I would probably go X3 if you have the cash and room, simply because it is a bigger machine and therefore will always be a bit more solid while still being a benchtop machine.

I chose X2 over X1 for the above reasons, and got one of AAc's first batch of X2s. It was not as rigid as I expected, but since adding belt drive, angular contact bearings and stiffening the column I have been very happy with it.

If you want an X2 consider the solid column SX2 machine from Arc, as it also has a brushless motor with belt drive and bigger table.

Tasks I have done on mine include:

Milling the frames and stretchers, connecting rods and spoked wheels for a 3 1/2" gauge loco.

Cutting 20DP gears in 1/4" steel blanks in one pass.

Making a dovetailed QCTP and tooldholder.0

MT3 if you want compatibility with your lathe spindle, if not… it's up to you.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 27/09/2014 13:06:23

I bought the SX1 from ArcEuro with the nice big 400 table and in the end I removed the tilting column and made an adaptor plate to fit the rigid column – it was a vast improvement and transformed the machine, ultimately the little 150w motor limited everything and as it was CNC'd the software was aiming for higher feeds and speeds than it could cope with, I had input the machines power and max spindle speed, plus an overall factor but it just resulted in the software generating lots of shallow passes which dulled the tools or trying to take fewer deep cuts very slowly which had a similar effect.

I think the wider rigid column combined with the large table from the X1 that Arc offer on their X2P offers a pretty capable machine for £600 – I don't think there is a machine on the market that can better it.

the SX3 is more than double that price, and throws it in to tough competition from machines like the Warco WM18/SPG 2217-30 LV/AMA30

Perhaps a middle ground could be struck with the Chester 20V,Amadeal AMA25/Warco WM16 – all these machines benefit from taper gib strips and slightly beefier tables – that's where the extra £200 goes I do remember getting so fed up trying to adjust the gibs on my SX1L that I remade them out of brass so I could just run them a bit tight and they'd still glide – previously they just seemed to loose or lock solid – I even remade the adjusting screws with ball ends and cleaned up the cups on the original strip but it didn't really help.

I don't think I'd let that put me off on the X2P at £600 it seems suitably priced, but I would hope the system worked better on the SX3 as I notice they don't seem to have tapered strips either -hopefully they are a bit thicker though – at more than double the cost, I'd hope so but I notice off the shelf gib upgrades are/were available a couple of years ago which is very telling if you ask me.

I like to get a copy of the manual or service guide from the sellers and flick through them to see how they're made to get a few ideas about quality and strength.

Edited By Russ B on 27/09/2014 14:57:07

Edited By Russ B on 27/09/2014 14:58:32

Nick,

Yes, any cake is great (without icing)

Ketan

Ketan PM sent to keep things on topic here

– pet hate of mine