Instructions

NOTE: Effective January 2009, Sherline computers no longer come with a floppy
drive. A USB flash drive is included instead to facilitate file transfers.
Finding the most current instructions
The most up-to-date version of these instructions can always be found on the Sherline
website at
www.sherline.com/CNCinstructions.htm. The following instructions refer to
systems utilizing the Ubuntu version of Linux and the EMC2 g-code control program.
Older instructions for using the Debian version of Linux 4.xx and the EMC distributed by
Sherline starting January1, 2005 or the initial versions of 2.xx Redhat Linux will remain
posted there as well.
Why we switched to Ubuntu and EMC2
The Debian version of Linux along with the EMC (Enhanced Machine Controller)
software has been distributed by Sherline since January, 2005. It is thoroughly debugged
and stable, and if you only use a mill, it will still work fine. We have decided to offer the
Ubuntu version of Linux primarily because it now supports a broader range of hardware.
Its interface will also be a little more comfortable for those familiar with Windows XP.
For example, you now double-click on files to open them instead of single clicking and
there is no longer a “mount” and “unmount” command for using a USB flash drive or
disc drive. Just click on the icon and it opens as it would in Windows. Small differences
aside, it also allows us to upgrade from EMC to EMC2. The graphic interface of EMC2
again looks very much like the original EMC, but now includes a lathe-specific program
in addition to the mill program. It also supports several additional G- and M-codes. We
feel these advances make it worthwhile for us to change over, and we think you will
appreciate the additional features as well. As before, the operating system and control
program are provided free of charge to Sherline CNC users. The most important
advancement in EMC2 for Sherline users is EMC2 allows the use of sub programs!
CNC for Lathe Users
Purchasers of Sherline CNC lathe systems can also use these instructions, as the basics of
CNC apply regardless of the machine being run. Keep in mind that lathe operations will
require somewhat different g-code simply because of the way parts are made on a lathe.
While primarily written for the mill user, the instructions on how to write g-code are
more or less universal and can be applied to a lathe or a mill, keeping in mind the way
each machine works. More specific instructions on the use of EMC2 and also the lathe
portion of the program can be found in the EMC2 user manual. A copy of the manual is
part of the software pre-loaded onto your Sherline CNC computer and can be found under
the main menu at Applications>CNC>EMC2 User Manual. It is also available on-line at
http://linuxcnc.org/docs/EMC2_User_Manual.pdf.
Use of non-Sherline Programs
Sherline cannot be responsible for the support of software or hardware products not
designed or sold by Sherline. For questions on Windows® CAD, CAD/CAM, control or
free utility programs, please contact the provider of the software. It would be impossible
for Sherline to guarantee that g-code generated by any particular CAD/CAM program
will run on EMC or EMC2 without modification. A thorough knowledge of g-code
programming will always be useful to eliminate problems caused by post processors.
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