Member postings for Ketan Swali

Do you mean the use of Turcite?... We have used it in the past on a very small number/selected few X3, SX3, KX3 and SX4, during a re-build process.

If that is what you are thinking of doing, depending on how you intend to approach the subject, the process is a little complicated and time consuming, and unsure how useful it would be on an SX2, as never used it on any re-builds of this machine.

You are likely to consider machining of the gib - to which turcite is applied, along with possible machining of the head casting dovetail (to which turcite is applied), using a 55 deg. dovetail cutter (which is not an easily available cutter).

The Turcite strips are not very thin, and they need to be bonded using a good two-part epoxy. Once bonded, there will be high spots, which will need to be scraped, or milled flat. So, to some extent you will need the turcite to be thinker than where you intend to end up. How easy will it be to scrape or mill the turcite in the casting dovetail is something you have to consider/experiment with on sacrificial material before working on the main dovetails.

A chap called Tom Chapman introduced the late JS and I to the idea back in 2009 after carrying out the process on his KX3. It took us a while to experiment with it, and we tried it out after being shown how to do it properly by Birmingham Machine Tool Services - who used to use Turcite in the re-build process of Bridgeports. We used to purchase the Turcite from them. We re-built very few machines using Turcite, and it is a very good product, with great end results. However, as I said before, I am unsure about how useful it will be for your use.

If you want a pdf of Toms approach for his KX3, send me a pm with your email address and I will email it to you.

Ketan at ARC

Please... let’s all calm down and keep our views moderated and polite.

Vertex is a Taiwan brand. A very high percentage of their products are generic - made in mainland China by sub-contract manufacturing . They just have good Q.C., stock holding and marketing.

Ketan at ARC

Martin,

The quality of Indian magnetic stuff depends on maker. To the best of my knowledge, there is only one good maker near Delhi, but the probability of his stuff getting onto eBay is next to zero, because his product range is extremely expensive. There are plenty of small makers of magnetic V blocks in that region, but most are poorly made. The better makers are to be found in the south of India, such as in or near Puna, but again, very expensive, and selling on eBay would be outside their interest, as they are usually very busy working with big industry customers.

90%+ of eBay Indian sellers are extremely small traders similar to the one shown in Michaels G's link, with a small number being large stockists hiding behind different names for tax reasons, or to avoid conflict with their overseas agents/partners with whom they have territory distribution agreements which are made in their real name . They buy two to four pieces at a time of a product from a maker, as and when an order comes in. The makers are usually small scale cottage industry operations, and they usually have stock of good, bad and rejects, which they are happy to sell on to the eBay sellers at different rates. The product may or may not meet your requirement.

ARCs magnetic V blocks come from China only and we are happy with the product we sell. However, regardless of the force of the magnet, I would generally agree with Michael Pools comments: ' I would be wary of anything but the lightest cuts on a mill, I think they are best for grinding, marking out and inspection tasks. '

If you wish to buy Indian, you would be better to look at supply from Chronos - Soba range. Soba have an inspection process, and what ever they reject goes back to the maker, and what is left with the maker ends up on eBay. At least, if you are not happy with the product, you can always return it to Chronos.

Ketan at ARC

Edited By Ketan Swali on 26/02/2021 12:21:19

Hi Ian,

It is a straight fit (possibly tight) onto the chuck flange/back plate (Part 45) on this diagram

You will need a rubber mallet, to remove/fit the chucks.

Fixing studs are not supplied. 3 x Fixing holes are tapped M6 as shown in the details table on this page

Basically, the general 'Chinese Standard' for the back female register on an 80mm 3-Jaw Self-Centring (S.C.) Chuck is 55mm - to enable it to fit onto a flange/backplate with the matching 55mm male register. Also, most such chucks are tapped M6.

So, the ER lathe collet chuck registers and PCDs are made to conform to the Chinese standards of 80mm, 100mm, 125mm lathe chucks.

You may be able to unscrew the studs from your standard 3-Jaw S.C. Chuck and use them with your ER 25 lathe collet chuck. As far as I can recall, the studs would be introduced from the back of the flange, and screwed into the body of the ER25 lathe collet chuck, in the same way as your existing arrangement with the 3-Jaw S.C. chuck. Note: the stud does not need to go all the way through the tapped hole, as long as the studs go in a reasonable amount to hold the collet chuck secure in place, and you feel comfortable. Alternatively, you make up your own arrangement with studs and nuts to meet your needs.

Ketan at ARC

Edited By Ketan Swali on 25/02/2021 11:44:38

Unless you are limited for space, or you find one second hand - cheap which works, you would be better off looking at saving up for a SIEG SX1LP. .... It is more cost effective and better investment than getting an attachment for the lathe. The 'muti' is limited in its use.

Ketan at ARC.

Hello Ian,

Your CL250M is a SIEG C1 lathe.

Consider getting one of these from ARC or from whoever you prefer.

The hole through your headstock spindle is 10mm diameter I think. So, this will allow you to hold stock up to 9.99mm through the spindle. Stock from 10mm to 16mm diameter can be held in the front (as cannot go through the spindle) using the appropriate ER25 collet..... Hope my explanation makes sense.

If you have an MT2 taper mill, then the MT2 milling collet chuck ER20 or ER25 would make sense, as it can be used in both the lathe and mill spindle.

Ketan at ARC.

Chris, perhaps parts of this article may help. To the best of my knowledge, your machine may be the old X2 mini-mill.
Also, if you search what you are looking for under X2 mini-mill, you will probably find more dismantling information.

Very broadly speaking, the X2 Mini-Mill head assembly is also very similar to old SIEG C2 and C3 mini-lathe headstock, sharing many of the same components except the spindle. So perhaps also review parts of this guide.

Ketan at ARC

Neil,

I hope MTM looks at 'the needs' of this sites users before launching. It looks like on the RCM&E site, they have just recognised the needs of their users for darker text colour, as I can see the text more clearly this evening... changed to black or near black instead of muted grey.

Don't know what's going on with the column on the right on RCM&E site. Some pages show a column on the right, like the earlier link I posted, and some don't. Maybe work in progress.

As far as mobile platforms in different orientations are concerned, there is no column on the right to be seen, be it on RCM&E or any other site to which you linked.

Ketan at ARC

John Pace posted at 11.09 on 12/02/21 : From the part in brackets it would seem the decision has already been made , they just have not announced it yet.

- I am not so sure John. Advertisers have yet to be approached. I hope that what they are doing with RCM&E is an experiment rather than set in stone, before considering to roll out across their other sites. If the RCM&E experiment is the direction, it looks like they will be far less dependent on advertisers... going the self sufficient route. Personally I am not a fan of adverts flashing in-between posts of a thread, as it is difficult to focus on the topic. I am also not a fan of grey text, but that is my opinion only.

SOD posted at 11.58 on 12/02/21 : Is it likely the people designing RCM&E are idiots? I doubt it.

- Well, that depends on how many people they end up pleasing, and every person has their own mind.

- Before rolling out on the possible NEW LOOK ME forum, I hope they look at and read the contents of this thread. Note the following:

• the demographics of RCM&E are probably younger than that on this forum.
• On ME there is a good mix of older and younger (over 30 years of age) audience.
• MTM needs to be aware that the older generation with knowledge on this forum are the people who mainly make up the main content of this forum, and teach the younger people who are entering the hobby. Older generation doesn't like drastic changes to take place quickly.
• MTM needs the older generation to attract the younger audience. At the same time, the younger audience may like the flash bang hip stuff offered by cool looking forums to invite them in. So, some compromise may be considered... but not too drastic.
• ME forums world ranking is far higher than any of the other titles in its portfolio:

ME ranks around 322,000 today, RCM&E ranks around 1.6 million, Model boats 9M, getwoodworking 2.2M, Patchwork & Quilting 6.6M, Stamp and Craft Stamper ... too low for classification. As of today, ME is the highest ranked in the world within the metalworking hobby sites.

So, whatever direction MTM decides to take, they may need to keep the above in mind... to keep their audience.

Ketan at ARC

It may be worth keeping an eye on the thread: Welcome to RCM&E's new forum! to understand how things could develop if MTM decides to take ME forum in the same direction.

Ketan at ARC

Bill,

No one disputes the origin of SIEG or meaning. It just wasn’t used or promoted as a brand by the factory Pre early 2000s.

Ketan at ARC

Originally, SIEG was a joint venture between a Shanghai company and a German company Interkrenn.

When the JV stopped, SIEG adoped the idea of the generic corporations such as CMEC, which usually is a short form for 'China Machinery Imports & Exports Corporation'. CMEC normally followed by the name of the city or province it was in, as a company name. So back then, in SIEGs case, they would say that SIEG is a short form for ''Shanghai Imports & Exports Group' depending on who asked, because CMEC or CMC were and to a certain extent still are financially and politically powerful, most powerful of which was/is the Beijing branch, parent which owned ALL Chinese engineering based factories pre-privatization. Post privatization, CMEC/CMC Beijing are still silent partners with limited share holding in most such companies which were born pre-privatization. This relationship is a little complicated to explain.

Most international buyers in the late 1980's and early 1990's were used to the idea and meaning of CMC/CMEC/SMEC as abbreviations which they could understand when buying. It would be easier for purpose of communication, rather than saying that the factory which produces these machines is called Shanghai Zhonjing (SZ - but I cant remember the full name)..., which is part of a bigger group of companies under the SIEG umbrella.

Post privatization, some people at SIEG started to use the posher idea to suggest SIEG to be a short form for 'Shanghai International Equipment Group'.

In the early 2000s, the concept of branding was born.... Initially, Frank Hoose (FH) kept on saying SIEG in his YT videos. ARC presented the idea for this factory to promote and build their relationship further with Frank, and start using/adopting promoting the word 'SIEG' as a brand. Until then, the factory kept saying that we are factory SZ under the SIEG group, and that they will be happy to put any 'logo'/'branding on their machines as they were already doing with Harbor Freight and Clarke machines.

ARC was interested in promoting the machines as products made by 'SIEG' under a 'SIEG' brand. As FH was already popular in directly promoting the factory by the early 2000s, it made sense for the factory to start using new marketing strategies to stand on its own name.

The factory does own a foundry under the group. The main castings are produced in-house, at a different location well away from Shanghai. Non-critical castings out-sourced. To comply with government requirements, they are not permitted to have a foundry at the location where the machines are built.

Ketan at ARC.

edits for poor spelling.. sorry.

Edited By Ketan Swali on 23/01/2021 16:13:52

Edited By Ketan Swali on 23/01/2021 16:15:32

Edited By Ketan Swali on 23/01/2021 16:17:07

Hi JimmieS,

I had to double check before commenting on this.

So far, having used Royal Mail, DPD road and DHL Road services into Northern Ireland, we have found movement to be as usual, subject to U.K. VAT rules, without requiring any special documentation, as long as goods are destined to be used in Northern Ireland. Parcels are getting through without any headache so far. We also have a small pallet consignment going to a business in Northern Ireland next week, for goods to be used by them for their business activity in Northern Ireland. So far, we have not been asked for any special documentation/paperwork or costs other than what we normally pay.

Perhaps the problems start for movement from Northern Ireland to Ireland?

Ketan at ARC

It has been an interesting week as far as sea shipments as well as couriers are concerned.

Tracking down where six different sea consignments are in transit, all in various states of delay. Average transit delays 30 days in addition to the expected schedule (about 30 days) in normal times!

For courier shipments into Europe, seven consignments to various destinations stuck in France with DPD since the 6th of January, awaiting further movement due to backlog. Switched over to DHL road service into Europe, all moving smoothly to their destinations .... so far.

Considered the rail route last month for imports from China. Scheduled transit by rail into Europe was around 20 to 25 days. There after, no guarantees by road hauliers from Europe into U.K., plus average £3,500.00 extra freight cost on top of whatever sea freight costs would be. Rail transit therefore even more expensive. So abandoned that idea.

Good news... SIEG managed to get an empty container this morning from the container yard, which they will load and deliver to the shipping line by Tuesday next week... hopefully. Then hopefully the container will be on a vessel currently scheduled to leave Shanghai by end of this month... fingers crossed.

Bad news... just announced... Shanghai starting to go into lock down. Stay at home policy in place (excluding factory workers), and if you are working in Shanghai and if your original home town is elsewhere - different city, you can't go back home for the Chinese New Year (CNY). This brings on new challenges. Certain employees will disappear with/without notice in coming days, and those wanting to come back after CNY will go into isolation for a certain period of time, that is, if they are allowed to come back due to lock-down rules. Shanghai factories are considering working through the CNY, but how this will go down with the workforce is difficult to say.

Noted every ones comments with thanks. ARC is reasonably stocked for certain items for now, and the business is running okay through these interesting times.Thank you everyone for your concern and support.

Ketan at ARC.

At present we are regularly being asked why certain items are out of stock or why is there such a big delay in future availability.

Here are some observations of what is happening:

• Our last container from SIEG was shipped from Shanghai in November 2020. Instead of getting into Felixstowe within about a month, it took two months, after being offloaded in Malaysia, awaiting a transshipment vessel which had space to carry it. We finally received the container on Tuesday this week. Similar transit delays are effecting shipment from all our other suppliers.
• Sea Freight costs are now eye watering. Normally, one would pay around £2000 to £2500 for sea freight on a 40'ft container. Our last container cost us £4000.00
• SIEG is hoping to load our next container on Tuesday next week, that is if the container yard provides them with a 40'ft container... which as of today is difficult to get due to shortage of containers. If they manage to get the container, and if the container gets on a vessel this month on 29th January for which it is booked (fingers crossed), then the sea freight for this container will be £12,000 + various surcharges of around £1500.
• Chinese New Year is just around the corner in February, so more delays expected just before, during and just after.
• Due to extremely high sea freight costs, many companies have decided to delay shipments to late February, mid-March out of China. It is expected (shipping lines are saying) that shipping costs will start to reduce by then, and there is also hope that vessels returning to China will comeback with a lot more empty containers from Europe. Arc has decided to accept the short term 'big hit' to shipping costs, because of uncertainty over what will really happen.

ARC has already increased prices for machines and accessories by a small amount. However, at present it is difficult to know for sure how such mega increases will effect future product prices. Even if the sea freight costs come down in late February/March, the probability of them being anything like the past rates pre-October 2020, are low, at lest in the short term.

Ketan at ARC

Hi Michael,

It is relevant.. The Post Master has a booking system which will probably be stopping him from booking anything to EU destinations - be it trough Royal Mail or Parcelforce for heavier items.

Ketan at ARC

Today, as the options for movement from UK into EU and other countries around the world continue to get restricted, it feels a lot line a scene from the Holly Grail :

**LINK**

Ketan at ARC.

**SHIPPING UPDATE** 21 December 2020

As DPD and DHL road courier service into Europe has been suspended, we are temporarily shipping all EU orders by the air courier services offered by DHL and Fedex, for non-machine orders received by close of business on 23rd December 2020 (Please see opening post).

Ketan at ARC.

Edited By Ketan Swali on 21/12/2020 12:04:15

Edited By Ketan Swali on 21/12/2020 12:04:48

Lol... Yes there will be effects, but they are likely to be limited, as far as ARC is concerned, positive and negative. I wish negotiators on both sides well. My concern are only the couriers. I will be trying out different ones over the coming months.. DPD (French Post owned - crap at dealing with problems when parcels go walkabout in Europe), DHL (German Post owned, but more expensive - and pro-active on service when things go wrong), Parcelforce (maybe - but what service? when things go wrong).

I see that certain changes are necessary. I for one am FOR the changes to the VAT regulations, be they for import into the UK from 1st January, or for the EU from *1st July. They are long overdue.

If UK and EU traders are expected to obey the law, so should Amazon, eBay, Banggood, and all the Chinese traders who trade through them. Regardless of the outcome of Brexit talks, the next challenge will be how HMRC or their European counterparts are likely to enforce the changes... if they are able to. I know that such traders outside the UK and EU will already be looking at loopholes to beat the system. With an increasing number of such Chinese traders setting up shop in Hamburg port, I feel sad for the traditional German businesses similar to us, who already are suffering.

Ketan at ARC

* If ARC manages to still have customers left in EU after the first six months of next year, hopefully there will be an easy way for ARC to VAT register for the EU collective states by 1st July, rather than register in each state of the EU. Lets wait and see.

Edited By Ketan Swali on 11/12/2020 15:54:47

The general public might not have, but businesses trading with Europe who did not wear rose tinted glasses did, or should have

What I failed to take into account was the way the couriers would react. I could say many less than complementary things about them, I could join the conspiracy band wagon, but at the end of the day, businesses like us - on both sides of the channel - have to find a way to work with the system, whatever the outcome.

Ketan at ARC