Grizzly mini mill? Is it good? How bout cnc?

[in2steam]

Originally Posted by SupermotoAbuser That is already done on the syil cnc mill. I would deffinately go through the manual x3 a little bit. If I got the syil I would be running it with Mach3 and it already has a DRO. Is this not as accurate? and the syil goes up to 3700 rpm which isn't crazy fast but its not to slow. I would deffinately like some more info on the caliper dro thing. and if I got the syil i would get it with the flood coolant upgrade. If i get manual Ill probably do cutting fluid, spay coolant, wd40 or whatever.

The poormans DRO is very simple, you take your average run of the mill cheap digital caliper, drill a hole in each of the teeth, bolt, glue, taper pin, how ever you like to the axis and something thats not moving on the same plane(no angles). I am not sure on the X3 yet, and more then likely you won't get full travel on the table and head.
I did it on my shaper and I lost about 1" of table travel, I tried it on the ram but its hard to see and I no londger have that head as its been replaced.

You can buy the scales also, just do a search on DRO and you should come up with links. The DRO's I have seen also can have a readout which you can mount, again kinda a waste if you use mach3. Mach3 is as accurate as you program it and as the machine can be, the more accurate the screws and stepper/servo system is the better it will be. Servos with closed loop feedback are more accurate and have more power at high speed for anygiven size compared to a stepper. Steppers are cheaper, and easier to setup, they are good at slow speed, they lose torque as they speed up, most people find steppers a good choice for this machine size. Mach can run either equally well its just harder to setup servos the first time you run it. Syil's HS spindle is an upgrade in the motor controler from what i can tell you get now, no choice. Flood coolant has a down side as it very messy and you need shielding around the machine, and all wires must be incased. WD40 works OK, but you have to use the stuff in a gallon can not the spray can, they react to the air different. I just use water and some light cutting oil 90% of the time on a mill, again I don't go real fast. Again that also depends upon what I am doing, I ran some copper and used milk to help with the finish.



chris

[macona]

With new drill bits there isnt a problem usually with using a center drill to start a bit. But if the bit has been sharpen by hand and the grind is uneven one flute can dig in an pull the drill to one side. Of course this can happen just as easy with a spotting drill.

Ebay is one of the best places to buy tooling. I never said buy new. Virtually none of my equipment is new. Right now I see one Huot 115pc set for $88. Cant beat that unless some one bids it up the wazoo...

I have one of the 6" chinese scales from Shars on the quill of my mill. They make life easier. I would just get three of these and skip the central display for now. Shars is a chinese importer but that do have some decent stuff. They are on ebay under the name "discount machine" Good customer service although their web site (http://www.shars.com) needs serious updating.

[in2steam]

Originally Posted by macona With new drill bits there isnt a problem usually with using a center drill to start a bit. But if the bit has been sharpen by hand and the grind is uneven one flute can dig in an pull the drill to one side. Of course this can happen just as easy with a spotting drill. Ebay is one of the best places to buy tooling. I never said buy new. Virtually none of my equipment is new. Right now I see one Huot 115pc set for $88. Cant beat that unless some one bids it up the wazoo... I have one of the 6" chinese scales from Shars on the quill of my mill. They make life easier. I would just get three of these and skip the central display for now. Shars is a chinese importer but that do have some decent stuff. They are on ebay under the name "discount machine" Good customer service although their web site (http://www.shars.com) needs serious updating.

OK, very true, next to nothing I have is new execpt for my pariashables, and even alot of that is from lots included with stuff I bought. I never really thought about looking on ebay for bits, just holders and parts.

chris

[SupermotoAbuser]

Ok im gonna ask a dumb question. What are 1 2 3 blocks really for. The only thing i have used them for is ligning up band saw cuts.

[in2steam]

Originally Posted by SupermotoAbuser Ok im gonna ask a dumb question. What are 1 2 3 blocks really for. The only thing i have used them for is ligning up band saw cuts.

I think it has alot to do with your training, I made a set for what ever reason and have only used them a handfull of times and most of those were for non-machine tool apps. Most people use them for mounting and clamping, but they are nice for setups also. Funny thing is I made a few things but was never really taught to use them, of course this was not a course designed for MTO, it was maintenance so its a different realm. I have found parallels, delrin,UHMW, and scrap pieces more usefull, again I am not a normall machinst or tool and die guy.


Chris

[JC Harper]

Hi I'm new here.

There is a wealth of information in these forums and it has helped my decision on which mill to purchase. Looks like I will be purchasing an x2 from one of the mentioned online sellers, as it will meet my needs for the size work I will be doing. Plus the capability of retrofitting it for cnc will be nice down the road. One thing that I have noticed, the advertised spindle taper at Harbor and Cummins is R8 and then over at Grizzly and MicroLux it's MT3. Also advertised HP is 4/5 at Harbor, 3/4 at MicroLux, Cummins and Grizzly. Not a big issue on the HP, but spindle taper does matter more to some degree. Any suggestions or comments as to why the difference? Or is there some room from the manufacturer for a certain amount of customization by their customers? Or maybe a typo? Along that line, any real difference between the various sellers mills?

Cummins has the better deal, but must find out on the shipping cost as it could be a wash with a purchase from one of the other sellers. I will have to call Cummins to find out on shipping, since I'm not going to make the order then find out shipping is way too much. Since they can't give any cost online.

Thanx for this forum being here, almost takes me back to my former life.
Just an old, well maybe not that old, ex-aerospace machine shop guy turned luthier.

[in2steam]

Originally Posted by JC Harper Hi I'm new here. There is a wealth of information in these forums and it has helped my decision on which mill to purchase. Looks like I will be purchasing an x2 from one of the mentioned online sellers, as it will meet my needs for the size work I will be doing. Plus the capability of retrofitting it for cnc will be nice down the road. One thing that I have noticed, the advertised spindle taper at Harbor and Cummins is R8 and then over at Grizzly and MicroLux it's MT3. Also advertised HP is 4/5 at Harbor, 3/4 at MicroLux, Cummins and Grizzly. Not a big issue on the HP, but spindle taper does matter more to some degree. Any suggestions or comments as to why the difference? Or is there some room from the manufacturer for a certain amount of customization by their customers? Or maybe a typo? Along that line, any real difference between the various sellers mills? Cummins has the better deal, but must find out on the shipping cost as it could be a wash with a purchase from one of the other sellers. I will have to call Cummins to find out on shipping, since I'm not going to make the order then find out shipping is way too much. Since they can't give any cost online. Thanx for this forum being here, almost takes me back to my former life. Just an old, well maybe not that old, ex-aerospace machine shop guy turned luthier.

I don't know about the x2 for sure, but there are many misprints on the x3, namely the table sizes being wrong. They are all the exact same machine, and to my knowledge they are all(x2's) MT3, but I could be wrong I think they say jt#33. Some resellers fudge the numbers, and a few cases plain old lie, but you are splitting hairs the difference between 4/5 and 3/4 hp and if any thing its lower then both.
cummins and homier are both around the same price, I would worry about what you get and alteast with the x3 and c6 lathe they knick you pretty good on shipping. As of about 3 weeks ago, for the x3 grizzly had the best deal with shipping, by about $5 over HF and there service is alot better.

Chris

[acondit]

Originally Posted by JC Harper Hi I'm new here. <snip> Looks like I will be purchasing an x2 from one of the mentioned online sellers, as it will meet my needs for the size work I will be doing. Plus the capability of retrofitting it for cnc will be nice down the road. One thing that I have noticed, the advertised spindle taper at Harbor and Cummins is R8 and then over at Grizzly and MicroLux it's MT3. <snip>

JC,

The HF X2 definitely comes with an R8 spindle. The LittleMachineShop sells R8 spindle replacements for those that come with morse taper. I have no idea why the difference at least on those sold in the USA. Maybe they figure guys that have minilathes will want the MT3 taper on the mill as well. I bought the HF X2 rather than the Grizzly because I couldn't see paying more for the Grizzly and then having to buy a replacement spindle just to get started, plus I had a 20 percent of coupon for HF when I bought mine. It was also on sale and those together saved me a little over $100.

Alan

[JC Harper]

Thank you Alan and Chris for the info and suggestions.
I called HF, Cummins, and Grizzly.

HF is back ordered with no date as to when they will be receiving more. They had a good price $470 and the shipping would be around $62.

Cummins had them for $399 but the shipping would be $160.

MicroMark was $525 plus about $85 for shipping. Didn't call them to see if they were in stock.

Grizzly has them in stock right now $525 plus $73 shipping.

After more research and reading more around here, and since there isn't any real difference from one to the next ...
I ended up ordering the Grizzly, I've heard good things about their service and that they have a good rep standing behind what they sell. Which swayed my decision and thought it would be worth the extra $50 - $60. I will just have to live with the morse taper for the moment. It's not a great big deal, but sometime down the road I will retrofit to the R8 at some point.

This message board has become a regular stop. Lots of good advice and info.

[acondit]

JC,

If you think you want the R8, it is better to go ahead and spring for the new spindle before you spend a bunch of money on MT3 tooling. One real advantage to R8 is if you ever move to a larger machine (such as X3, RF45 or Bridgeport), chances are it will be R8. I have an RF30 mill drill so I can share tooling between the two machines.

I am a Grizzly fan also. My 9x20 and my RF30 are both Grizzly.

Alan

[in2steam]

Originally Posted by JC Harper Thank you Alan and Chris for the info and suggestions. I called HF, Cummins, and Grizzly. HF is back ordered with no date as to when they will be receiving more. They had a good price $470 and the shipping would be around $62. Cummins had them for $399 but the shipping would be $160. MicroMark was $525 plus about $85 for shipping. Didn't call them to see if they were in stock. Grizzly has them in stock right now $525 plus $73 shipping. After more research and reading more around here, and since there isn't any real difference from one to the next ... I ended up ordering the Grizzly, I've heard good things about their service and that they have a good rep standing behind what they sell. Which swayed my decision and thought it would be worth the extra $50 - $60. I will just have to live with the morse taper for the moment. It's not a great big deal, but sometime down the road I will retrofit to the R8 at some point. This message board has become a regular stop. Lots of good advice and info.

I too ordered a grizzly sx3 but I am still waiting, now that I have its table all done no thanks to "global warming"(its been under freezing here too long) I can not wait much longer and may cancel and go with the regular x3.
I wish I could have helped you more with the x2 but I ruled that out as being to small once I saw the x3 and fell in love. So all my research has been on x3's and sx3's(and IH machines) and now c6 lathes.

chris