Sieg super x3 mill

I am looking at the Sieg super X3 mill, has anyone got one and what do you think of it.

Is it really neccessary to strip it down and rebuild before using?

Bill D.

I've got one Bill and love it fits into my small shop just fine if I'd got the space however I'd go for something bigger.

Yes is does need stripping down not right down to the motor or bearings but enough to clean the rubish grease and casting sand away, and to rebuild back and get the jib strips set correct.

Consider fitting when cash available first a DRO just X and Y will greatly enhance its performance and late a power feed.

To get the best out of it you will also need to kit yourself out with a good vice a set of ER collets and at some point a rotary table plus other goodies as they are required

The Nemet bobcat and jaguar being serialised in ME was built with one as were all my engines also serialised in ME

Stew

Yes, I've got one and I'm very happy with it. I'd like to swap it for a Bridgeport one day but it does me fine for now. I've had it for 3 years and haven't got around to stripping it down yet, but I need to soon as the fine feed on the quill is sticky and uneven. I wont be surprised when the speed control electronics blow up, when it does I shall fit a KB Electronics board with a pot, as I don't particularly like the pushbutton method of setting the speed. As Stew says, adding a DRO will make a huge difference, I bought a Shumatech a couple of years ago but haven't got around to fitting the scales yet. Highest priority for me is a motor on the Z axis, I get fed up of cranking that wheel.

The Nemet engines were built on an X3 not a SuperX3.

I have the X3 and did not strip it and its still going strong some 5-6 years later but mine did not come from a supplier that offers a rebuild service so could have been built to a different spec as it did cost slightly more.

J

Hi Bill,

I don't have an X3 Mill but I stripped the major parts of my Chinese lathe when it arrived after reading the horror stories of casting sand etc. Guess what I found - nothing. It was well finished and free of any contaminants. I could have just cleaned the protective grease (which was commonly used on UK and other equipment to prevent rust in storage and transport) from the slideways with white spirit. The gib keys were well adjusted and I regretted removing them afterwards. By the way, it is very accurate with a smooth action.

I'm not saying that your machine will be as clean as mine but in my experience - I do have a larger Chinese mill which I didn't strip and I have had no problems - the horror stories seem to be very exaggerated. However, before the snipers come in I must stress that the comments are just from my own personal experience, I'm sure that there are others with worse stories.

Best regards

Terry

Hi Bill

I recently bought a Super SX2.and minimal cleaning was involved . I removed the table and cleaned all the slides, flushed and cleaned out all the threads and removed a few burrs from the gib strips and a lot of orange grease. All of this was really straight forward .As with Terry's comments above, the build quality was good, perhaps better than expected in light of some of the preperation comments I'd read.

Bob..

Have you considered the Warco WM18? Similar in price, although, at least 30kg heavier which bodes well for those experienced folk who recommend bulk in their machines. An ex-editor of MEW gave it a very favourable review in issue 153, I'm not aware that he had to, "strip it down and re-build before using". I must declare that I don't have a WM18 myself but I can recommend their DH-1 vice which I do have. My mill is a Centec 2B. Usual disclaimer with regard to Warco.

Problem witha lot of build stories are they are locked in time.

What the Chinese produced 3 / 4 / 5 years ago is not what they are producing today.

John S.

my new X3 came with minimal preserving grease and as far as I could see did not need a strip down at all, as all the parts were clean and lubricated. What I did do was apply Copperease to the spindles and slides.

In use the machine is quiet and vibrtation free, I would have preferred an MT2 taper in the quiill as most of my tooling is MT2. I purchased an MT2 to MT3 sleeve and all is fine.

It is heavy at some 160Kg and needed some considerable effort to lift and locate it on the bench so be prepared.

Clive

Hi Bil,

I do have another retailers version of the WM18 and it is a very capable, quality machine. Recommend that you get to a show to have a look at the Warco just to compare.

Regards

Terry

Jason is correct. The Nemet engines were built on the X3 and not the SX3.

Even though Jasons X3 came from a different supplier, all the factory assembled machines are built to the same spec., be it from ARC or Ax. What you choose to believe and pay is up to you. What I can tell you is that we give feedback to the factory from our observations, which are relayed back to the shop floor production team, for them to consider, sware at ARC, and implement, if they so wish. At present, ARC does not offer a prep.service for these machines.

Just a note: If you are comparing the SX3 with a WM18, please be aware that you are comparing a 1000w DC brushless motor on an SX3 with a 1,100w brushed motor on a WM18. As far as ARC is concerned, there is a difference. Having said this, the WM18 is also a good machine. At the end of the day, the decision is yours.

As Terry and others have said, go and have a look at Warcos WM18 and other clones at the exhibitions to help you decide.

Ketan at ARC.

Peter,

If you have a Super X3 (not an X3), in our experience, the brushless motor and control boards on these machines are far more superior in quality and build in the past three to four years than most Chinese brushed motor with related control board systems, in terms of consistancy, reliability and torque across the speed range. At the end of the day, if you want a better system, you have to pay for it. If your Super X3 system ever goes pop, in ARCs opinion, you will in fact be downgrading your system by introducing a KB Electronics board with a pot.

Ketan at ARC.

Terry,

It is thanks to observations by customers, as well as thanks to observations by ARC being reported back to the factory, which have resulted in improvements which have come about over the years in many factories. You would not have made these comments ten years ago - and that is a fact. There may or may not be casting dust in the machines, there may or may not be adjustments made to the machine during assembly, which can come to light only if and when a machine is stripped. As far as average Joe public is concerend, if the machines meets their requirement as it comes, that is fine. If he chooses to strip/re-build, that is also fine.

There is no 'spinning' going on.

Ketan at ARC.

I've had my X2, which was one of Arc's first batch completely stripped down over the last week or two.

Not a grain of sand or any other nasties in sight.

Neil

Sorry to come in late, but I have been away and busy, so not online.. I have a Super X3 and I am very happy with it, and ther service from ArcEuro.

Hi Ketan,

I didn't say or even insinuate that there was any 'spinning' going on. and I did say that my comments were based on my own experiences and others may be different. I am very sorry if you were able to read anything else than that simple statement into my comments.  I was certainly not referring to ARC.

My final sentence defined my position I think

"However, before the snipers come in I must stress that the comments are just from my own personal experience, I'm sure that there are others with worse stories."

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 06/10/2012 22:37:03

Sorry Terry,

My apologies, I mis-read your comment with reference to snipers. I read it as spinners by mistake. My fault. I should have read it more carefully.

Thanks, Ketan.

Thanks for all the comments guys, looks pretty positive.

I do have a Clarke lathe/mill (had it about 4 years) and I have to say it has served me pretty well so far albeit with limited (but still invaluable) milling facilities hence the reason to upgrade my milling capacity. As a beginner I feel I made the right decision (for me) to go the new but 'cheap chinese' route.

I did not strip it down and have had no problems although I did change the oil after it had run for a while.

Disappointed ARC will not be at Sandown. Leicester is a bit far for us from Somerset but when i get nearer to the ok from my 'accountant' I guess we will have a trip up there first.

Bill D.

Everybody says Ketan makes a loverly cup of coffee but I think he spits in mine ..................