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Setting up a SX3

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nic24/01/2012 09:06:18
42 forum posts
1 photos

Hi there,


I am currently in the process of setting up my SX3 mill from Arc. I'm very happy with it so far but now I'm slightly confused!


I'm not sure where to start with squaring, tramming etc, I have taken lots of measurements but not really sure what they mean, do i choose a surface and align the mill to that? I thought about choosing the flats of the dovetails on the base of the mill but i"m pretty sure these aren't parallel to the x-axis as various slide ways have been scraped to match.


So do I get the mill table and all the slides working nice and go from that. Then there is the rotating head and column!


Any help will be greatly appreciated!


Thanks


Nic

Stewart Hart24/01/2012 10:21:13
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674 forum posts
357 photos
Nic
 
I have a sx3 and found it a great machine does all i want of it.
 
Its well worth stripping the machine down first and clean all the greasy gunk and casting sand off it, its just like a big mecano set,
 
Take you time putting it back together make sure all the oiling points are working and not blocked, adjust the gybe strips so the slide work smothly with no shake
 
Set the table level using a spirit level,with the little adjustable feet that are on the stand if you got the stand with it if not use packing.
 
Ther's a number of different ways to tram the head this is how i do it.
 
 
Stew
nic24/01/2012 10:32:22
42 forum posts
1 photos
Hi there, Thanks for the link, I will have a good read. I have completely dismantled the mill (except for the head) and cleaned and oiled, So setting up is all i have to do now.
nic24/01/2012 10:45:52
42 forum posts
1 photos
Hi, I'm still slightly confused as to how you get the spindle parallel to column. surely on then I can tram the head to the table??
 
Thanks
Stewart Hart24/01/2012 11:56:21
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674 forum posts
357 photos
If its been made right the spindle will come parrallel to the column, off the slides.
 
All you need to do is tram the head square to the table.
 
Stew
Metalhacker24/01/2012 14:05:30
82 forum posts
I've had an SX3L for about 18/12 and it has been great so far, much improved by the DRO I fitted. Certainly the tramming gadget in the link above helps...I was however given the commercial version for my 60th! The column does seem completely parallel to the quill. Tramming it along the X axis is relatively easy but don't forget that the detent stop at 90degrees isn't. If you do strip the head take the mechanism out... it is a trap for the unwary! Along the Y axis, if out of true, and mine wasn't but I paid for the Arc setup before delivery, you will have to shim under the column bolts. Tedious but hopefully a one off activity. Mine proved to be within .005mm so I left it. Surface finish is now much better, with flycuttuer or facemill.
 
Good luck
 
Andries
bricky24/01/2012 20:17:27
627 forum posts
72 photos
I own a sx3 and am very pleased with it,s performance.
I use a laser pocket level with a small tripod bought from a supermarket to tram my head.The idea is from an article I read in MEW or ME .You make a threaded rod to mount in the spindle collet and attach the level,you then take a piece of white card and set it on the end of the table,mark the position of the laser dot on the card,measure the distance to the centre of the spindle and then mount the card the same distance at the opposite end,hopefully the dots will correspond if not you can see which way you need to adjust.this also works across the table but you need a piece of board to extend the range.I have also taken out the movement of the column by bolting flat bar to the column, there are two handy screws in the top of the column and then securing the bars to the ceiling,and a further bar to the rear self tapped in the cover.It really is rigid now.
Francis

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