The Sherline Rotary table comes with a bracket to mount it directly onto the table in a horizontal configuration. Unfortunately it only works with the Sherline table because of the placement of the t-slots. I decided to make an adapter as the first metal on my new mill. The first thing I did was designed the adapter. You can see a picture of the design below.
I’ve attached two more pictures below of it installed.
What is the point of having it horizontal? It allows me to mill threads, hollow out wheels, or do anything that requires a rotational element. In some ways, it gives the mill the capabilities of a lathe.
I learned a few lessons.
First I need a work table to mount on top of this table. I hit the top of the table with the bit, but just barely. A work table on top would have prevented that.
Second, I needed to lower the spindle speed when drilling. At 10k rpm, the bit chattered and had a real though time. I dropped the speed down to 1100 rpm and it cut through the metal like butter. I don’t understand it yet, but it was amazing.
Third, I couldn’t fit one of the larger bits to countersink the hole. The shaft was too large for the Jacob’s chuck. I didn’t have much vertical room either. Things are going to be tight.
Fourth, I did lots of strange clamping because the vice couldn’t open large enough. Either I need better hold down equipment or a bigger vice.
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