Hello IanT,

Just to clarify, it wasn’t returned faulty!

After checking, this was a machine which was sent to a person who has certain disability. His mother then phoned us, requesting us to take it back. It was difficult for her to understand why her son had ordered it, as it was difficult to get it through the door, and that her son had made a mistake. On return, we noted that certain bits of tool kit were missing and paint had been chipped off certain areas, and the crate was damaged. The machine is fully functional.

When a member of my team went to check the machine before dispatch, he realised that this is the return machine, hence our Ian called to discuss with you to cancel the order.

Ketan at ARC

Of the two other options I would go with the SX3. However if Ketan would be willing to come to an agreeable arrangement with the SX3.5 that he has then go with that

On 23 July 2025 at 13:16 not done it yet Said:

Ian,

I recall that when this machine was introduced, Ketan only allowed sales to competent or ‘more competent’ users.  As such I expect it is still tops as far as ARC machines go.🙂

I would go for the 3.5, if I was in your shoes.

Can’t believe you remembered that. Our anxiety levels were high when this machine was first introduced. This has reduced over time, especially once we stopped offering this machine with factory fitted limited functionality DRO, and also once market understanding of brushless machine use – speeds, feeds and DOC has improved, (moving away from traditional), as demonstrated by Jason Ballamy.

Ketan at ARC

Very nice cardboard box. Maybe it is empty!

When mentioning less common machines please provide a link to identify the item for those of us who don’t have one. so https://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Machines-Accessories/Milling-Machines/SIEG-SX3-5-Mill/SIEG-SX35ZP-HiTorque-Mill
I also found a video of someone who had just got one in 2022 so I wonder if he is on the forum.

If you are anywhere near the Cotswolds I’ve got a pallet truck + huge heel bar you can borrow.

Any chance at this late date for adding screw jacks to the base to take the weight off the castors when the machine is in use?

Only the other day we used an engine hoist to lift the head and column of the museum’s mill. It can lift 450Kg at the maximum extension.

That tooling starter set 2 that ARC sells looks like very good value if you don’t already have compatible parts.

Those castors are a great design, hopefully they will not be needed often, but you will never regret having them. Both of the mills at the museum have been secured to the concrete floor for health and safety reasons. Neither of the lathes has been bolted down, but the Smart & Brown weighs 3/4 of a ton and we have made a strong shelf under the Atlas 12 x 24 stand to store lots of angle plates and chucks which has lowered the COG by 40%