Bumble your way through my SX2.3 with me and see the potential problems associated with this small but fairly priced hobby machinest mill. Buy or not buy its your choice.
Hey thanks for the video. Try using the same parallel when tramming / testing the head. Good chance your head is fine but the 2 parallels are off from each other. I've experienced many dodgy import parallels. Also the way to tram the fixed head requires shimming the base of the column where it is bolted to the base.Good luck!
G'day mate I to have aSX2.7 like you I removed the bloody stupid plastic shield. I have made a lot of improvements like I motorised the head which is a complete kit from Priest Tooling and a magnetic spindle switch and height gauge because I can't see the little DRO on it. As for tramming it was pretty good they need a good LED light as well. I have used mine a lot and they are a good mill for the price, next thing a 3axis DRO and power feed, after all this though I wished that I saved a bit more and bought the SX3. Regards John
John Kinnane Hey mate couldnt agree more. After all bigger is always better. If I was to go back and know that I was moving to a bigger city I also would have saved a little more and bought a second hand mill. Have you found any manufacturing problems? I have recently found my spindle lock is completely missing so I will have to make one of those up and I believe I will have to pull the head apart to look into the fine feed problem. Pretty sure I shouldnt have to apply hand pressure to the feed wheel just to be able to use the fine feed. I don't see myself getting rid of it any time soon and still have fun working out the quirks. Thanks for the comment and have a look at my other videos. I am always keen for feedback
The Little guy thanks for getting back to me my fine feed is stiff as well its not easy to turn but I don't bother much about it. One good thing that I did put on was a spindle height lock on the left hand side of the machine, there is a Alan head bolt that you loosen every time you move the spindle check that that isn't tight on, there is your tool for your top spindle and this bolt, that could be why your fine feed is hard to move try it anyway and see that it's not tight!. They are a great machine good motor and they are pretty ridged. Save up and get yourself a DRO no back lash and the measurements on the hand wheels aren't accurate. I have subscribed regards John
John Kinnane. Hey mate. Thanks for the subscription and I did give the spindle lock a go. It was a conundrum as I couldnt get it to lock, I tried the usual tricks (lock it on and try to move hand wheels feeling for stiffness) and couldnt find it doing anything. Had a look inside to see what the blot face was butting up against and all I could see was the spindle??? Checked the Repair parts scales exploded view for the machine and there is meant to be another piece under that hex bolt that I assume pushes on the spindle and provides that lock. Without it mine does nothing. Typical. So back to square one for fine feed stifness. Thanks for the suggestion as I have something else to make:)
Hi mate , can I ask you how your machine is going - I’m looking at getting the same one ( good bang for buck here in oz ) but just wondering if you have had any more problems with it or mods you have done/mod ideas , thanks heaps for the great video/review & yes you are the only one I can find ? So that leaves me nervous with the X2.3 as compared to hundreds of videos websites on the X2’s...
Mason Bass. Hey mate, with any Chinese made Mill they all have some sort of problem if you are looking for perfection. Mine for instance needs the bed scraped to fix the slight bed warp. All the gibs look like they were machined by a sack full of hammers and I am yet to fix the stiff fine feed adjustment (although its meant to be quite easy). Bang for your buck for a small Mill, it is good for Aluminium, brass but not the best if you are predominately working with steals. Its quiet, easy to use, capable of cutting anything (although lighter cuts usually to stop chatter). A DRO would be extremely handy and automatic feed is a definate due to the light cuts you must make. All in all, its a good small Mill drill for the hobyest and being MT3 its interchangeability is handy. A bigger mill is always better if you can afford it but for the moment I am happy. I hope this helps
Unsure if its still being made, it was an intrem machine between the 2.7 and 2. Had most of the electronics of the 2.7 but with the body of the 2/2p. I hope that helps and always go bigger if you can afford it, you can never have too big a millinb machine IMO
@@mpix00 I honestly couldnt tell you anymore. I sold it to make room for my model O Hercus universal milling machine. Sorry I cant help, maybe have a quick look on SIEG website for specs
Hey thanks for the video. Try using the same parallel when tramming / testing the head. Good chance your head is fine but the 2 parallels are off from each other. I've experienced many dodgy import parallels. Also the way to tram the fixed head requires shimming the base of the column where it is bolted to the base.Good luck!
Thank you, will do next time:)
G'day mate I to have aSX2.7 like you I removed the bloody stupid plastic shield. I have made a lot of improvements like I motorised the head which is a complete kit from Priest Tooling and a magnetic spindle switch and height gauge because I can't see the little DRO on it. As for tramming it was pretty good they need a good LED light as well. I have used mine a lot and they are a good mill for the price, next thing a 3axis DRO and power feed, after all this though I wished that I saved a bit more and bought the SX3. Regards John
John Kinnane
Hey mate couldnt agree more. After all bigger is always better. If I was to go back and know that I was moving to a bigger city I also would have saved a little more and bought a second hand mill. Have you found any manufacturing problems? I have recently found my spindle lock is completely missing so I will have to make one of those up and I believe I will have to pull the head apart to look into the fine feed problem. Pretty sure I shouldnt have to apply hand pressure to the feed wheel just to be able to use the fine feed. I don't see myself getting rid of it any time soon and still have fun working out the quirks. Thanks for the comment and have a look at my other videos. I am always keen for feedback
The Little guy thanks for getting back to me my fine feed is stiff as well its not easy to turn but I don't bother much about it. One good thing that I did put on was a spindle height lock on the left hand side of the machine, there is a Alan head bolt that you loosen every time you move the spindle check that that isn't tight on, there is your tool for your top spindle and this bolt, that could be why your fine feed is hard to move try it anyway and see that it's not tight!. They are a great machine good motor and they are pretty ridged. Save up and get yourself a DRO no back lash and the measurements on the hand wheels aren't accurate. I have subscribed regards John
John Kinnane.
Hey mate. Thanks for the subscription and I did give the spindle lock a go. It was a conundrum as I couldnt get it to lock, I tried the usual tricks (lock it on and try to move hand wheels feeling for stiffness) and couldnt find it doing anything. Had a look inside to see what the blot face was butting up against and all I could see was the spindle??? Checked the Repair parts scales exploded view for the machine and there is meant to be another piece under that hex bolt that I assume pushes on the spindle and provides that lock. Without it mine does nothing. Typical. So back to square one for fine feed stifness. Thanks for the suggestion as I have something else to make:)
Hi mate , can I ask you how your machine is going - I’m looking at getting the same one ( good bang for buck here in oz ) but just wondering if you have had any more problems with it or mods you have done/mod ideas , thanks heaps for the great video/review & yes you are the only one I can find ? So that leaves me nervous with the X2.3 as compared to hundreds of videos websites on the X2’s...
Mason Bass.
Hey mate, with any Chinese made Mill they all have some sort of problem if you are looking for perfection. Mine for instance needs the bed scraped to fix the slight bed warp. All the gibs look like they were machined by a sack full of hammers and I am yet to fix the stiff fine feed adjustment (although its meant to be quite easy). Bang for your buck for a small Mill, it is good for Aluminium, brass but not the best if you are predominately working with steals. Its quiet, easy to use, capable of cutting anything (although lighter cuts usually to stop chatter). A DRO would be extremely handy and automatic feed is a definate due to the light cuts you must make. All in all, its a good small Mill drill for the hobyest and being MT3 its interchangeability is handy. A bigger mill is always better if you can afford it but for the moment I am happy. I hope this helps
Where did you get his from? are they still being made? I can't find it listed anywhere.
Unsure if its still being made, it was an intrem machine between the 2.7 and 2. Had most of the electronics of the 2.7 but with the body of the 2/2p. I hope that helps and always go bigger if you can afford it, you can never have too big a millinb machine IMO
How does this mill compare to the 2.7? Is the 2.3 bigger
Not as big and has a slightly smaller motor. Think of an SX2 and adapt all the electronics from the 2.7 and you have the SX2.3. Hope it helps
@@thelittleshopaustralia4733 does the sx2.3 have a 180mm y axis distance ?
@@mpix00 I honestly couldnt tell you anymore. I sold it to make room for my model O Hercus universal milling machine. Sorry I cant help, maybe have a quick look on SIEG website for specs