mill and lathe manufacturer in the world. Everything is made in the
USA. Their instruction manuals are excellent. If you need
technical assistance, they are there. If you need a replacement
part, they are there. That alone is worth a lot!
I have recently started to use the Sherline lathe and mill to produce
some of our small parts. As time goes by we will be using our new
Sherline CNC mill and lathe to cut all of our small parts including
valves.
Let us be your Sherline dealer and we will pay the shipping on any
Sherline machine you buy! 870-436-3921
Free shipping offer good in the contiguous 48 states only.
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Lathe department.
Lathes
we have in the Mill
department.
Mills
a complete machine shop!
Machine shop
a the new microscope and
the mounts that allow you to
use it on your mill and lathe!
Microscope
Miniature machine tools have been our specialty for the past 30 years. Unlike some large foreign factories, we weren’
t making sewer lids yesterday and won’t be making cast iron kitchenware tomorrow. We know our machine tools,
what it takes to make them well and what the people who use them do with them. Though not the cheapest tools you
can buy, we do feel that Sherline tools offer the best value, the most “bang for the buck” of any tool in the miniature
machine tool market. We have 30 years of satisfied customers who agree that we have achieved and continue to
achieve that goal. We hope you will consider becoming one of them.
Value is the relationship between price, function and quality, but the value of a good tool cannot be calculated in
dollars per pound. When buying a tool that you are going to depend on to help you produce precision parts there is
more to consider than just the price. Many tools are now coming in from Asia that are sold at low prices, but are they
really a “good deal” compared to American-made Sherline tools? Here are some of the features that we feel offset
the price advantage of third-world labor rates:
Quality construction—All metal construction, dovetail slides, precision machined parts, instrument quality finishes,
laser engraved markings,Sherline tools have the look and feel of quality and the accuracy that goes with it. For
example, our thread cutting gears for the lathe are hobbed from aluminum bar stock, not molded from plastic.
(Plastic is only used where appropriate; like for a speed control housing or gib.)
Versatility—Sherline tools are designed to provide maximum utility in a small space. The tools themselves are
capable of any machine shop operation, particularly when combined with the very large line of available special
purpose accessories. The only limits are size and your imagination.
Portability—A major consideration in Sherline tool design is to provide maximum rigidity while still keeping weight to a
point where the machines can be easily transported and stored when not in use. This is why many of the parts are
made from costly aircraft grade aluminum rather than less expensive cast iron or steel.
Power—The 90 volt DC motor we use provides torque in the lower RPM ranges where you really need it. AC/DC
motors must run at high RPM to produce their rated power and are noisy. AC motors are large and run at a fixed
RPM without extremely expensive controls. A comparable Sherline DC drive system purchased through the industrial
market would cost as much as a complete Sherline 4000 lathe, over $600!
Controlling quality—Making our own tools rather than outsourcing them to someone half way around the world
means we have total control of both quality and inventory. A problem that crops up can be fixed immediately, not
after a boatload of tools arrives. A shortage of one particular part can be remedied in a few hours or days, not
months. This means fast service for you, whether you need a tool, an accessory or a small replacement part.
Service and support—Our written instructions are the most informative and complete in the business, bar none. Our
web site is also the largest in the field and can probably answer any question you might have without having to call
anyone. If you do need to call us, you will talk to a real person, not a voice mail merry-go-round. Any questions or
problems you have WILL be solved quickly and professionally.
State-of-the-art engineering—From digital readouts (DRO) to Computer Numeric Control (CNC), Sherline is always
on the leading edge in machine tool design for the hobbyist. In most cases existing tools can be upgraded as
changes occur or improvements are added. DRO and CNC can be added to any existing Sherline machine, or you
can order a new machine with digital readouts installed or CNC-ready with stepper motor mounts in place ready for
the application of CNC controls. You can even purchase a complete CNC system that includes not only the machine
but also the motors, drivers and a new computer with software already installed so you can pull it out of the box and
get right to work in CNC.
Modular design—Because all Sherline components are designed as a system, they can be combined to work in
many configurations. New accessories are always designed to work with existing machines, so your tool will never
become obsolete.
Low cost long term operation—Many Sherline tools are used not just by hobbyists a few hours a week. Many fulfill
production needs for small parts in industrial applications. The parts that do eventually wear out and need to be
replaced are designed to be the least expensive on the machine.
High quality, graded materials—One advantage of working with American metal suppliers is that we know when we
order a particular grade of aluminum or steel, that is exactly what we get. This allows us to maintain consistent
quality, but this is sometimes not the case in developing nations using un-graded materials produced locally.
Experience—Sherline has been making quality tools for 30 years. Our key management people have all been with
the company for well over 20 years. Our average length of employment is over 7 years. This is a good company to
work for and our personnel have a personal investment in seeing that quality is maintained at every level.
Large owner’s groups on the web—Sherline owners have joined together on the web to form a discussion group
offering advice and assistance to other owners. You can find out how others have solved specific problems or what
they think of certain tools, processes or accessories. See www.yahoogroups.com and join the “Sherline” (public)
and/or the “SherlineCNC” groups. We also have a bulletin board type forum for machinists on our own site at www.
sherline.com/forums.
The best tools we’ve ever made—How often have you bought a product from a favorite manufacturer only to
discover the “new” version is now made from cheaper materials and no longer has the quality that you expected?
The pressure to lower price by cutting corners is a strong one, but we have not taken that route. In fact, due to the
improvements in the past decades in accuracy and repeatability of the large CNC tools we have purchased for our
factory, the tools we now make are the best we have ever produced. We continually add features and improve
designs too. Of course, we are always on the lookout for ways to keep costs down, but never at the expense of
quality. Compare a new Sherline tool to one from 10, 20 or 30 years ago and you will see we have made no
changes except to make something better.