Help choosing “1KW Brushless DC Motor and Belt Drive” mills, SX3 or ?

[Tim DouglasParticipant @timdouglas77553]

[Tim DouglasParticipant @timdouglas77553]

I'm in the market for a milling machine. I've narrowed my choice down to a "1KW Brushless DC Motor and Belt Drive" mill. From my research there appears to be two different OEM builds:

OEM Build 1 – SIEG SX3

• Arc Euro Trade SX3
• Axminster SX3

OEM Build 2 – does anyone know the OEM of the following mills?

• Amadeal AMAT25LV
• Toolco VM30V-B
• Warco WM-16B
• Titan Mill TM25V
• Grizzly G0704
• Precision Matthews PM-25MV

I would like your opinions on the following:

1) While the mills in the two builds above appear mostly similar, the SX3 mills have a smaller table size and travel than the build 2 mills, but they are priced considerable more then the build 2 mills. Can anyone explain why? What feature am I not seeing that makes the SX3 mills more expensive?

2) The SX3 mills support power tapping but there's no mention of this feature with the build 2 mills. The build 2 mills do have forward and reverse, but is this the same as power tapping? Is anyone power tapping on those mills?

Your help is greatly appreciated

[Martin 100Participant @martin100]

the SX3 mills have a smaller table size and travel than the build 2 mills

For another 180 quid they probably don't (got this larger table on my X3)

**LINK**

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi Tim,

I have an older milling machine similar to the AMAT25LV, but with a "brushed motor". So far I have had no problems. It has a longer table and travel than my friends new Sieg SX3. My old milling machine has a High/Low gear, that seems to have been replaced with a 2 speed belt drive in the AMA25LV, my friends SX3 has a single speed belt drive. I think both milling machines will serve you well, buy from a dealer that will support you if something goes wrong.

Thor

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

AIUI power tapping on the SX3 uses a jog button on the end of the downfeed handles.

You can't always assume the OEM from appearance, for example apparently identical mini-lathes can be built by either SEIG or Real Bull and apparently are based on the same original Russian design.

I know Arc & Axminster sell SEIG products, but some of those other suppliers do too, but I can't speak for those mills. NOt sure if Chester don't stock one of the second type as well.

Finally don't assume two that look the same are the same, check specs and not all differences are visible or on the spec sheet (e.g. they may have different electrics or use different ways to spec motor power, for example).

Specs won't tell you much about spares stock or customer support either. Best to make a shortlist then speak to the companies who sell machines that appear to meet your needs.

Neil

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