Getting my Syil Super X3

[SyilAmerica]

Same way as the other gibbs. Tighten until touch, then back off 1/8-1/16th of a turn.

[mikemill]

Hi jinu117

I bought a Super X3 about a year ago, and my experiance was the same crate and packing was appalling, also bad connections on some wiring.

But after I got the machine to work it has proved to to be very good value for money, as the column is a solid lump of cast iron it is capable of seriois work, stick with it and you will be pleased.

Although the Chinese make good tools they need to understand thier markets, in Europe and the USA when we spend thousands of $ or £ we expect to recieve our investment well protected from the shipping process and not held together with string and chewing gum!

Have Syil solved the Y axis problem of the tool center covering the table width i.e the full six inches? if not you need to make a packing block as in pic.

Good Luck

Mike

[iGG1e]

The simple answer to the full table travel is no. Just finished making my spacer.

You need to go over the entire mill with a fine toothed comb to avoid future needless problems. Wiring especially! Any bolts you feel you're going to be cranking down I'd replace as well.

[rogerx3]

Like Mikemill and Igg1e I'm going to be using a spacer in the y axis. This is the last crease to be ironed out bar the splash screen to catch coolant. I must admit Iv'e found the learning prosess trying but rewarding as a cnc novice I really know my machine inside and out (he he). To miss quote some movie / film, "just when I'm about to do some cutting, A problem pulls me back again". I need to see swarf.

[mikemill]

Another area of the learning curve with the X3 is coolant splash guards, I made a three sided guard mounted on bar extensions to the table front, giving full travel of the table without fouling the head, but I found in practice it just got in the way. The answer is two pieces of perspex as long as the table about 6" high that slot into ali spacers on the front and back of the table they catch 90% of spash, then runs into T slots, and as I have adjusted the screw feet so machine leans to the drain at left of table, all keeps coolant under contol. Perspex just lifts off to get access to work, and dose't take up lots of space or get in the way of the machining process. I have two sets of perspex one 6" and one 8" high for larger work.

Thanks
Mike

[rogerx3]

hi mikemill
I beleve I saw your pictures of your first attempt at splash gaurds and its interesting how things develop over time, I'm making a Y axis packing plate at the mo but then I'll follow your newer splash gaurd design using rubber / plastic combo.

[mikemill]

Hi Rodger
Where abouts are you in UK, do you have any projects you are useing the X3 for?
I was thinking of asking Hugh to contact the people he has sold X3's to, if they would be interested in shareing their experiances re X3, as I am sure you would agree working with these machines is not as straight forward as with a manual tool.
Cheers

Mike

[rogerx3]

Hello Mike
I live in Streatham Saffe laandon (south london) and work from Camden North London and Hugh's gaff is about 8 miles from my work. With the SX3 CNC mill it is worth its money even with its initail problems. If the price we pay is for a machine that is modified due to a customers request (1ggle asked for a bigger ball screw nut (hence the y axis limit)) and we have to modify the machine as and when we find the problems, then I say yes we should compile / document any forseeable issues and If hugh is agree able add them to the CD that he gives out with the machine. Oh I do go on dont I. I think I'm in agree ment with you, after all at the moment just to get rhe first Proper cut going I'm bodging my Y axis packing plate by making it in aluminimum.. later on I'' make a full size steel replacement and possibly shorten my ball screw.

All the best

rogerx4 aka rogersx3 (cnczoneuk), Roger Ramjet, Ranjit Jeganathan.