This is a very informative site from what I have seen so far, so here is my issues. I am looking at getting a manual mill. It will have to be benchtop, 115v. The deal I have run into is that for what I am immediately going to be using it for my options have been severely limited by the X travel. I need around 12". Most all I will be milling is 6061 alum. cutting a part out of 1/4". I am looking into 2 different options so far but have some questions.

#1. Sieg X1 style mill with Little Machine shop table and leadscrew upgrade. My problem with it though is it has a very small motor. Is it possible to upgrade the motor and electronics from a X2 to the machine? I used to be a machanist and used a 3hp bridgeport and I know that I wouldnt be able to hog out alot of material with a small mill like I'm looking at, but what would a typical pass be with the X1's 1/5hp motor 15 thou.??

#2 Is the Round column 03988 1.5hp mill that Homier has. It looks to be a Rong-Fu clone. I dont particually like the belt drive for speed changes but it would work for the table travel. Also I would have to fabricate a shaft attached to the base table and the head with a linear bearing to keep the headstock centered when moving the head unless someone else has already devised a solution for these style mills.

If anyone knows of a company that makes larger tables and leadscrews for the X2 machines I think one of those may work also but I cant seem to find any tables except for A2Z CNC's table for the Sherline. That mill itself before the upgrade is about what I would want to spend max at this point. What kind of opinions do you guys have on this?? Thanks in advance.

The X1 is not a machine that you can use for aluminum. Forget a bigger motor. The reason the stock motor is so small is that the frame badly flexes under the power even it turns out. Bigger is definitely not an option.

I think it is the universal opinion here that the X1 is actually not suited to any useful purpose whatsoever, other than being inexpensive. Money spent on a unit that doesn't work is no value at all no matter how cheap it is. If you have to try one, buy it used as there are a lot of disillusioned X1 users trying to dump them cheap and getting better machines. That is the only way I would suggest even trying one out is if you can get one cheap. The Littlemachineshop.com kit takes the travel out to 13" if thats what you need.

I know you want to get in on a small budget, but for not much more you can get an entry-level machine that does work. If you can't afford to do that, then wait. Many here have tried the X1 as a first machine, none still have them. Learn from the rest of our mistakes....

A complete Taig is a grand. Hell, a manual X3 is only a grand. Both of these represent a incredible value for functional machines. Cheaper than that and you just can't get there from here short of building one yourself or buying used. See if you can stretch the budget, you won't be disappointed.

i have a manual x3 now, soon to be converted to cnc, but i have been using it manually now for about a month, and i'm very impressed.. i've been playing with some t6061 and some mild steel, and have had excelent results.. infact the only real limiting factor on the x3 that i have run into for my use is the y travel.. the x comes in at around 15 or so, and the y is like 5..

2 speed gearbox, variable speed motor, more travel that your looking for for x, common r8 taper, and a plenty big enough machine for most any home shop..

i got mine for under a grand plus shipping and dont regret it a bit..

one thing to remember, its just like stepper monkey said, if you go too small and the machine is flexing, weak, slow or whatever, your gonna hate using it and eventually you'll have a machine that you have $$ tied up in, and cant do anything with.. if you can get a bigger machine that what you think that you need right now, you'll find that your options really open up, and you'll actually enjoy using it... why not get something that you can just use, rather than buying something that as soon as it comes in the door, you have to start modifying it just to meet your minimum needs?

oh and just my .02 on the subject, i wouldnt even consider a round column mill, too many variables could change on you just to go z+.

x2 is another option. but has limited travel and has quirks. x1 is useless. x3 is much better than x2. on the side note Taig is very good machine in itself. just limited to smaller bits and slow cutting.

my order of preference would be x3, taig, x2. (I have all 3, soon to be down just to x3)

Cool thanks for the information guys. Thats what I like about forums like this, people will tell you about there mistakes so that the "hobby" grows instead of dies.
Has anyone worked on a way to locate the head on the round column mills to keep them from moving when changing the z-axis?
I have looked at the taigs but it has been a little bit. I will see if I can find some information about the table travel specs for it.
Whats the normal table travel on a X3?
Thanks again

I have never personally seen any way to move the head on a round column in a way that can be trusted. The usual method of operation is you fix the head on the column and do any Z with the spindle. (This has several downsides.) If you do have to move the column to get more Z, then you need to relocate with your edge finder.

That said, I suppose you could rig up something to make the head not be able to rotate as it moves up and down the column. However, in the end you would probably wind up with something that is no better than a square column mill out of the box and looks like Frankenstein's monster. :) For your money you are better off with an X3. If you were going to keep it manual for some time, then you might consider the SuperX3. It has some nice features on a manual mill for a couple hundred more than the standard X3. (Most of these features would not be used as part of a CNC conversion though, so if you are planning on converting it shortly after buying, then stick with the standard X3.)

If you look on grizzly.com, you can get all the specs for the X3 and even take a look at the manual. (It lists the travel as 14-7/8" by 5-3/4"). The Super X3 is at this link. (http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0619)

-Bob

Just a side point to consider.

You can get parts cut from 1/4 aluminum very inexpensive by laser, waterjet or plasma.

I know of one company in the area that has lazer machines. I could do that with the parts but he stays pretty covered up and always has to redraw the CAD file to cut it, he cant import a DWG file with his program I guess. Then you have someone with your CAD design already drawn up on file. Its not patented or anything just dont want alot of people being able to get it if you know what I mean. I am seriously considering just jumping to the X3 although Harbor Freight has the X2 on sale and I have a 15% off coupon. I could go ahead and get it or wait and save some more for a X3. Decisions, Decisions. Thanks everyone for your guidance and comments, they will weigh greatly toward my decision.

good luck max, let us know what you end up doing...

I'm in the same boat Max. I've pretty much settled on the X3 for me. I do plan on CNC'ing it in the future. HF has the X3 as well, but either they haven't updated their description, or are selling "older" ones that have the smaller table. but w/the 15% its $875:confused: