Milling machine questions

I want to be able to make the sort of models that Stuarts provide kits for. I am narrowing down the choice of milling machine and just querying the range of bed travel I am likely to need to be able to manage this sort of work. I have my eye on the Sieg SX3 but would go smaller if I could still manage that sort of work. The SX3 has 145mm of cross travel and 360mm longitudal travel. Will be trying to get some 'hands on' at the show on Saturday and hoping arceurotrade will be there

ARC don't go to shows.

The SX2.7 would do all but the Major Beam (SX3 won't do it either) and has more travel at 180 x 395 though part of that 180 does come over the table.

Thanks Jason. The Major Beam is quite a big model ( to me anyway) and I can live with that limitation I think. Didn't realise arc didn't do shows but Im sure I can get some good initial experience looking at similar offerings by others

Not sure you need a mill as such. I made my Stuart Beam (not the Major) on a Myford Speed 10, though I don't quite remember all the ops.

I decided a while back Mick B1 that I was not going to rely on being able to do the necessary milling on my old Myford ML4. I don't think it is rigid enough in the right places and the overwhelming advice has been don't do it

Remember that while you can sometimes hang the work off the end of the table:

.........it isn't always easy to utilise the specified table travels due to clamps, cutter diameter etc. So it might pay to get slightly bigger travels than you think you will need.

Andrew

Ah. I don't think I could argue with that...

I'd suggest getting the biggest milling machine you can afford and accommodate. They're really useful toys!

A big machine will do everything a small one can, but rather more conveniently. It's surprising how much working space disappears as soon as a vice or rotary table is mounted and you start work. They also tend to be more rigid and more powerful.

Dave

There's very little difference in capacity at the benchtop machine end of the spectrum. More money mainly brings you an increase in metal removal rate.

While ARC don't do shows any more, I'd suggest that you pay them a visit if you possibly can. They're very helpful and won't rush you at all. Furthermore, you may even be offered a cup of tea.

Andrew: Thanks for pointing that out. I was trying to convince myself that I could really make do with smaller and leave money to spend on the mass of other stuff I will undoubtedly need, vices clamps etc. Bigger is best is undoubtedly true and having explained the reasons why to my good lady I probably have room to go 'bigger' in the budget.

S.O.D.: Good point again, thank you.

Neil: Good point, thank you.

Gordon: I am planning on a visit to ARC as they are only an hour and a half from me here in Aylesbury.

Hi Nige

I bought an SX2P from Arc earlier this year. I can only speak most highly of the service from Arc, the machine was delivered when promised, in proper condition, and when I had issues a phone call resolved everything without trauma. I was sufficiently impressed to subsequently purchase my lathe from them.

The choice of the SX2P was firstly weight, my workshop is in the attic so getting it up there was a large consideration and even with two of us a bit of a struggle.. Secondly cost, I spent £780 delivered which is a substantial enough sum, but I have since spent in excess of that in tooling, some of which might be considered luxury if your on a tight budget but I justified it to myself nonetheless. Thirdly but importantly ongoing support from the supplier, I don't think Arc are going to disappear. I've no doubt other suppliers can do as well.

In essence I think the SX2P could do most of what you wish however in hindsight I wouldn't recommend this particular machine for these reasons. The arrangement of the head movement via a rack on the column, both for coarse and fine movements, is sub optimal, especially with the counter torsion spring. A machine with a quill is IMHO necessary. It does work but not as well as it might. The lack of X travel stops on the table is undoubtedly a cost saving but could be an issue. The X and Y locking screws are a joke, I'm making something better.

Further thoughts, if you don't have any existing tooling to match in then get the R8 spindle taper, getting stuff out the spindle is much gentler, Don't bother with a tilting column, tilt the workpiece, it's much simpler. The brushless DC motor with a belt drive is very quiet.

This might sound as though I have aeons of experience, but really I'm just a beginner. I found Harold Hall's book most helpful and yes I did read it before I bought the machine.

Finally I think the hi torque version of the SX2.7 is where I would go if I were doing it again, it's not much smaller than the SX3 but is £460 cheaper.

Regards

Martin

Just remembered, be prepared to do a little lapping in on the dovetails and gib strips, they're a bit unfinished as supplied which seems to be a Sieg issue rather than anything to do with Arc. The quality and application of the paint is dire.

Edited By Martin Shaw 1 on 18/10/2017 14:34:04

Edited By Martin Shaw 1 on 18/10/2017 14:40:19