Throughout the years since we have produced Sherline tools, certain questions come up repeatedly. To help you make the best use of your equipment and to help the new machinist become familiar with some of the details involved in learning to become good at metalworking, we have prepared instructions on the aspects of machine adjustment and use that are often sources of puzzlement for new machinists. We hope you find it interesting and informative.
- Assembling the Headstock, Motor, and Speed Control
Instructions are accompanied by step-by-step photos reprinted from the Sherline Assembly and Instruction Guide that comes with each machine. For more on the motor and speed control, CLICK HERE.
For a YouTube instructional video showing the assembly of a new lathe, including the headstock/motor/speed control unit, CLICK HERE. - DC Motor Wiring
Shows diagram of factory connections on the DC speed control board and motor wire colors for Leeson and Hill House DC motors. - Aligning the Lathe Headstock and Tailstock
Taken from the Instruction Manual that comes with each lathe. - Tailstock Feed Screw Troubleshooting
Explains how to put the feed screw assembly back together when the 5-40 screw comes loose on the tailstock feed screw assembly. - Lathe Alignment and Micro-Drilling
Aligning your headstock, tailstock, and chuck, especially regarding micro-drilling. - Gib Installation and Adjustment
If you need to adjust or replace a worn gib, these tips will make it easy. - Gib Removal Tool
A gib removal tool is included with each Sherline lathe or mill. - Removing a Frozen Chuck or End Mill Holder from the Headstock Spindle
Instructions for unthreading a frozen chuck or end mill holder from the spindle. - Removing Rust Preventive Coatings
Instructions for removing the factory-applied rust preventives from the raw steel parts of your new machine. - Saddle Nut Replacement
The inexpensive saddle nut is brass, so it will wear out before the steel leadscrew. Here are the steps involved in replacing one if yours wears out. - Preload Nut Adjustment and Pulley Adjustment
The spindle preload can be tightened to reduce end play or loosened to keep bearings cooler when using the 10,000 RPM pulley set. Here’s how. Also, the proper use of the two pulley positions is illustrated. - Aligning a Mill
In order for any mill to be able to make accurate cuts, it must be properly aligned or “indicated in.” Procedures for both the 2000-series and 5000-series mills are included. - Squaring up and Indicating in a Mill
These instructions are similar to the Aligning a Mill listed above. However, these instructions are more specific to squaring up and indicating in our milling machines with rigid-column bases. - Lathe Assembly and Backlash Adjustment
Simple instructions on how to unpack and assemble your new lathe, including how to adjust the anti-backlash nut. - Adjusting the Anti-Backlash Components of a Sherline Lathe
Troubleshooting anti-backlash problems on a Sherline lathe crosslide. - Adjusting Leadscrew and Handwheel Backlash
What is backlash, and how is it adjusted? Find out here. - Mill Z-Axis Backlash Support Screw Installation
A screw added to the center of the Z-axis handwheel helps support the weight of the motor/speed control to keep excess handwheel backlash from developing. - Installing New Motor Brushes in the DC Motor
A few hints to make the job easy and to prevent bearing damage on older motors that don’t have the externally replaceable brushes offered since 2002 - Lubrication for Standard Leadscrew Machines
Lubrication for Ball Screw Machines
Where to lubricate your machine and what to use. Also included is where NOT to lubricate your 2000 and 5800 mills. - Adding a Reversing Switch to the Speed Control
Though it shortens brush life slightly and voids the motor warranty, some machinists and clockmakers prefer a motor that can run in either direction. Here’s how to do it yourself for a few bucks in parts. - Straightening an Out-of-Square Motor Mount Bracket
In June 2006, we became aware of some out-of-square cast motor mounting brackets that were shipped with machines. Here is a quick way to square up one of the brackets if you’d rather do it yourself and not deal with the time delays involved with returning it. - Grinding Your Own Lathe Tools
Properly sharpened tools are the key to good cuts on a lathe. These step-by-step instructions show you how to do it. - Making Your Own Gravers
Watchmakers have long used a handheld tool called a graver to cut metal much like wood is cut on a wood lathe. Master watch and clockmaker William R. Smith tells you how to make your own and use them. - Installing Sherline Digital Readout Handwheels on Stepper Motors
Installing stepper motors for CNC requires that any installed DRO handwheels be removed. This modification allows the DRO handwheel/encoder units to be reinstalled on the rear shaft of a dual-shaft stepper motor as a cross-check to ensure that the CNC system is actually moving the amount it is supposed to be.
- Changing the Direction of the X-axis Digital Readout
The Sherline DRO normally reads, so the plus direction is the same as the engraved scale on the side of the table; that is, plus is from left to right. To change the readout to read the way most CNC systems work, that is, with positive movement being from right to left, see this help sheet. - DRO Backlash Assembly
The following are instructions for assembling your DRO handwheel on the Z-axis of your lathe. With proper assembly, you can reduce your machine’s backlash to .002″ or less. - Installing Stepper Motor Mounts on a Lathe
Converting your lathe to CNC? Here’s how. - Installing Stepper Motor Mounts on a Mill
Converting your mill to CNC? Here’s how. - Removing Stepper Motors
Occasionally, you may need to remove the stepper motors from your CNC machine. Here are clear instructions on how to do so and how to avoid some of the typical pitfalls. - Removing Stepper Motors and the Mill Saddle
- Removing Stepper Motors and the Mill Saddle to Gain Access to the X-Axis Slide Nut
- Inch vs. Metric Calibrations
The advantages of each system and part numbers for converting a Sherline machine from one measurement system to another. - CNC Axis Stopped Working
It is likely that a fuse in the driver box has blown to protect the circuit. These instructions help you troubleshoot the issue. - Using a Rotary Table
One of the most useful accessories for a mill is the rotary table, which can help you make spoke wheels, circular hole patterns, and even cut gears. These instructions will help you understand how a rotary table is used in machining. - Programming and Using a Sherline CNC Rotary Indexer
Based on the Sherline rotary table, this programmable indexer can simplify repetitive indexing tasks. Learn how easy it is to program it yourself, even if you know nothing about G-code or CNC programming. - Tips from Other Sherline Machinists
Shop wisdom, modifications, and shortcuts to simplify your machining projects submitted by the folks who use Sherline tools. - A Free RPM Gauge
Please print out this PDF file, cut out the RPM gauge, and glue it to your lathe or mill pulley. The flashing of a 60-cycle fluorescent light causes the various rings to appear to stand still when your spindle is turning at a particular speed. It’s very “low-tech,” but it indicates speeds of 100, 300, 400, 480, 600, 720, 800, 900, 1200, 1800, and 2400 RPM quite accurately. (Reprinted from the Sherline Shop and Accessories Guide.) - Power Cord Conversion
Sherline machines are supplied with a USA-type plug but can be easily rewired to accept a European or UK-type plug by attaching the wires using these instructions. - Replacing the Toggle Switch on the Speed Control
Sometimes, it’s necessary to replace the on/off toggle switch (P/N 30230) on your speed control unit, and these instructions cover the toggle switch replacement process. Customers who cut a lot of wood or brass tend to get wood dust or fine brass particles in the toggle switch, and these contaminants will short out the on/off switch. Woods with a high oil content seem to be the worst, e.g., African Black Wood. Our toggle switch dust cover (P/N 3015) was designed to prevent fine particles from getting into the speed control electronics. - Climb Milling vs. Conventional Milling
Roughing cuts and cutting hard materials should be done with “Conventional Milling.” Finish cuts can be done with “Climb Milling.” Climb milling, as the name implies, involves the tool’s cutting edge literally climbing up the side of the part, while conventional milling involves the tool’s cutting edge digging into the side of the part. - End Mill Holder Run Out
Truing the Spindle Shoulder Face
These two documents address how to check and fix spindle and end mill run-out. The threads and the headstock spindle’s shoulder face are the two surfaces that dictate how true your accessories will run. Any damage, wear, or surface deviation to these surfaces will cause your accessory to run out. - Eliminating Chip Build-up on a Lathe
Simple tips to help reduce stringy chips that build up and wrap around your parts (bird nest) during lathe operations. -
Sherline Products Lathe and Column Bed Quality
Customers receiving their new lathe/mill sometimes have concerns about imperfections in their lathe/column beds. The PDF above addresses this issue. - Chucker Lathe Headstock Height Adjustment
Shows how to add shims to adjust the height of a headstock on a Sherline Chucker Lathe.
- Using a Laser on a Sherline Milling Machine
If you have purchased the Sherline Laser Mount (P/N 8955) for your milling machine, here are additional set-up instructions for our MASSO G3 and Acorn CNC controllers.
Laser Setup Instructions for Engraving and Cutting on the Acorn Centroid Controller
Laser Setup Instructions for Engraving and Cutting on the MASSO Touch Controller
Changing the Settings from a Mill to a Laser and Back on the MASSO Touch Controller
The following is a list of pages on this site that will help answer questions, find resources, give instructions, or offer helpful tips for Sherline users.
A complete set of instructions for our most popular accessories.
Exploded view diagrams of Sherline machines with part numbers.
Answers to questions regarding Sherline tools and machines.
Answers to questions regarding the Sherline/Acorn CNC controller.
Answers to questions regarding the Sherline/MASSO G3 CNC touch controller.
Answers to questions regarding the Sherline/MASSO G23 CNC controller.
Answers to questions regarding Linux CNC machines.
Answers to questions regarding Ball Screw machines.
Answers to questions regarding DRO machines.
Sherline lathes and mills can be ordered new with factory-installed digital readouts or retrofitted to include a digital readout, regardless of age.
Details explaining how to select the right mini-lathe or mini-mill for you.
Resources that are included are drawing-to-g-code converters, books on CNC, and links to other sites of interest for people learning and using CNC.
Includes CNC lathes and mills specifications, CNC components, and CNC systems. Click on the pertinent tab near the top of the page for information.
Includes sources from raw materials, terminology, clubs, and groups to free calculators.
This listing offers a logical way to locate the part number of a particular accessory. The list is divided into five sections: Lathes, Vertical Milling Machines, Accessories for both Lathe and Mill, Accessories for Clockmakers, and Books and Videos.
Resources associated with the tools, processes, and materials used in miniature machining.
Suppose you are making special tooling or a custom accessory for your Sherline tools. In that case, this will save you the trouble of measuring your particular machine to find a dimension, some of which are actually quite difficult to measure.
Shop wisdom, modifications, and shortcuts to simplify your machining projects.
Following are some brief descriptions so that you can see how the numbering system is organized. Though there may seem to be many choices, they are simply combinations of a few basic machines and accessories.
Craftsmanship requires quality tools. When Joe Martin founded Sherline Products Inc. in the early seventies, his vision was to produce a miniature tool line with every accessory needed to build small, complex machined parts from metal on a kitchen table if need be.