Matt's X3 build Odyssey......

[Matt McColley]

Well the planning phase is pretty well done.

Most of the tooling for the mill is on site.

The electronics are mostly on site.

And.... drum roll...... as of yesterday, the mill is on site!

I'll try not to bore you guys with the same ol'-same ol', since there are already several EXCELLENT X3 build threads here already. Rather, I'll try to stick to things that I'm doing that are a little different.

This thread will likely move along pretty slowly.... tune in or tune out as you see fit.

All constructive feedback and advice is VERY MUCH appreciated.

Matt

[Matt McColley]

I bought my X3 from Grizzly for the following reasons.

1.) I've been very satisfied with everything I've purchased from them in the past
2.) My past experiences with Chinese manufactured tools have been hit or miss and I won't be surprised if I have an issue. Grizzly stands behind what they sell 100% and has the infrastructure (repair shop, parts dept., etc.) to make things right.
3.) I couldn't get either of the Connecticut Harbor Freight stores to let me use the 20% off coupon (after speaking with the managers) so the HF price was essentially the same.
4.) Though HF has made good on some of the issues I've had with purchases from them in the past. I had to wait a looooooong time for them to do so.
5.) Grizzly has put real money into providing good spec. sheets and a "real" manual (in English), so I'm confident that I know exactly what I'll be getting.

That's my take on it.... Was tempted to drive down to CT and save $250 at HF, but they were not loosey goosey with the coupon and the mill is a "special order" for them, so it didn't qualify for the 20%.

Grizzly had the mill delivered four days after I ordered it.

[project5k]

sounds like your making good progress, getting everything together definately takes an effort.

If you can, take pics and post em, I feel pretty safe when i say that most everyone likes pictures...

[Matt McColley]

(and some hydraulics) and I'll move an X3!

I avoided the cost of having the X3 delivered on a lift gate by having it shipped to where I work.

My initial plan was to put it in the garage where we measure customer samples and then dissassemble it and take it home in subassemblies.

So I opened up the crate and inspected the mill at work. But then changed the plan and decided to bring it home in one piece. I should NOT have opened the crate.

The Chinese manufacturer is avoiding the cost of heat treating their crates by using ripped plywood cleats and particle board stringers. There is no solid wood, so no need to heat treat (manufactured wood products are sterilized during their production proceses and don't require heat treating.)

Cleated plywood crates are supposed to use solid wood cleat stock, because the pull out strength of the fastenters (whether screws or nails) is ~5X to 10X greater in the side grain of solid wood, than in the end grain of plywood. So this crate gets ALL of it's strength from the metal banding and is quite flimsy without it.

I put the crate back together with screws and split the plywood all over the place. I was very concerened that it would come apart, as my plan was now to rig the crated mill into the basement via. the bulkhead with chains.

I wrapped the chains around the overlapping side panels (pressing in on the end panels) and fortunately it didn't blow apart. I had 1.5" clearance in the doorway without removing the door.

Here's the pics.... I had to do it all by my lonesome, in the dark and it took ~1-1/2 hours, but I got it done!






and yes.... I needed that beer when it was all done.

Edited to add.... I had to take the cap off my Ranger and leave it at work overnight to get the crate in.... just one more minor obsitcle to overcome....

[Matt McColley]

everyone likes pictures...

and each one will save me a 1,000 words of typing

can someone tell me how to get the cool viewing window feature to work?

[stag53]

Hey, cool man. I'm in the midst of my X3 conversion right now too... will be watching this to see what you come up with

I went the lift gate route and pallet trucked it into the garage. Then tore it down on the ground and got it on my table in pieces. Yeah, you def deserve a beer after that

[Matt McColley]

K1 and wad of old sock rags did the trick....

Like my pink gloves.... didn't want dish pan hands

Just don't tell my wife, as she hasn't discovered they're missing yet.



can't get my pics to upload???

will try again later
__________________________
Here goes....

[Teyber12]

K1 and wad of old sock rags did the trick....

Like my pink gloves.... didn't want dish pan hands

Just don't tell my wife, as she hasn't discovered they're missing yet.



can't get my pics to upload???

will try again later

are you using the forum or something like photobucket?

[Matt McColley]

I was worried that it might be to big when I purchased it.....

What do you guys think?

I certainly don't think I'd go any bigger.

[Matt McColley]

had some of these items... just purchased the rest....

forgot to put the R8 collet set and the clamp kit in the pic.

Am I missing anything fundamental?

I bought the inexpensive endmill set figuring it would give me some cannon fodder to experiment with. Hopefully I'll figure out what tooling works best for my specific applications before I break all of these.

[Matt McColley]

for better or for worse..... I'm going to try the G540 and 387 oz. NEMA 23 steppers on all three axis.....



cart/stand design is next....

stay tuned....

[Crevice Reamer]

K1 and wad of old sock rags did the trick....

Did you REMOVE the table and saddle to clean under them? If not, then there is still plenty of red gunk underneath that will interfere with your way lube.

CR.