Test Cuts

If You Can’t See a Sherline Machine Demonstrated in Person, Here’s the Next Best Thing

We are often asked, “Can Sherline tools cut hard materials?” The answer is “yes,” but it is better to show you than to tell you. Some people (particularly those living in apartments or working in the kitchen or den) also want to know how noisy the machine is. The following video links in the table below will show about 30 seconds of each of the cuts on materials from Delrin to Titanium and even Inconel. You will get a feel for how quiet the machine is and how it cuts various materials.

Use of Coolant

In some cases, we have cut the material dry rather than make a mess in the photo studio using coolant, but tool life can usually be extended and smoother finishes obtained with the use of coolant. With experience, you will be able to make cuts like these because Sherline machines are rigid, and the DC motor supplies a lot of torque, particularly at low speeds where it is really needed for machining. Don’t let the small size fool you into thinking these are not serious metal cutting machines. They are rigid, powerful, and precise.

About the Setups Used in These Cuts

The 4400 lathe used in the video sample cuts linked below is a stock machine right out of the box. We have kept the material size fairly large, part overhang low, and tool overhang minimum. Tools are sharp and set to a proper height. Cuts are made near the headstock end of the bed where bed flex is minimal. This is an ideal setup that allows the machine to cut at its maximum capacity. Some of the cuts are quite large in order to demonstrate what the machine can really do. Many times your particular setup will require less than ideal part or tool positioning. In those cases, you will have to scale back dramatically on the depth of cuts used compared to these examples. In some cases, for example, you may only be able to take 10% of what we show here. Additional support with the use of a live center, a steady rest, or a follower rest can help alleviate these types of problems. Remember what Joe Martin says in his book, : “I’ve never seen anyone ruin a part by taking too light a cut.” Take cuts that you are comfortable with and that yield the surface finish you are looking for. Don’t be in a hurry. Your leadscrews, cutting tools, and spindle motor will last longer if you are not constantly pushing your machine to maximum capacity. Consider this like a road test where we are showing you how fast a new car can turn the quarter mile, even though you will hopefully not be driving it every day like you are at the race track.

Videos

Click on the image of the video to begin play. You can enlarge the video to full screen by clicking on the “expand video” icon in the lower-right corner of the player.