SHERLINE Horizontal Milling Conversion

P/N 6100

An easy way to increase the size of work that can be machined on your SHERLINE mill is the addition of the Horizontal Milling Conversion. By allowing the vertical column to be mounted in various positions in relation to the table, and with the headstock and spindle rotated 90° into the horizontal position, a tremendous variety of machining possibilities are opened up. Plus, the mill can remain mounted to the conversion base and still operate in its conventional vertical mode as well.

With the work mounted perpendicular to the table*, position "A" allows an area of up to 9" by 6" (22.9 cm x 15.2 cm) to be machined without moving the work--a very large work are for a machine of this size! (See Figure 1.) A second set of holes allows the spindle to be moved further back so longer tools such as drills or a boring tool can be used. In position "B", the table is reversed and the column rotated 90° to the table to take advantage of the long "Y" axis travel. (See Figure 2.) Again, this can allow long or oddly shaped parts to be worked on from end to end without reclamping.
*Part No. 3701, Right Angle Attachment can be very useful for this purpose.

A 3/4"(19.1mm) thick sheet of aluminum 10-1/2" by 11-3/4" (26.67 cm x 20.85 cm) is machined and drilled to accept the base of your mill's vertical column. Alignment bars are provided with the conversion so that once the base and column are mounted and squared up, they can be quickly and accurately remounted in the future. Three alignment bars, an allen wrench and all necessary socket head screws are provided to set up the mill in all of the possible configurations. The conversion plate itself has a black anodized finish for durability and is mounted of four rubber feet for quiet operation. The mill's vertical column base should be modified by cutting off 2" (50.8mm) from its height to lower the spindle in relation to the table. This allows the spindle center to go below the top of the table, meaning you can machine the edge of the material overhanging the table. The cut off piece from the column is machined flat and retapped to be used as a spacer block to return the mill to its normal height. This conversion can be done by the factory when a new mill is purchased or the column can be returned for conversion. (Call for prices and shipping instructions.) If you have sufficient experience to attempt the job and access to a vertical mill and a drill press, you can do the modification yourself. For dimensions and instructions, click here.

The Horizontal Milling Conversion (P/N 6100) is a take off of an idea sent to us by Joseph Kubin, a Toolmaker from Maryland. With this attachment, the mill spindle (in the horizontal position) can be aligned with the X and Y axis. There are three places the column can be mounted to the Horizontal Conversion base. When the spindle is lined up with the "Y" axis the outer most position is for drilling and milling. (See Figure 1--Position "A".)

The closest position is used for milling. The configuration of the work has a lot to do with the choice to be made, but remember when milling, the closer the end mills are mounted to the spindle bearings, the more rigid the set up. The spindle can also be mounted lined up with the "X" axis by reversing the "XY" table on the horizontal base and mounting the column in the single set of holes.

To configure the machine so the spindle is over the "X" axis, the "XY" base must be reversed from its normal position, that is, with the "Y" axis handwheel away from the SHERLINE label. (See Figure 2, Position "B".)

The advantage of this set up is you have 9" of throw from the spindle nose and you could drill and bore a hole 8" from the clamped down edge. If the mill was in its vertical configuration the same edge would interfere with the column. A point to consider is that any axis that moves the work in and out from the end of the spindle becomes the "Z" axis and the up and down of the column will usually be called the "Y" axis when the mill is in a horizontal configuration.

The 1/4" x 1/2" alignment bars are clamped against the column base and "XY" table after the machine is aligned so it isn't necessary to align it every time the configuration is changed. How close the machine has to be aligned is dependent on the work to be performed. A machinist square from the milling table to the column bed (dovetail) will usually be good enough, but a dial indicator would be helpful for close tolerance work.

It is possible to move the "Y" axis saddle to the point the lead screw will disengage from the nut without the column being in place (normally, it would hit the column base before it could disengage).

The advantage of modifying the column (P/N 6101) for this attachment is to allow the spindle center to go below the top of the table. This allows a piece of material to be clamped directly to the table and machine the edge overhanging the table. We also modify the column saddle with another alignment groove in the horizontal position. All vertical milling machines manufactured after 1991 will come with the groove cut. The column base is modified by cutting 2" off and making it a spacer block and retapping what's left over. This allows the column to be mounted with or without the spacer in either the horizontal or vertical configuration. If you have access to a saw and mill, you could make these modifications yourself. The drawings are included for these modifications.

A part held vertical with the right angle plate can have a 9" x 6" area that can be machined without moving the work. If you think about it, that's a lot of movement for a machine of this size. We believe you will find this a useful accessory. The Right Angle Plate (P/N 3701) will also be very useful with the Horizontal Milling Conversion.

To clamp the column to the Horizontal Milling Conversion plate, use the 1" x 1/4-20 Socket Head Cap Screw (SHCS)-(2 included)—use the 3" x 1/4-20 SHCS (2 included) when the spacer block is used.

To clamp the column to the "XY" base, use the 1-3/4" x 1/4-20 SHCS (2 included). Use the 3-3/4" x 1/4-20 SHCS (2 included) when the spacer block is used.

The alignment bars and the "XY" table are held to the base with 5/8" x 1/4-20 SHCS (10 included).

Joe Martin, President and Owner
SHERLINE Products

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