Er 16 Sherline

[paul gough]

Here is an image of the sherline that arrived about a month ago. It is the 8'' metric version with an ER 16 spindle headstock. ER 16  collets go to 10mm or 3/8". Sherline produce their various chucks with an ER 16 thread option, ie 22 x 1.5. For  my uses the Vertex collets in this spindle are very accurate and I can achieve close tolerances to a few hundredths of a mm without going to any effort, ample for my purposes. I am sure a competent machinist and perhaps some careful lapping of collets and spindle could give accuracies that would please even the most demanding modeller. Perhaps the most useful application of this headstock might be in the milling machine where it would eliminate the need for a jacobs chuck or some of the other holders which would provide more z axis space. It does mean only 22 x 1.5 mm thread atachments can be screwed directly to the spindle and also any tooling has to be cylindrical to go into the collets though. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Jasonb]

You can get oversize collets upto 12mm in ER16 which may be useful

https://www.glostertooling.co.uk/er-collets/er16-collets

[paul gough]

Thanks Jason I was not aware of these. Any idea where these are made and by who? By comparison to the Vertex ones they are very inexpensive. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Jasonb]

Far eastern I would expect but don't know what spec they are made to. I've an ER 16 x R8 collet chuck that is my main tool for the CNC that came from Gloster and that seems well enough made

Some here stated as 15 micron, I've bought cutters from these people https://www.sorotec.de/shop/Collets/System-ER-381/ER-16/

[paul gough]

Went looking and only found one other supplier, Santool in Germany. 10.5 to 12 in O.5 increments. Look to be quality from the specs on pdf. Might be more in my line. Regards, Paul Gough.
https://www.shop.santool.de/en/collets/din-6499/standard/er-16-426-e.html?next_page=2

[paul gough]

Silly me, Above I said "a few hundredths of a mm" I meant thousandths or microns. My ancient imperial mind fails sometimes in converting. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Jasonb]

Looks like they only list the oversize as "standard" spec so 10-15 microns you have to go to precision for less than 10 micron but only sized upto 10mm

https://www.shop.santool.de/en/collets/din-6499/standard/er-16-426-e.html?next_page=2

https://www.shop.santool.de/en/collets/din-6499/precision/er-16-426-e-up.html?next_page=2

[derekwarner]

Morning Paul.......nice machine......did you import & purchase the Sherline directly from their US Sherline Export office?

If so, how did you find the shipping costs?, as the Sherline WEB can only offer estimates

Derek

[paul gough]

Hello Derek, I dealt directly with Sherline usually speaking to Kim Kapple for orders etc. Delivery is rather expensive, but anything from anywhere costs. Getting a few lumps of reasonable quality brass from Melbourne to Cairns by Australia Post is deadly. I am down in Cairns for a few hours but when I get home I will look for the invoice so I can give you an accurate estimate, my memory is not good. Regards, Paul Gough.

[paul gough]

Derek, Shipping from Sherline to me in Kuranda, (near Cairns), was US$ 460 or about A$700. Equates to a bit over 70% the cost of a bare 8" lathe. It came by air with DHL and had a bit of extra weight with the 4 jaw independent in the box. There are other options, US Post, Fedex but Kim suggested DHL so I went with it as I presume she compared them before she sent the quote. Our geographical location and the poor value of our currency make any import a costly proposition. Much careful consideration needs to exercised in deciding. I can no longer stand for long nor stoop at normal machines or a bench, so have decided to keep fiddling with small models seated at a table in a room, thus Sherlines. I also find my led light magnifier sits nicely behind the lathe giving excellent illumination and magnification while maintaining a normal seated posture. I failed to mention I opted for the C5 bearing upgrade on the lathe, which might explain the pretty extraordinary accuracy my lathe showed when I did some tests. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Jo]

24 piece ER16 collet set with (claimed  ) 0.008mm accuracy: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003334442281.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.5.337c3ebaljC0Sd&algo_pvid=9f74b7a3-6b40-4f51-ba50-dcd1dcc4226f&algo_exp_id=9f74b7a3-6b40-4f51-ba50-dcd1dcc4226f-2&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%218.90%210.49%21%21%2164.00%21%21%4021038edc16914839481503629e07c2%2112000025271557743%21sea%21UK%210%21A&curPageLogUid=Kpd2CfyLqr3z  $114 A$ + $1.43 shipping.

They do the set of oversized collets cheap as well.

Yes chinese but they normally post cheap all over the world. Replace any that have unacceptable run out later...

Jo

[paul gough]

Thanks Jo, For that price a full set is something to consider as it is only equal to the cost of three of my vertex collets. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Jasonb]

looking at one of the other listings at the bottom of Jo's link there are 0.005micron for less money though not in the over or half sizes.

We get tax added to those prices at source these days but there are still some good buys and they seem to arrive earlier than quoted.

[paul gough]

Thanks for spotting this Jason. It seems I will have to explore internet vendors offerings to a much greater extent than just the local engineering suppliers if I am to get better pricing.
We are subject to GST of 10% before being released by customs if the item is over $1000 Australian dollars. Carriage charges for small items, eg some screws and suchlike from Knupfer in Germany or even single smaller items from Sherline in the US are tolerable but to bring in a Reeves set of castings for a loco would be very painfull to the pocket and probably the same from the US. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Stan Stocker]

Here is an image of the sherline that arrived about a month ago. It is the 8'' metric version with an ER 16 spindle headstock. ER 16  collets go to 10mm or 3/8". Sherline produce their various chucks with an ER 16 thread option, ie 22 x 1.5. For  my uses the Vertex collets in this spindle are very accurate and I can achieve close tolerances to a few hundredths of a mm without going to any effort, ample for my purposes. I am sure a competent machinist and perhaps some careful lapping of collets and spindle could give accuracies that would please even the most demanding modeller. Perhaps the most useful application of this headstock might be in the milling machine where it would eliminate the need for a jacobs chuck or some of the other holders which would provide more z axis space. It does mean only 22 x 1.5 mm thread atachments can be screwed directly to the spindle and also any tooling has to be cylindrical to go into the collets though. Regards, Paul Gough.

The Sherline three jaw chuck in an M22 x 1.5 is a very nice chuck should you be contemplating one.  When still in the clock restoration business an ER16 lathe and this chuck were my default machines for most any task that would fit.  It is important to keep track of having anough work inserted into the ER16 collet.  If thin work is held at the face of the collet the rear of the collet will close down excessively.  End result is that the work squirts out the front, the run out is excessive, and / or the collet is damaged.  My little 4 axis Sherline CNC mill has the ER16 spindle and the 10K pulleys, they do make very nice stuff.