milling machine which one ?

I have just been through the process of choosing a mill. For me it eventually came down to SIEG SX2.7L or SIEG SX3. In the end I bought the SX3. Mostly as I wanted a mill a little bigger than my existing one and the SX2.7L was the same size.

I have just finished a strip down and clean, which I highly recommend doing, and I have just measuring it's specs. So far I am pleased how well it is built.

I bought it from ARC along with a starter set as I wanted to get the vise and clamping kit. I have not measured the vise yet, but it seems to be well built and the clamping kit looks OK.

Adrian

Sorry to hijack this thread but what’s your thoughts on the Chester Champion 16v. Chester have an exdisplay one for a good price and I’m finding it tempting. Also collet chuck or individual MT2 collets.

Thanks

Did you buy it?

Hi Andy I have a Champion 20V mill (the next size up) and I am pretty pleased with it. The quality is as expected for the price, it is certainly not rubbish. I would think the 16V will be of the same build quality. Even with a new one it is worth stripping down and cleaning everything. The one thing they never seem to do in China is clean the components after machining so there's lots of cast iron dust lurking in the nooks and crannies.

Peter

Hijacked two weeks ago? Thought you would have a mill from ARC installed by now as you said a fortnight ago you should stop dithering! Could have pushed it home in a wheelbarrow - that would save quite a tidy sum.

Compare the specs carefully - for instance, you may well find the motor power quoted by Chester is power in, not power delivered by the motor (0.82HP is a peculiar, if not unique, motor power🙂 ).

Watch out for other disparities in the way specifications are quoted.🙂

Chester are currently saying that model is out of stock?

They had an ex demo for sale over the weekend, now gone. I've bought a lathe so i am halfway there.

The motor rating plate is the mechanical power out. Multiply by 1.2 for power factor and another 1.2 for efficiency to get power in.

OK, so we know the ARC models are power delivered. Do you know what chester are actually quoting?

Cos Theta for many motors is about 0.8 (see the rating plate for the actual value) so that is not the same as multiplying by 1.2? Are all motors the same efficiency? Have you come across a 0.82HP motor on a regular basis?

Sometimes small old horizontal (unfashionable) mills can be had fairly affordably and thanks to the lower attraction from being horizontal, sometimes aren't worn out. Some of them could be fitted with manufacturer made vertical heads, or people can adapt a self contained vertical head from something else, to the overarm/ support.. a VFD is also quite a popular option for running small 3ph motors from single phase. Some of the jig borers can also do really light milling - depending what sort of milling capacity you need vs accurate locations, some models might be worth a quick search.

I’ve finally put my hand in my pocket and bought a Warco WM14. A few bits and bobs to get together and Start making swarf 

Andy

Edited By Andy Shepherdson on 17/06/2020 19:39:39

Congratulations! I have to admit my money would have gone to ARC, but I am sure Warco will look after you should there be any problems. My most recent purchase from Warco (this last couple of weeks) was expensive, but I am confident it will be good.

I keep thinking about adding a 3-axis DRO, but that means some time away from making models - now that's a difficult decision.

You would not regret adding a dro (assuming quality is good). Easier to achieve the same precision as without and more time to get on with making those models. Backlash in dial readings would be a thing of the past.🙂

I was just idly looking at the ARC site at the Seig mills, and the top of the range SX3.5DZP stood out. It is expensive, but you get all of the extras which people wish to add onto their mills. Tooling is always an add on which never seems to end, but that is par for the course.

Very helpful thread, thanks guys.