- Joined
- Feb 15, 2020
- Messages
- 404
After using the 2000 for a few years now the best I can say for it is it's a compromise of compromises.
If most of your work is close to the table you get more Y travel. If you work on taller parts you have the same throat clearance as the 5000 mill. Adding a headstock spacer makes it equal to the 5400 mill but increases the effects of the machine's lower rigidity. You also loose the benefit of the extra Y travel.
I found that the tilt and nod features of the column made it easier to tram, but the devices that provide those features get in the way of some setups. For example, the rotary plate for the column raises the headstock from the table. To compensate, Sherline added the column travel extension which lowers the headstock but decreases Z travel. The extension inverts the rotary plate so that the bottom of the column will obstruct the mill vise. To remedy that you can add a 2" spacer under the column ram which negates the travel extension gain but leaves the shorter Z travel.
I used it for the same types of operations as I had the 5400 mill, and found it a bit less capable, and more than a bit annoying. I could go on but I think you get the idea.
Eric
If most of your work is close to the table you get more Y travel. If you work on taller parts you have the same throat clearance as the 5000 mill. Adding a headstock spacer makes it equal to the 5400 mill but increases the effects of the machine's lower rigidity. You also loose the benefit of the extra Y travel.
I found that the tilt and nod features of the column made it easier to tram, but the devices that provide those features get in the way of some setups. For example, the rotary plate for the column raises the headstock from the table. To compensate, Sherline added the column travel extension which lowers the headstock but decreases Z travel. The extension inverts the rotary plate so that the bottom of the column will obstruct the mill vise. To remedy that you can add a 2" spacer under the column ram which negates the travel extension gain but leaves the shorter Z travel.
I used it for the same types of operations as I had the 5400 mill, and found it a bit less capable, and more than a bit annoying. I could go on but I think you get the idea.
Eric