The Sherline CNC Milling Machine
with Linux EMC software
July 17, 2003
Sherline is about to release the first units of the new CNC milling machine. Here's a preview of what it contains.
The CNC mill contains the 5400 milling machine with motors, a desktop computer with Linux and the EMC software installed and configured for Sherline, and a four axis motor driver built into the computer. System components are:
1) 1-5/8" manual handwheel
2) Z-axis stepper motor
3) Stepper motor mount
4) Sherline vertical mill with drill chuck, headstock spacer block, hex adjustment keys and spindle bar
5) Backup Linux/EMC installation CD, Sherline instructions CD and Vector32 CAD program CD
6) Y-axis stepper motor
7) X-axis stepper motor
8) Cable for optional A-axis connection
9) Computer with CD-ROM and Floppy drives, keyboard and mouse
10) On/Off switch for stepper motor power supply
The instructions for the new system are 66 pages long and include a tutorial on using g-code to program machine tools.
The back of the computer shows the cabling for the stepper motors. Four drivers and cables are provided, but no fourth axis motor. This will be used by the CNC rotary table if you have one.
Here's a screen shot of the EMC software configured for Sherline. The three main modes are Manual (for manual control from the keyboard), Auto (for cutting stored g-code programs), and MDI (for entering g-codes manually). There is a program editor built in, as well as a previewer, which is shown here.
The Sherline CNC mill is a collaboration of Joe Martin and the people of Sherline, Ray Henry who customized the EMC software for Sherline, and Bryan Mumford who designed the motor driver.
The cost of the complete system is $2350 for the first 20 units made. Sherline will use these units to evaluate the cost of production and the final price may be adjusted accordingly. Orders for the new system may be placed with Sherline Products at (800) 541-0735.
To see a small project completed on the new system, CLICK HERE.
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