The photo above shows a 2-axis manual positioning slide. They are available in several lengths, in 1-axis, 2-axis, or multi-axis form and with several different configurations of base and movement. These slides are also available with stepper motors for CNC control. All slides are available with handwheels calibrated in your choice of either inch or metric increments. (Click on image for a larger view)

Features

  1. The slides are manufactured primarily from 6061-T6 aluminum and finished with a black anodized finish. The slides that incorporate steel parts have ground dovetails.
  2. Leadscrews are precision rolled from steel, and table screws are located under the table, out of the way of chips. Leadscrew backlash is adjustable.
  3. Dovetailed tables and saddles have adjustable gibs to eliminate play.
  4. Handwheels are graduated in .001" increments on inch slides and in .01mm increments on metric slides.
  5. In most slide bases, a groove is machined around the bottom of the base that can be used to attach the slide to a table using hold-down clamps (supplied). 1/4-20 mounting holes are also provided.

These manual slides can be converted to CNC use at a later date by removing the handwheel and collar and retrofitting a stepper motor mount and stepper motor. These same slides can also be purchased already fitted with stepper motor mounts. See the page on CNC machine slides.

Weight Capacity and Duty Cycle

The weight capacity of our slides is about 10 lbs. depending on where the weight is located and how long the table is. On an 18" table you should not go more than 10 lbs. of weight at the end of the table (there is a leverage factor). If the weight is going to be more centrally located (closer to the base), then you can exceed the 10 lbs. limit.

Duty Cycle: Our tables are black anodized and the base is hard black anodized. We use our slides in our shop to manufacture our own parts. They run (8) hours a day, (5) days a week. Under this heavy constant use the dovetail area of the slide will start to show some wear on the anodize after one year (2080 hours). They are still fully functional at this point, but the anodize is beginning to wear thin. The dovetail and the screw will last longer if you keep them lubricated with light oil*.

The leadscrews have a rolled thread which is hardened a bit by the rolling process. The backlash nuts are brass. The nut is the softer material and therefore it is the part that wears out. The backlash nut is adjustable so it can compensate for the wear until the threads are gone. You should get the same duty cycle (2080 hour) from the backlash nut before it will need to be adjusted or replaced.

*NOTE: Do not use WD40 as a lubricant on these slides. WD40 will remove the anodized coating from these parts!

 

3D Drawings

Sherline now offers 3D CAD files for many of our most popular slides and spindles in .IGS format for designers who need to spec our parts into their machine designs.

For those who need a free .IGS file viewer, see http://igsviewer.com/. (Make sure to click on the correct download link. The page promotes a number of other downloads and can be confusing.)

8" Vertical Machine Slide

P/N 6525 Bottom side mounting holes 2" on centers, 1/2" from back side

(Click on images for a larger view).
  • Price: $181.00
  • P/N 6525 (Metric P/N 6526)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 8" (70 mm x 203 mm)
  • Table travel: 4.25" (107 mm)*
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Mounting provision: 2 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base (Also available with through holes and T-nuts for mounting to slide table T-slots as Sherline accessory P/N 1185.)
  • Handwheel: 2" laser engraved aluminum with two pre-loaded ball bearings

*NOTE: Base must be mounted to overhang what it is mounted to for full travel to be achieved. On flat plate mount, vertical travel will only be about 0.5" to 1".



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Single-Axis Manual Machine Slide with Dovetailed Headstock, DC Motor and Speed Control

P/N 6530

(Click on image for a larger view)

3/4-16/#1 Morse Spindle

  • Price: $844.66
  • P/N 6530 Spindle (Metric P/N 6531): 3/4-16 external thread, #1 Morse internal taper, .405" hole through spindle
  • Headstock travel on machine slide: 4.625" (117.5 mm)
  • Brass gib adjustable for wear
  • Mounting provision:  2 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamp
P/N 6532

(Click on image for a larger view)

NOTE: We do not sell the collets used with the ER-16 spindle. Those are available through MSC Industrial Supply Co. or other tool supply sources.

ER-16 Spindle

  • Price: $885.46
  • P/N 6532 Spindle (Metric P/N 6533): ER-16 (collet nut included)
  • Headstock travel on machine slide: 4.625" (117.5 mm)
  • Brass gib adjustable for wear
  • Mounting provision:  2 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamp


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Single-Axis Manual Machine Slide w/8" Table

P/N 6550

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $217.20
  • P/N 6550 (Metric P/N 6551)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 8" (70 mm x 203 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Table travel: 4" (102 mm)
  • Table height: 2" (51 mm)
  • Mounting provision: 4 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamps


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Single-Axis Manual Machine Slide w/13" Table

P/N 6555

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $271.50
  • P/N 6555 (Metric P/N 6556)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 13" (70 mm x 330 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Table travel: 8" (203 mm)
  • Table height: 2" (51 mm)
  • Mounting provision: 4 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamps


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Single-Axis Manual Machine Slide w/18" Table

P/N 6550-18

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $440.43
  • P/N 6550-18 (Metric P/N 6551-18)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 18" (70 mm x 458 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Table travel: 14" (356 mm)
  • Table height: 2" (51 mm)
  • Mounting provision: 4 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamps


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2-Axis Manual Machine Slide (on 8" XY Base) w/13" Table

P/N 6540

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $422.33
  • P/N 6540 (Metric P/N 6541)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 13" (70 mm x 330 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Table travel: X-axis = 8.38" (213 mm), Y-axis = 4" (102 mm)
  • Table height: 2.8" (71 mm)
  • Mounting provision: 4 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamps


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2-Axis Manual Machine Slide (on 8" XY Base) w/18" Table

P/N 6540-18

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $645.56
  • P/N 6540-18 (Metric P/N 6551-18)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 18" (70 mm x 458 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Table travel: X-axis = 13.38" (340 mm), Y-axis = 4" (102 mm)
  • Table height: 2.8" (71 mm)
  • Mounting provision: 4 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamps


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2-Axis Manual Machine Slide (w/Steel Bed on Raised Base)

P/N 6560

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $470.60
  • P/N 6560 (Metric P/N 6561)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 8" (70 mm x 203 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Table travel: X-axis = 6.25" (159 mm), Y-axis = 5.38" (137 mm)
  • Table height above mounting surface: 5.13" (130 mm)
  • Mounting provision:  2holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base plus slot for angle clamps


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6-Direction, 2-Axis Machine Slide

P/N 6570

(Click on image for a larger view)
  • Price: $663.66
  • P/N 6570 (Metric P/N 6571)
  • Table size: 2.75" x 8" (70 mm x 203 mm)
  • Hold-down provision: 2 T-slots
  • Travel: Z-axis = 5.38" (137 mm), Table side-to-side = 4.25" (108 mm), Column rotation = 90° L/R, Column pivot = 90° Fwd/Back, Column swing = 90° L/R, Column in/out travel: 5.5" (140 mm)
  • Mounting provision: 2 holes 1/4-20 in bottom of base
  • Laser engraved scales indicate rotation and travel
  • Lever locks, or unlocks Z-axis leadscrew


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