A new company is Coos Bay called Big Dog metalworks is selling the larger Optimum BF-25(?) clone on ebay. This looks like a very substantial alternative to the Sieg SX3, with an 8x34" table, variable speed 1.6 Hp motor, 346#, 15" of Z-axis movement.

The downside is that it is MT-3. Also, the column looks a little narrow, ut it might be an optical illusion since the table is significantly bigger then the SX3 (6x21").

Anybody with an SX3 want to measure their column width?

http://www.bigdogmetalworks.com/Ebay/XJ9525/s_XJ9525_front_noPF.JPG
http://www.bigdogmetalworks.com/

Somebody has already commented on this in another post. I don't remember where though sorry. They had mentioned that yes, the column is much thinner than an x3 column, and they had also mentioned the fit and finish was pretty poor. But that was only from one individual and it was in regards to the smaller bf20.

The other thread was about converting a BF-20, and was here:

http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53278&page=3

I decided to start a new thread since discussion of this machine was OT on that thread, since this is actually a larger machine then the BF-20 sold by PennTool and Busy Bee.

I am interested in knowing how this machine compares in column width to the SX3, since this is actually a larger machine then then SX3 (wheras the BF-20 is slightly smaller).

If that is the picture of the mill. That is nothing more than an X2.

Count the tick marks on the table and you will see that table is not more than 18" long end to end.

yep, you are right. I posted the pic of their smaller mill, which looks more like a Sieg X2 varient instead of an Optimum BF-15.