As others have said, that's a good overview of this machine. I have the same mill (also bought from Arc Euro Trade at ~£800), same vice and same 6" rotary table too. I even have the same Myford lathe to the right of my mill. My experience with this machine has been good. Had it for about 10 years. The speed controller packed up a few months ago so I replaced it with a generic unit on eBay for £20 - works great (lost a bit of the low speed). Brushed motor still going strong. The mill is quite capable with end mills up to about 16mm. I do use much larger cutters for light facing cuts. I have a 50mm carbide insert cutter and have used my fly cutter at about 100mm, which works great on steel - light cuts only though. I took the swivel base off my vice, which helped a lot with rigidity.
Hi I have a problem with the speed of the motor is stopped working so is the reverse stop working where can I find or can you recommend something else that I can use please help thank you Eli
It sounds like the electronic speed controller may have failed. You should be able to get spares from Arc Euro Trade website in the UK or probably from eBay if you can find a part number on the original.
It came from M-DRO in the UK a while back, looking at their website, they seem to have updated the display consoles, but I expect the functionality will be much the same.
Hello. Is it worth the money? I mean solid base and minimum wobble, play etc? Enough power? You know what I mean. You recommend buying it in 2019 or there are better ones?
jw200 Hi it’s a pretty solid and accurate machine for the money, although it’s not really up to heavy cuts. It’s not exactly overpowered but I don’t think it’s really rigid enough for a lot more power. I think the later models have more powerful brushless motors. I would look at Warco/Chester/etc offerings too for comparison. If I was buying again in 2019 I would almost certainly save up for the CNC version (or the smaller CNC model). It is 2019 after all!
Peter Murphy Hi, I don’t really think it’s necessary to be honest. Spindle speeds are far from critical for hobby use and in any case you can judge reasonably accurately how fast it’s going in comparison to the top speed, which is a known rpm. Or at least it would be if I could remember what it was.
MT3. The advantage of MT in my view is that my lathes and other accessories also have morse tapers so the tooling is transferable, albeit using taper sleeve adaptors. I'm not sure if you can get MT to R8 adaptors.
Hi Byørn. In fact the original motor died so the one in the video is a replacement. I find the motor is ok; speed control is good. It is not powerful enough to take heavy cuts in steel with an endmill, but then the machine is not rigid enough for that anyway. The power of the motor is well balanced with the stiffness of the machine. I think the later models have a brushless motor with better slow speed torque.
Great video. I like the concise, no-nonsense explanation (particularly the part about getting the DRO). Thanks for making this.
Great overview of this machine. Thanks for posting this video.
I have the same mill here in my shop. I'm very happy with it.
As others have said, that's a good overview of this machine. I have the same mill (also bought from Arc Euro Trade at ~£800), same vice and same 6" rotary table too. I even have the same Myford lathe to the right of my mill. My experience with this machine has been good. Had it for about 10 years. The speed controller packed up a few months ago so I replaced it with a generic unit on eBay for £20 - works great (lost a bit of the low speed). Brushed motor still going strong. The mill is quite capable with end mills up to about 16mm. I do use much larger cutters for light facing cuts. I have a 50mm carbide insert cutter and have used my fly cutter at about 100mm, which works great on steel - light cuts only though. I took the swivel base off my vice, which helped a lot with rigidity.
Hi I have a problem with the speed of the motor is stopped working so is the reverse stop working where can I find or can you recommend something else that I can use please help thank you Eli
It sounds like the electronic speed controller may have failed. You should be able to get spares from Arc Euro Trade website in the UK or probably from eBay if you can find a part number on the original.
Nice overview. What size are your vise and rotary table?
They are 4in and 6in respectively. Thanks for your comment!
Which DRO have you fitted
It came from M-DRO in the UK a while back, looking at their website, they seem to have updated the display consoles, but I expect the functionality will be much the same.
Hi I just purchased the same machine and I need some parts have any idea where to purchase the parts thank you
Eli
Hi, I bought my X3 and spares from Arc Euro Trade in the UK.
What length scales did you put on the different axes?
I can vouch for this milling machine's ability to remove the end of one's finger instantly and cleanly. It's ok it grew back.
It’s best to keep fingers and all other appendages well away from rotating machinery. Glad your finger grew back. You must be a lizard.
Hello.
Is it worth the money?
I mean solid base and minimum wobble, play etc? Enough power?
You know what I mean.
You recommend buying it in 2019 or there are better ones?
jw200 Hi it’s a pretty solid and accurate machine for the money, although it’s not really up to heavy cuts. It’s not exactly overpowered but I don’t think it’s really rigid enough for a lot more power. I think the later models have more powerful brushless motors. I would look at Warco/Chester/etc offerings too for comparison. If I was buying again in 2019 I would almost certainly save up for the CNC version (or the smaller CNC model). It is 2019 after all!
Have you thought about installing a spindle rpm display??
Peter Murphy Hi, I don’t really think it’s necessary to be honest. Spindle speeds are far from critical for hobby use and in any case you can judge reasonably accurately how fast it’s going in comparison to the top speed, which is a known rpm. Or at least it would be if I could remember what it was.
Which spindle taper do you have on the X3.... MT3 or R8 ? Is there any particular advantage of one over the other?
This was a good overview of the X3.
MT3. The advantage of MT in my view is that my lathes and other accessories also have morse tapers so the tooling is transferable, albeit using taper sleeve adaptors. I'm not sure if you can get MT to R8 adaptors.
Thanks... that is good to know.@@MetalMachineShop
@@christophersmith2165 I have the same mill with R8 spindle..but this machine is branded by several companies so either taper should be available.
@@christophersmith2165 787788
Having had the machine several years. Are you satisfied with the performance of the brushed motor?
Hi Byørn. In fact the original motor died so the one in the video is a replacement. I find the motor is ok; speed control is good. It is not powerful enough to take heavy cuts in steel with an endmill, but then the machine is not rigid enough for that anyway. The power of the motor is well balanced with the stiffness of the machine. I think the later models have a brushless motor with better slow speed torque.
How did you get it in there?
I lifted it into place using a block and tackle suspended from the roof joists. A two-man lift would do it too.
What is it good for to subscribe to your channel but you do not answer your emails
Try drilling 25mm be fore pulling it down, It will drill 25 mm no probs, you are trigger happy
800£? how is that possible. Those cost way over 2000£ everywhere :)
The latest model is about £1500 from Arc Euro Trade in UK (excludes the DRO).