sherline rotary table price

Note:We have created a modified program for the Sherline CNC Rotary Table Controller to allow it to drive other rotary tables. If you already have a rotary table and wish to utilize our controller, send us an email. You will need to use the Sherline 23 frame stepper motor with 1/4" shaft and 120 oz/in of torque. We also need to know the worm gear ratio of your table. Currently we support 40:1, 60:1, 72:1, and 90:1 ratios. Others may be available on request. CLICK HERE to see our system mated to a six inch import rotary table.

Mumford Micro Systems has developed a hand-held electronic controller to drive a small rotary table made by Sherline Products in Vista, California. This intelligent controller is used to automate repetitive machining and indexing operations on Sherline"s CNC version of their 4" rotary table. The controller features a 16-button keypad for entering commands and parameters, and a 2-line by 16 character backlit LCD display. The table can be used for circular cutting operations on milling machines or for rotary indexing in a variety of situations. It can also be mounted to the headstock of a lathe to index for clock wheel cutting, eliminating the need for dedicated index plates. It is a self-contained computerized tool that needs no other CNC equipment to use, though it can interface to other CNC controllers if you have them.

Division ModeIn the Division Mode, you can specify the number of divisions in which to divide one rotation of 360 degrees. For example, if you wish to index a clock gear with 36 teeth, you would enter "36". Then, every time you press the NXT button, the table will rotate 1/36th of a rotation. You can press PRV to step backwards 1/36th of a rotation. The table automatically takes up backlash, and you can program the amount of backlash correction. The LCD screen keeps track of the current position and tells you which step you"re currently at.

Degrees ModeIn the Degrees Mode you can enter an explicit number of degrees to rotate. For example, you might enter "120.050" degrees. Then, every time you press the NXT button, the table will rotate 120.050 degrees. You can press PRV to step backwards 120.050 degrees and the table automatically takes up backlash. The LCD screen keeps track of the current position and tells you what the step size is and what position you"re currently at.

Jog ModeA separate button is provided as a Panic Stop and to put the controller in Jog Mode. This will instantly halt all motion and disengage the the stepper motor. There is a hand crank on the motor shaft, allowing the operator to turn the table by hand. The keypad can also be used to rotate the table clockwise or counterclockwise at the current feed rate or in very fine individual steps.

Indexing a lathe headstock with the toolRay Bates, a clockmaker in Newfane, Vermont, has recently mounted one of the rotary indexers to the headstock of his South Bend lathe. He"ll be using this setup for clock wheel cutting, eliminating the need for indexing plates. To see pictures of his setup, CLICK HERE.

Using Sherline controllers with CNC software on a PCIt"s also possible to use the Sherline CNC controllers as step and direction motor drivers for CNC software. To read about this, CLICK HERE.

A rotary table used in conjunction with a mill allows a machinist to produce virtually any part they can design. Sherline’s rotary table is a precision piece of equipment that has been designed to work with their vertical milling machines, however, it can be used on any mill whenever the small 4-inch size would be an advantage. The only limits are size, not complexity.

The table is 2″ high and 4″ (100mm) in diameter. The main components have been machined from solid bar stock steel, and the complete unit weighs seven pounds. The table has been engraved with a laser, giving sharp and precise lines every 5°, numbered every 15°. These lines are calibrated with the 72-tooth worm gear that is driven by the handwheel. The handwheel is divided into 50 parts, making each line on the handwheel 1/10°. This allows a circle to be divided into 3600 increments without interpolation. Seventy-two revolutions of the handwheel rotate the table one revolution.

The rotary tables can hold more weight when they are not under a continuous load. Click on the Video tab above to see examples of different weights and uses for our rotary tables.

The table T-slots are identical to those used on the Sherline mill and lathe, making the vast line of Sherline tooling available for use with this product. Two hold-down clamps and T-nuts are provided with the table. Also included is an adapter that allows Sherline’s 3- and 4-jaw chucks to be screwed directly to the rotary table. An optional right-angle attachment is available (P/N 3701) to mount the table in the vertical position to further increase its versatility. With the table mounted vertically, an optional adjustable right-angle tailstock (P/N 3702) can be mounted to the mill table. It is used to support and stabilize the other end of long work held in a chuck or otherwise attached to the rotary table.

Another plus for the Sherline RT is Sherline sells a bunch of accessories for it as well. There is a 5" tooling plate, a tilting angle table, and a variety of center adapters to mount a chuck to the RT. They also have a full CNC conversion including a CNC indexer if you ever wanted to go that way.

I was going to say I didn"t see that much of a price advantage on the no name Ebay rotary tables, but the Sherline is almost $300. I didn"t remember it being that much, in fact I paid less for my 6" Taiwan RT although it was lightly used.

In favor of the import rotary tables some of them are available with indexing plates and tail stocks allowing them to be used as an indexer as well as a rotary table.