There is a write up on the new Sieg CNC mill been posted on this site

http://www.mini-lathe.com/KX3/KX3-2.htm

Greg

Very Cool, Thanks!

I hope someone in the USA besides Smithy starts offering these soon... Smithys CNC warranty is scarry and $1600 for a controller is a bit steep when Syil and others sell them for less than half.

I could be wrong, but it sounds like Sieg sent the KX3 to Frank to review on mini-lathe.com (man, I gotta start myself a website so I can get cool new gear...). It didn't sound like he had any idea of retailers for the KX3 or price (and he didn't mention the fact that Smithy is already selling a varient of it).

If that is true, then it is a good sign that Sieg is trying to drum up business for the KX3, which means we should see some resellers starting to import their machine.

Unlike the X3 and Super X3 mills which have an R8 taper spindle, the KX3 spindle uses an OZ25 standard collet chuck.
This is somewhat disappointing to me. What does this means in terms of buying tooling? Anybody know why they would make this choice?

Its either spindle, if you look at the Seig KX3 info - it can be ordered with a R8

I sent an e-mail to Grizzly - if others send e-mails, maybe we can get the KX3/ R8 with a better price and better warranty than whats currently offered by Smithy.

Mini-Lathe.com never works for me. I always get a server error. I don't understand it at all.

I sent an e-mail to Grizzly
Shiraz Balolia (the owner of Grizzly and Shop Fox) frequents a number of on-line forums and readily responds to questions and inputs from others. He is a certified woodworking and metal working machinery nut like the rest of us (no big surprise... and he has a big CNC machine in his shop..). I PM'd him about the KX3 back in July.

I am not sure if the KX3 will fit into their product line, but Grizzly has started carrying a few high end CNC machines, so you never know. Shiraz might be interested in carrying the KX3 just to add diversity to his product line, even if it doesn't sell alot of units. He offers many niche products related to guitar building only because he wants to support one of his favorite hobbies, not because he thinks he will sell thousands of them or make a profit (yes, I believe that the big businessman can actually be altruistic).

I am crossing my fingers that maybe he listened to me and the 2008 catalog has some toys in it I will want...

"Unlike the X3 and Super X3 mills which have an R8 taper spindle, the KX3 spindle uses an OZ25 standard collet chuck."

Personally I would see this as a plus on a machine this size. Prefer if it was ER though.

Greg

Personally I would see this as a plus on a machine this size.
would you mind explaining this to a complete novice (ie, me)?

"Unlike the X3 and Super X3 mills which have an R8 taper spindle, the KX3 spindle uses an OZ25 standard collet chuck."

Personally I would see this as a plus on a machine this size. Prefer if it was ER though.

Greg


Greg,
You mean like this ?

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stevenson.engineers/lsteve/files/X3ER32_1.jpg

John S.

Yes I have an ER adapter on mine much the same as that. Mine is ER 25

It almost never comes off. Only to use a jacobs type chuck and that could be easily mounted in a collet, as could fly cutters or most other tooling.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me but if I could get a replacement spindle for mine to take ER collets direct I would. (for a reasonable price:))

Greg

WOW that looks great, thanks for sharing!

Greg.
That IS an ER 32 spindle not a fitted chuck or adapter.

John S.

That's interesting John. Did you make it?

Greg

So if the spindle holds the collet then you wouldnt be able to use a manual quick change toolholder like The Tormach system? So do you have to reset things software wise when you change out a tool? http://www.jeffalbro.net/cnc/quick-change/