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/WEBLOG/2009-02-18_Sherline_CNC_2

[vincemulhollon]

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

In summary, I liked it.

Nice video. Good camera technique. Also nice lighting. Note w/ regards to my questions I have not watched video # 1 which may answer my feedback.

Why tear the whole mill down? I had good results working very carefully and very slowly with a hand rechargable drill. I figured the less I fiddled with the saddle, the better.

My z-axis, like yours, was also obviously torqued down with an automotive impact wrench or something. Did not realize you can apply that kind of torque to little aluminum threads, but obviously sherline knows that they're doing since they never worked loose and didn't strip.

I clamped the Y Axis template with those rubbery bar clamps that most people use for woodworking. The rubber mushes equally (about 0.080 as you measured). Basically I successfully used your X-axis technique to hold the Y-axis template. I didn't shim but it worked OK. I stuck a drill thru the holes to center the hole perfectly, don't remember what drill size it was or exactly how I did that. May have wrapped it with some electrical tape too.

I avoided the Z-axis tapping by buying an A2Z CNC extra long Z axis prepped and ready for CNC, just bolt it up.

Your use and experience may vary, but I find chips stick and imbed into grease, oil works better. I tried grease once on the ways, but went back to oil. You also might want to compare both grease and oil on the ways and decide for yourself.

I did not locktite my X and Y axes as I figure I'll replace my X and Y axes with longer ones some day. Have not worked loose yet. Also, I admit I was worried about Locktite-ing the ways. Locktite won't stick to oily ways, will it? Not that I want to find out the hard way.

My nice adjustable zero handwheels (identical to yours) vibrate most ferociously when spun as at a high speed when moving fast. I had to take mine off. Also the center screw in the Z axis wheel made it hard to attach anyway and then the center screw vibrated with the growling of the stepper. If I have to manually machine I can just bolt them on the stepper shaft.

Do your steppers have the words "steeeping motor" on their little white label, like mine do?

Your quarter inch drill rod shaft to connect the mounts to the handwheel for testing, was a good idea. I used the dual shaft steppers for that task and it was quite fiddly, would have been alot easier if I had done it your way.

[S_J_H]

The video was nice ( especially the intro), but lol, it was sort of like watching paint dry.
No offense! :D I also sort of chuckled when you were struggling loosening cap screws with the t handle wrench. You are just wasting energy by creating a torsion spring. Just use a normal L shaped allen wrench to break loose the tight fasteners.

I would edit your videos into more interesting segments.
That said, it's still a lot better than mine! I just use the video feature on my still camera and that leaves much to be desired.
Have fun with your Sherline mill. Looks like a well made little machine!

Steve

[gcude]

I'm glad others are adding input from their experience with this same or similar upgrade. Good to compare notes and visual hands-on to see what you all are talking about.

I enjoyed this video (as well as the first) and look forward to the electronics and PC hookups.

[tony ennis]

You have the video set up so clicking anywhere outside the actual video closes the video. So I have seen the first few minutes like 3 times.

I was giving it time to load.. clicked on email , read some, clicked back to your site... oops, I closed the video. repeat x3

[BillH]

Intro is VERY nice but we want to see chips fly and parts being made!