where the other motor would normally go)The other features of the sherline machines are nigh on flawless that being said.

The older Australian sherline machines are quite rare but they were actually equipped with a small induction motor with a single/double speed settings on the pulleys, and are probably better off sticking with them. C;early the original designer, now long gone I think, intended it to give decent power output for a small machine. 

The variable speed feature on the brushed standard motor gives the illusion of being able to handle larger diameters with less power, which is a nonsense to say that you could part off a 1" steel bar with 200rpm on the wee motor. Doesn't work. not unless you machined a different pulley set. 

I would also praise them on the amount of literature they offer to help people understand what to do, far beyond what other machine makers are willing to offer. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 28/04/2017 17:50:34

MW, Like you I have a Sherline CNC Mill and Lathe just recently bought. I wonder what software you are using for both CAD and CAM?

Mike

Michael;

I, too, have a Sherline CNC lathe and mill. They were purchased for a potential house downsizing (moving to a smaller place), but that's been put on hold because of COVID, so not used as much (yet) as I had originally planned.

I've got bigger CNC mills, and use the same software. I've actually got 2 sets of software; I use Linux for work from home and one of my desktops, I also use Apple computers for software development. So, saying that:

On Linux, CamBam, and QCad, CamBam can do some lathe CAM, which has worked well with the Sherline lathe.

On Windows (which probably has not been booted in 6 months) Alibre Atom3D, and, if I remember the name correctly, Meshcam.

I just never turn on the windows computer, the Linux one is booted 24/7, so I use the 2D CAD/CAM system 100% of the time. I have tried (successfully) to run Windows in a virtual machine under Linux; it worked, but is slow and not as responsive as I'd have liked. The 2D CAD setup does things well enough for the parts I'm making.

Hope some of the above helps! John

Dave – if you (or anyone else) wants to see what can be done on Sherline equipment, have a look at:

Chris and his Kozo Shay build

over at modelnginemaker.com This fellow hails from NY state in the USA, and makes more in a day than many of us make in a year.

I made an "old Shay" from Kozo Hiraoka's plans; mainly on an Eco Compact-8, so when I followed along on how he made the "new Shay" on Sherline equipment (including cutting gears from brass) needless to say, I was both humbles and impressed.

Unfortunately the machines are Price on Application

MillHill Supplies have Sherline prices on their website, Dave – machines & accessories. Not clear from the list if the prices are Vat inclusive or not – the difference between "just expensive" and "how much !".

Mrs B got me a second hand Sherline deluxe long bed lathe and a lot of accessories for my 40th birthday – it has not had a lot of use since it came to me & I should make the effort to use to more often. I did make the (stainless) valves & (bronze) valve guides for a Westbury Seal (the kit for that was my birthday present to myself that year) on it without any dramas – though turning longer items gets a bit tedious with a 20TPI leadscrew & the accessories included didn't include the "power feed" kit.

Nigel B.

Though I am aware of Millhill, Well known is not words I would use to describe them.

It's basically one obscure website with no online shop to pretty much serve the whole of Europe? A job that IMO they don't do particularly well. I emailed them about 6 months ago and I am still waiting for a reply. 🙄 I mean they don't even advertise on forums or in the magazines. I imagine most people have no idea who Millhill are or even that they exist.

It may seem a little brutal of me but IMO Sherline should dump Millhill and partner up with some of the bigger boys, Chronos, Warco, Arceuro, Axminster etc to really get their products out there. I am convinced Sherline have the products that fill a gap in the market over here. I collet micro lathes and the choices available new are basically a cheap Chinese c0 an overpriced Proxxon or a very expensive Cowells. Everything else secondhand (Emco) commands a premium because of demand and the watchmakers stuff isn't really suitable for model engineering.

Second to that some of their range of chucks would fly off the shelves over here. A very nice quality American made precision chuck for example costs about $100 which is a bit of a bargain when compared with similar offerings over here which are crudely made usually in China yet cost almost as much?

I said Sherline are well-known in the UK, not the dealer!

Maybe more would sell in Europe if they were marketed better, maybe not. There must be a danger Sherline sales are lost here because beginners see alternatives widely advertised while Sherline gear is harder to find. It's what I meant by Sherline in the UK being 'a little awkward to buy'.

My feeling though is it's not Sherline's qualities or lack of advertising that make them relatively scarce over here, it's the combination of price point and a relatively limited market for that size of lathe. If an importer could get the UK price down to £600 or less, I'm sure more would sell, but I doubt it would be a flood. Is it profitable?

Sherline's policy may be relevant too: their advice to prospective new dealers is: 'Word-of-mouth is still the largest source of new Sherline customers', and, perhaps more off-putting to potential trading partners, 'Please note that we do not accept wholesale accounts.' (Their emphasis.) I'm wary of criticising commercial arrangements because without seeing the Business Plan, it's impossible to know if they've got it right or not. Could be Sherline and their UK dealer have already optimised profitability, maybe they should think again. Ketan Swali would have a clearer understanding of the commercial considerations than me! I just know they're not always easy.

I'd be delighted if Sherline were easier and cheaper to buy in the UK. I've thought of buying one several times, but it's a fair amount of money to spend on a scale of work I rarely do.

Dave

My experience with the purchase of Sherline Lathe and Mill was direct with Sherline USA.

I also have an Axminster RF25 which I converted to CNC via a package from Long in China. I use Mach3 and Alibre for that mill and did think at first I would sell it to help fund the Sherline purchase. However I think it serves a different type of work so not its going to stay.

I was helped in my purchase by a 20% discount by Karl from Sherline. That helped to pay the dreaded vat. The speed of delivery was excellent and most importantly backup help and advice when setting up has been exceptional. With email I get answers to query's the same day or two. Karl is a very knowledgeable man and I could not wish for better support.

One area where I have had to spend a lot of education is with using the software for running the machines. Namely MASSO. I have also converted ish to Fusion 360 as its free to non commercial people (for how long I don't know?) and again its more learning.

So overall I am extremely pleased with both product and support. It will also make me a better CNC 'engineer'

Some observations on pro's and cons of Shelines:

Pro's

1/ They are very accurate.

2/ The are easy to pick up and pack away. i have predrilled and tapped bolt holes in my steel surfaced workbench; 4 screws and a hex key and they are free.

3/There are plenty of Sherline extras.

4/ They have plenty of power for Brass and Aluminium.

Cons

1/ They are expensive

2/ Whilst you can get metric versions, the bolts that hold them together and all fixings are imperial. Can be irritating!

3/ They can cut steel but it takes time.

4/ They are small.

5/ The shafts are MT1 – try buying 3rd party boring heads etc for MT1 – you have to go the Sherline rout.

Depends on what you want them for I guess, but I've never found a problem with getting bits for them.

Stuart

Sherline lathes & accessories have really gone up in price in the last 2 years alone, Millhill Supplies price list on Sherline you must add on VAT + postage. I bought my Sherline long bed lathe package & accessories from Millhill in March 2019. Here's what I paid just 2 years ago & the price now, everything has gone up around 50% in that time.

2019 2021

4410A Lathe Package £855 inc VAT. £1284 inc VAT

1270 Compound slide £126 inc VAT. £189 inc VAT.

1030 4 jaw indi Chuck 3.1" £135.99 inc VAT. £204 inc VAT.

1076 4 Jay S/C Chuck 3.1" £166.24 inc VAT. £249.48 inc VAT.

Just a sample of what I bought from Millhill in 2019, all the other accessories sherline list have gone up around 50% across the range here in the UK.

ps – I believe Millhill prices are inclusive of VAT – but not 100% certain so anyone looking to buy please check.

Stuart