Instructions

Purpose of the rotating vise base
The rotating vise base eliminates clamping and
unclamping the vise to produce angles. Once mounted
square to the table, the rotating base allows the vise to
be positioned using the laser engraved protractor scale
as a guide for setting the angle. In addition, by loosening
the clamping screws, the vise can be slid forward or
backward in the mounting base as another way to
change the position of the part.
Using the rotating vise base
The vise base is clamped to the mill table in the same
manner as all Sherline accessories using the T-nuts in
the table slots. If a high degree of accuracy is desired,
the base should be squared up to the table by “indicating
in” with a dial indicator. Locate the indicator arm
against the front surface of the fixed jaw of the vise
after clamping with the rotating base adjusted to the
90° position. Use the X-axis handwheel to move the
vise jaw back and forth across the indicator. Adjust it
by loosening the hold-down screws slightly and lightly
tapping the base as needed until the indicator reads
zero deflection (no movement) all the way across the
face. (See page 29 of your Sherline Assembly and
Instruction Guide for more on indicating in.) Once
square, you have an accurate, repeatable reference
against which to compare your angle settings.
When mounting the base to the mill table, make sure
there are no chips on the table or stuck to the bottom
of the vise base before mounting it.
Radial shapes and hole patterns
Properly positioned, the rotating base can even be
used as a simple rotary table to drill or machine small
radially symmetrical patterns. Of course, a rotary table
makes this job a lot easier, but if the rotary vise is all
you have to work with, you can still get the job done.
Because of the difficulty of indicating in the center of
ROTATING VISE BASE
P/N 3570
SHERLINE PRODUCTS INC.  3235 Executive Ridge  Vista  California 92083-8527  FAX: [phone]
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the rotating base, it is suggested that you mount an
oversize part and do your radial hole pattern first. Then
finish the part to size based on the position of the hole
pattern. If this is not possible, you will first have to
indicate in the spindle in relation to the center of the
rotary base with the vise removed. Install an indicator
in the spindle and offset it to sweep the two sides of the
rotating base where the witness marks are. (See Figure
1 on next page.) Rotate the spindle and move the vise
base until you get zero deflection in the needle as you
measure both sides. Once centered, install a pointer in
the spindle. Mount your vise in the base and place the
part in the vise jaws. Move the part sideways in the
jaws to locate the left/right centerline marked on your
part with the pointer. Then move your vise forward or
back until the pointer aligns with the other axis
centerline. Now you can advance your handwheel the
amount of the desired radius of your pattern to achieve
the proper offset. Divide 360° by the number of holes
in your pattern and use the degree marks on the base to
move the part to the proper position for each hole.
When holding small parts in the vise, it may not be
possible to rotate the base a full 360° on a Model 5000
mill without the back end of the vise hitting the mill
column. Should your job require a full 360° of rotation,
it may be necessary to provide more throat distance for
the spindle by using the optional P/N 1297 mill
headstock spacer block. This will provide the needed
clearance. (This spacer block is included with the
Model 5400 deluxe mill. The design of the Model
2000 mill column makes a spacer block unnecessary.)
Maintenance
The rotating base can be disassembled and cleaned
periodically to make sure it is free from chips and
debris. Before reassembling, lubricate the vise clamp
ring with a light grease to assure smooth, easy rotation.
SHERLINE
PRODUCTS
INCORPORATED 1974
6/14/02