I just spent 2 days (11 hours) setting up my new SX3 from Grizzly.

I ordered a Griz because they ship out of Springfield and that is right around the corner from me. I had the mill three days after ordering (two days after getting an email saying the mill was back ordered until the 14th!)

What I got was a mill made in June of 2007. I used the Arc Euro Trade X3 Prep guide as a template. But I deviated a bit.

Who am I? The grandson of a machinist. I have few skills and know almost nothing. I was thinking CNC if this little guy can handle some work.

Good things about this new mill:
Nice paint job overall
Good ways (pretty Z column)
I really was impressed with the column rigidity
HEAVY - I had to hoss this dude around by myself (I'm big but not that big)
Table is fairly flat

Bad things about this new mill:
Rust - lots of it. My z screw was about 1/2 covered in surface rust. My head side supports were rusted on the inside. The Z-axis shaft extension (under the base) was all rusty. New things that are rusty bug me.
Backlash - not terrible, but it's present.
The wiring. Disconnecting the electronics from the head is a mess. They need to move to two modular connectors instead of the screwy setup now. (this is an upgrade I will probably do myself).
The Z gib was driven over by a Cat 25 dozer, I think. They must be doing this for traction? Or else the rocking motion on the ship shakes them just so?
I sanded, scraped and polished the Z gib and it's still got about three large gouges taken out of it. I will be milling a new one (good thing I have a mill now) once I figure out what steel to use for it.

I just wanted to introduce myself and my new mill. I will have questions and problems - I have already learned a lot here - thank you all.

-Yojinbo

Howdy Yojinbo, Welcome!

I've got an X3 that I got from Lathemaster a few years ago. I'm in the process of converting it to cnc with the cncfusion deluxe kit and a controller built with a gecko vampire (g203v) set-up.

When I took it apart, I also used the prep guide as a guide. I didn't have too much rust but it had a little primer over-spray on the ways, which was irritating.

Good luck with your new machine,
Jack

Thank you for the welcome. The mill is running now, but I have only made a few passes on aluminum and derilin so far.

I made a trip to see my dad and grandfather and got gifted with a ton of their old tools and tooling. Including a B&S micrometer, some old end mills, grandpa's old V-blocks and lots of stuff that I can't even ID yet.

I'm torn between kit CNC and home brew CNC. I am somewhat competent in electronics and software (what I did instead of become a tool and die maker like they all planned).

I have some crazy ideas I will be advancing for the groups critical evaluation - like; Why not make wheel micro controllers to replace the handwheels - leaving them in the same locations and move the motors back and away with 90 degree gears and short shafts?

Thank you all for the inspiration and the information!

-Yojinbo

Congrats on the tools.

I was going to design and make a kit for mine and in the time it took me to get ready to do the machining I came across the cncfusion kit. By the time I had saved for the electronics there was talk of the deluxe kit and by the time I saved enough money for a kit, they had started shipping the first deluxe kits out.

It just worked out that way. When I get finished with the mill, I'll be starting a homebrew conversion of my 8x14 lathe, using the cnc mill to make all the parts.

Cheers,
Jack