Model Forum / General / Models / October 2006

I have the "minor" and if buying now would look first at the Seag X3 if its
big enough for you.

Steve

Colin,
Can I suggest taking a look at:
http://tinyurl.com/ft9ll
I sell these milling machines which are really unbranded Sieg machines and
cost a good bit less. Warco, Chester, Sieg - are all variations of the same
thing. I'll have this model and a higher spec. one in about a month. I won't
go into details, as this is not a forum for advertising, but just to say
that I have plenty of happy customers. Get in touch if you'd like to know
more.
Hugh

Colin hi, the Major is as you say a machine with a decent capability
and an apparent very reasonable cost (£900ish). It's major (sorry
couldn't resist) drawback to more recent thinking is the round column
design. The problem with this is that if you need to change from short
to long tooling you need to move the head up/down the column and there
is nothing that retains the spindle register. The head is free to
rotate and the spindle therefore needs to be re-centred with the work.
Have a look at this thread for various comments on round column
machines:

http://groups.google.com/group/uk.rec.models.engineering/browse_thread/thread/5c
e804631470a8d5/f03583bad287945e?lnk=gst&q=round+column+mill&rnum=2#f03583bad2879
45e

Having said that, a lot of superb work has been produced on round
column machines. I have used the RF25 for many years and found it an
excellent workhorse. I am in the process of changing mine for a much
larger machine and although I will buy another small bench machine it
will most likely be an X3 from ArcEuroTrade. The main reason is the
rigidity and the column design and of course with a bigger machine
available I can accept the more limited capability.

There have been several "systems" published to maintain head register
when moving a round column design and they seem to range from simple
lazer sighting systems to more complex alterations to the machine to
provide guide bars etc. I have no experience of any of them but they
obviously work for some.

I suppose the real choice is between the size range you want to
accomodate for the budget you wish to spend, in this context the round
column machines offer the best size/cost option that I have found. Even
the much larger VMC machine has less table capacity than the major at
almost twice the price. The GH Universal type has more capacity at
585mm x 220mm but at a price of £1400. If the budget is limited (when
is it not?) and if the capacity required is important you will find it
hard to beat the Major type machine but do think about how you will
retain register when (not if) you need to move the head during a job.
If capacity is key but the budget a bit more flexible then have a look
at the other designs, square column/knee type. Of course the room you
have available could also be a factor. If ultimate capacity is not key
then have a look at the X3 type machine it is hard to beat for
rigidity/cost and is capable of some serious work for a small machine.

I always find the "what to buy" decision difficult but experience has
shown me that careful investigation and serious thought on what I
really need rather than what I think I want helps a bit. I suppose I
must also say that if you have the knowledge and are confident of
picking a good machine and room is not limited then for that budget you
could consider some serious second hand machines.

Colin, hope I haven't confused the issue too much as my aim was merely
to balance some of the advice you will get. The best way I have found
after many mistakes is to look at them all and make myself a list of
capabilities that I won't compromise on and another "nice to have"
list. You will be surprised at how much seemingly identical machines
can vary in the detail.

Best regards

Keith