Syil X3, X4, X4+ enhancements and fixes.

[Des Jacobsen]

After reading many treads I thought I would start a new tread directly aimed and finding out what modifications and enhancements people have made to their X3 and X4 machines.

I think we would all agree that for the price we paid for a Chinese machine is not too bad, but there are a lot of small things that could be done to improve the machines. Many of these mods can be done ourselves with surprising results, in time hopefully Syil will pick up some of the ideas and implement them themselves in latter releases.

I would encourage you all not to make this a slanging match at Syil, but use it as an opportunity to share mods and fixes with other Syil owners.

Myself I have

Replaces all the grub screws for adjusting the play in the X and Y axis with quality screws total cost about $5 austrailian. I can now actually adjust it so there is no noticeable side play in either.

Fitted a switch to the 4th Axis so I can home it. Cost about $10.

Built magnetic splash guards so the coolant does not spay everywhere

Added a filter to the drain so none of the metal off cuts make it back around to clog up the coolant jets

Built a touch plate that sets the tool length offset each time you change cutters

[syil]

we will carefully to learn customer advise and improve our machine immediately.
xushuo

[john_t_h]

On my X4+ Put hinges on the rear access panel and fitted a socket and plug on the 4th axis rotary table so it can be removed when not in use.

One thing I will get to one day is to strip off the ripple finish on the motor covers and table. Then repaint them in a smooth finish so it is easier to clean.

Another thing I will have to get to is some sort of spindle lock so I can change tools without having to use the tool on the bottom spindle fitting.

[Des Jacobsen]

A spindle lock would be good

[ataxy]

what i mostly plan on doing is to take all of the electronic out of the back of the machine to a seperate cabinet, having the electronic in the back is not the easiest place to access it unless you machine stands in the middle of the room wich is rarely the case with benchtop machine, hence the name benchtop, also i agree about replacing the gibbs screw

i havent had to much problem on my side with the paint finish

i also plan on making a fixed adaptor for the cutting fluid hose the current magnet holder is not strong enough for moving the hose with one hand you always have to use both hands

i also am working on a mod for the tts to prevent it from coming out under pressure when used in combination with long tool and hard material

also i am looking eventualy a way of getting speed range to increase, i can liive with the 200 limit but i would really like the spindle to reach 5000

also i want to take the front panel off the front of the machine and make it hand held, think it would be more ergonomic this way

[iGG1e]

I think I've done most of what ataxy is planning to do

With a full enclosure the electronics in the back was just a pain so I moved them into an old electrical switch box which is on AV mounts bolted to the stand. I can get into the electronics in the time it takes to undo two screws.

I took out all of the electronics in the head and moved then into a box which is mounted on the outside of the enclosure. Having to stretch over the enclosure door to adjust the speed if I was having to run it in manual mode (due to my many previous references to CNC speed control issues) was inconvenient to say the least. Also now they're not subject to direct cutting vibration. Can only be a good thing!

Also done a spindle lock and two gas strut modification. Oh and a little mechanism to allow me to tram the head quickly.

Thinking about it...it doesn't resemble the mill that came in through the door.

Forgot to mention the Y axis travel mod.

Still working on the electronics switch over. The motor speed controller has morphed into a full 6 axis and BoB design as if we're going to do it then it might as well be useful for some of the other things we plan to do...non-CNC mill related.

[ataxy]

I think I've done most of what ataxy is planning to do

With a full enclosure the electronics in the back was just a pain so I moved them into an old electrical switch box which is on AV mounts bolted to the stand. I can get into the electronics in the time it takes to undo two screws.

I took out all of the electronics in the head and moved then into a box which is mounted on the outside of the enclosure. Having to stretch over the enclosure door to adjust the speed if I was having to run it in manual mode (due to my many previous references to CNC speed control issues) was inconvenient to say the least. Also now they're not subject to direct cutting vibration. Can only be a good thing!

Also done a spindle lock and two gas strut modification. Oh and a little mechanism to allow me to tram the head quickly.

Thinking about it...it doesn't resemble the mill that came in through the door.

Forgot to mention the Y axis travel mod.

Still working on the electronics switch over. The motor speed controller has morphed into a full 6 axis and BoB design as if we're going to do it then it might as well be useful for some of the other things we plan to do...non-CNC mill related.

i would like to see some photo of your mod and enclosure with some in depth info on how you did them and how they work?

[john_t_h]

Also done a spindle lock and two gas strut modification. Oh and a little mechanism to allow me to tram the head quickly.

Photos of all three please

Forgot to mention the Y axis travel mod.

What is this one??

[syil]

here it is some improve of currently delivery syil machines.

1,add quickly connector of 4th axis,and coolant pump.
2,add cover of z axis coloum.to pretect rail.
3,change bearing to reduce high speed temp of spindle.
4,add big stepper motor on 4th axis to reduce backlash.
5,incrase inspection time,from 1 hour to 5 hours high speed run.any elecontrics or procision unstable will be take off,and re-check before loading.
6,make carton stronger to reduce shake or demege on transport.
7,recommend dealer use container to transport reduce delivery demege.
8,working on new manual documents with more necessary info.

we also learn advise from our customers.if any good suggestion was ok,we will carry on it immediately.

[sharpshooter90]

It looks as though Syil is at least aknowledging the mechanical and electronic issues of the machines. I see some fundamental flaws in their business plan which may prove to be more difficult to solve.
1. They have too many models and designations. This makes the correction of production errors much more difficult to implement. Plus, if any one of the models proves to be highly successful it can spell the doom of the others along with the loss of the development costs. Smithy sufferred the same issue and had to drop about 1/2 of their CNC line.
2. It appears that they have been too aggressive in their expansion of the dealer network, allowing people to get in with minimum orders. Evidenced by the statement about switching to container shipping. For a market the size of the USA, any potential dealer should be capable of ordering in container lots. Having numerous models makes this very difficult, as a dealer early on will not really know which machines will be the best sellers and could end up back ordered on popular units and stuck with the rest in inventory. Plus, stocking of spare parts and record keeping of various upgrades throughout all the various models could quickly require each dealer to add a full time employee just for this non-productive work.
Tormach has sufferred the same sort of Chinese production issues, but their targeting of a specific market with a single product will prove to be a more successful strategy.

[neilw20]

So as not to duplicate too much I will use some links.

1. No Picture, but a piano hinge on the left looking from the back.
2. A plug for the 4th axis. NEEDS A BIG LABEL. Turn off power before changing plug. I must add a switch to disable the drivers, so it can be (un)plugged.
3. Some splash guards visible in grinding videos.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showth...134#post486134

4. Z-axis travel enhancements.
X3 gas strut only on some models ?
Syil SX3 Quill

5. Grinding endmills I Must use a tripod and do a retake.
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?p=548461#post548461

[ataxy]

sorry for the one liner,wich i replaced by a one liner