Sherline 4400 Lathes - Assembly and Instruction Guide
Table Of Contents
- Safety Rules for Power Tools
 - An Introduction to the World of Miniature Machining
 - Machine Terminology
- The Customer's Responsibility
 - Learning More About Machining
 - Visit the Sherline Website for the Latest Updates
 - Lubrication
 - Initial Assembly of a New Machine
 - LATHE—Mounting the Crosslide
 - All MILLS—X-Axis Handwheel Installation
 - Digital Readout Handwheels
 - 5000-Series Mills—Mounting the Column
 - 2000- and 5800-Series Mills—Assembling and Mounting the Multi-Direction Column
 - Mounting the Motor and Speed Control Unit to the Headstock
 - Operation of the Motor and Electronic Speed Control
 - What to Do if the Motor Suddenly Shuts Down
 - Replacing Brushes on a DC Motor
 - Mounting the Lathe or Mill to a Board for Stability
 - Converting Machines from Inch to Metric and Vice Versa
 - ADJUSTMENTS
 - Two-Speed Pulley
 - Spindle Preload Adjustment
 - Gib Adjustment (Lathe and Mill)
 - Backlash Adjustment (Lathe and Mill)
 - Handwheel Adjustment (Lathe and Mill)
 - Saddle Nut Adjustment (Lathe and Mill)
 - Adjustment and Use of the Tailstock Gib
 - Aligning the Headstock and Tailstock on the Lathe
 - Squaring up Your Mill
 - Use of Cutting Oils and Lubricants
 - General Machining Terms
 
 - Lathe Operating Instructions
 - Digital Readouts, P/N 8200
 - Live Center, P/N 1197
 - Steady Rest, P/N 1074
 - Thread Cutting Attachment, P/N 3100
 - 3-Jaw, 4-Jaw and Drill Chucks
 - Accessories for Your Lathe
 - Guide to Approximate Turning Speeds
 - Inserted Tip Carbide Tools
 - Using the Cutoff or Parting Tool
 - Tool Shapes and Grinding Your Own Cutting Tools
 - Taper Turning
 - Faceplate Turning
 - Reaming
 - Headstock Drilling
 - Tailstock Drilling
 - Center Drilling
 - Removing Tools from the Morse Taper Spindles
 - Turning Between Centers
 - Holding the Workpiece
 - Inducing Chatter and Learning How to Overcome It
 - 3-Jaw Chuck Operation and Maintenance
 - Vertical Milling Machine Operation
 - Industrial Applications for Sherline Components
 - Longer Tables and Taller Milling Columns Available
 - Several Reasons to Consider CNC
 - Learning About CNC
 - CNC and CNC-Ready Sherline Lathes and Milling Machines
 - CNC Rotary Indexer (P/N 8700)
 - 4" Rotary Table (P/N 3700)
 - Tilting Angle Table (P/N 3750)
 - Mill Vise Set (P/N 3551)
 - Drill Chucks (P/N 3072) and Center Drills
 - Fly Cutters (P/N 3052 and P/N 7620)
 - Boring Head (P/N 3054/3049)
 - Mill Collet Set
 - Drill Chuck Holder (P/N 3074)
 - 3/8" End Mill Holder (P/N 3079)
 - Accessories for Your Milling Machine
 - Using the Mill Column Saddle Lock
 - End Mills
 - Cutting Speeds for Milling
 - Determining the Depth of Cut
 - Locating the Edge of a Part in Relation to the Spindle
 - Using a Dial Indicator
 - Standard Milling Versus Climb Milling
 - Types of Milling Cutters
 - Three Types of Work
 - Purchasing Materials in Small Quantities
 - Things to Consider Before You Start Cutting
 - Locking the Axes
 - Securing the Workpiece
 - Helpful Tips for Milling
 - General Description
 - DRO Machine Operations
 - Installing Stepper Motors
 - Lead Wire Connection and Color Code
 - Sherline Stepper Motor Specifications—Nmb Motors
 - Using Handwheels on the Stepper Motors
 - Stepper Motor Installation Instructions
 - Sherline CNC Motor-Mounting Instructions
 - Sherline Machine Technical Specifications
 
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Do Not Overtighten the Chuck!
Use only moderate pressure with the spindle bars (P/N 40580) 
supplied.
NOTE: Do Not Turn the Lathe Spindle On Without Having the 
Chuck Jaws Tightened on Themselves or a Part!
The acceleration of the spindle can cause the scroll to open 
the chuck jaws if not tightened!
FIGURE 51—Jaw locations and identication.
FIGURE 52—Reversing the chuck jaws.
NOTE: Always start with position “A.”
REVERSED JAW 
IDENTIFICATION
1ST
1ST
2ND
2ND
3RD
3RD
A
B
JAW LOCATION
STANDARD JAW 
IDENTIFICATION
1ST
1ST
2ND
2ND
3RD
3RD
A
B
C
C
JAW LOCATION
3-Jaw Chuck Operation and Maintenance
The 3-jaw self-centering chuck is the most popular of all the 
accessories available for the Sherline lathe. It is available in 
both 2-1/2" diameter (P/N 1041) and 3-1/8" diameter (P/N 
1040). These chucks will grip round or hexagonal work quickly, 
since the jaws move simultaneously to automatically center 
the work being held. The jaws on the chuck are designed so 
that the same chuck can be used for both internal and external 
gripping. Jaws are reversible for holding larger diameter work. 
Due to the nature of the design of a 3-jaw chuck, it cannot be 
expected to run perfectly true. Even 3-jaw chucks costing ve 
times more than the one made for this lathe will have .002" 
to .003" runout. If perfect accuracy is desired in a particular 
operation, the use of a 4-jaw chuck is recommended. Each jaw 
is adjusted independently so parts can be centered with total 
precision. Both a 2-1/2" and 3-1/8" 4-jaw chuck are available 
for the Sherline lathe as P/N 1044 and P/N 1030 respectively.
The 2-1/2" 3-jaw chuck (P/N 1041) is designed to take up to 
1-3/16" (30 mm) diameter stock with the jaws in the normal 
position. The 3-1/8" 3-jaw chuck (P/N 1040) is designed to 
take up to 1-1/2" (38 mm) diameter stock. For larger diameter 
work, reverse the jaws (See Fig. 52). To prevent permanent 
damage, nished, turned or drawn stock should only be held 
with this chuck. For rough castings, etc., use a 4-jaw chuck.
To reverse the chuck jaws, rotate the knurled scroll until the 
jaws can be removed from the chuck body. After the jaws are 
removed, they can be easily identied by the location of the 
teeth in relation to the end of the jaws. (See Figures 51 and 
52.) To maintain chuck accuracy, the 2nd jaw must always be 
inserted in the same slot even when the jaws are reversed. This 
slot is identied by the laser engraved letter “B” next to the 
slot. Always insert the jaws in the order and location shown on 
the drawings. Turn the scroll counter-clockwise when viewed 
from the face of the chuck until the outside start of the scroll 
thread is just ready to pass the slot for the rst jaw. Slide the 
rst jaw as far as possible into the slot. Turn the scroll until 
the rst jaw is engaged.
Due to the close tolerances between the slot and jaw, the most 
dicult part in replacing the jaws is engaging the scroll thread 
and rst jaw tooth without binding. Therefore, never use force 
when replacing the jaws, and, if binding occurs, back up the 
scroll slightly and wiggle the jaw until it is free to move in the 
slot. Advance the scroll and repeat for the second and third 
jaws. The scroll thread must engage the rst tooth in the rst, 
second and third jaws in order.
Removing a Stuck Chuck from the Spindle
Use one tommy bar in the hole in the spindle and another tommy 
bar in a hole in the chuck body to achieve enough leverage 
to unscrew the chuck (counter-clockwise) from the spindle 
thread. If the chuck becomes stuck on the spindle thread, put 
a tommy bar in the hole in the chuck body. Place a block of 
wood against the tommy bar where it enters the chuck. With 
a small mallet, give the block of wood a sharp tap, turning 
the chuck in a counter-clockwise direction. It should not be 
necessary to hold the spindle, as its inertia should be sucient. 
(Don’t hit the tommy bar anywhere other than right where it 
enters the chuck or you could bend it.) This small but sharp 
force at the outer edge of the chuck should break the thread 
loose and the chuck can then be unscrewed by hand.
Vertical Milling Machine Operation
CAUTION!
Read all operating instructions carefully before 
attempting any machining operations.
NOTE: See pages 3 through 18 for setup,  lubrication  and 
general machining instructions. Read Safety Rules for Power 
Tools on page 2 before operating any machine.
General Description
At rst glance, a vertical mill looks similar to a drill press, 










