SX2 PLUS MILL

Hello

Before I start drilling and tapping on my SX2 P mill has anybody put stops on the table for the X and Y, I would of thought that stops would of been a essential part of this small mill. I am generally happy with the mill but before I do any modification on it my idea of stops may not be the best solution.

Thanks for any replies, Bob.

Hi Bob,

I have an SX3 and it does not have physical stops. The X-axis power feed does have limit switches which can be moved to different locations. Have also fitted a DRO and use it to accurately control the travel.

Paul

This article shows how it was done on an X1 mill. The X2 table arrangement is similar.

Russell.

Thanks for these ideas, the article given by Russell is of help and looks a simple solution which I shall adopt. A DRO will be the next step on my mill and lathe in the near future.

Bob.

You have just given me an inspired idea - adapt a telescope 'handle on a cable' to fit a the gib locking screw!

No more scraped knuckles!

Neil

I use table stops regularly on my Bridgeport mill. They are a boon for milling slots and roughing out to a position, saves all that watching dials or read outs.

Agreed, I use the table stops quite a bit on my VMC as well.

If fitting a DRO on the SX2 plus, I have noticed on You Tube that a lot of these are fitted on the back of the table, another had fitted on the front. Both ideas have drawbacks, on the back limited on the axis as the DRO will hit the back, on the front you can not adjust the gibs or lock the table. Has anyone fitted a DRO to a SX2 and give advise on the best way of doing it. As past posts I have made all the parts for the stops this week so at the moment one part of me wants to put stops on and the other to buy the DRO.

Thanks for any replies

I have a scale on the back of the table on my X2 (not SX2) fitted under some 25 x25mm angle fitted flush with the table.

With the table wound right back it is still well away from hitting the column

Check the clearance between back of the table table and column on the SX2, I'm sure it will be more than 30-40mm.

Neil

Thanks for the information Neil, looks now I can do both. Certainly a must have is DRO as I am finding converting fraction to decimal then forgeting if divide 25.4 or multiply 25.4 to metric then either .025 for Z axis or .020 for X and Y then turning the handle the correct way rather confusing.

Bob

Check this out **LINK**

Ah, the SX2P clearly has much less room!

I never bothered with any stops on my X2 Mill, but wanted a cheap DRO to get me by until I convert it to CNC.

I added some Igaging scales to each axis (about £80.00 inc P&P), then made an interface board Link for under £5.00 to allow me to use Yuriy's DRO app Link on a cheap (£43.00 inc P&P) 10" Android tablet.

Similar conversions are shown on the link provided by Den24171 and other links from that thread.

you can buy decimal or fraction dials, about 4 pounds each - i now have both. I had the dro on the front but you have to adjust the gibs quite often so i ended up taking it off in the end.

I keep meaning to replace the 75-graduation dials on my X2 with 60-graduation ones.

Neil