Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    27

    Default Sieg SU2 alternative to hercus 0 mill

    I have been trawling the web for what feels like an eternity looking for a Hercus 0 mill (or tom senior/atlas/myford etc) with vertical milling attachments in good nick I saw the Sieg SU1 years ago an like alot of very small stuff saw that it was probably not up to what I need.

    I currently have a RF32 mill and thats about the footprint I have room for. I do mostly hobbyist alloy work with the occasional bit of light steel.
    I have been considering buying an HM-46 or similar as the rotating head and Dovetail column would be very handy (however Not being able to tram the Nod holds me back from just making a quick purchase)

    The Horizontal milling would be very useful for some common operations I use the mill for, I recently saw the SU2 and its a larger brother to the Su1. reasonably priced etc, It looks OK to me andim seeking some advice, Sieg seem to have a good reputation of producing OK (for the price and Chinese-ness) have I gone mad considering such a small machine? Is there any other recommendations people would suggest?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Griffith NSW
    Posts
    435

    Default

    Ive got a HM46 and im responsible for another one at work. It can best be thought of as a milling machine kit. Yes, the nod cant be adjusted as it is, but some machine leveling epoxy can correct that, a job im looking to do with my machine one day. Stefan Gotteswinter has a vid on doing this to correct the nod on a optimum mill thats more or less the same machine. All that being said, I suspect a large portion of the nod error on my machine is actually in the saddle. The table top to dovetail is quite parralell, so short of being twisted, its probably alright. When ive not got a dozen jobs lined up for it, ill be descerning how much of the error lives in the saddle and how much lies in the alignment between the column and the base.

    But I digress...

    One thing the HM46 has over that sieg is mass. Its easy...ish to fix errors in nod. Its hard to "fix" the problems 100 less kilgrams of iron brings without selling it and buying a bigger one. The sieg isnt even close to the HM46 and I wouldnt call my mills rigid. The bigger machine also keeps all your options for the future open as far as projects are concerned, with its much larger table. Even with my fairly roughly done HM46, id still buy another one before I bought that sieg.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    I've had a couple of "SEIG" products, X2 mini mill and C2 lathe, NEVER again. Plastic internal gears, lost count the number of sets, I've gone through, circuit boards, belts, motors etc.
    I found that SEIG machines,are a kit of machine parts, roughly assembled to ensure that everything is there.
    As scotty said, "One thing the HM46 has over that sieg is mass." Heavier machines are better, as mass = solidness.

    If you really want a horizontal mill, look on Gumtree and Ebay, I found mine on the Metalwork Forum Market Place.
    Here's one in Melbourne, 3 days to go $550 starting price, $750 Buy It Now. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MILLING-...QAAOSwXoxaZrYD
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,438

    Default

    Hi Rhamer,

    I've have an "Optimum" clone, yes the head nods, but once everything is nipped up, gibs, head properly trammed, quill locked, I have a measured 0.0015 thou nod. That is measured over a 3" inch work surface. For me it is not even worth trying to shim out.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Gippsland Victoria
    Posts
    733

    Default

    What is head nod ?

    I have an RF30 would it be prone to head nod ? How do I measure it ?

    Thanks

    Bill

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,438

    Thumbs up Measure Head Nod.

    Hi Bill,

    Head nod, is the angular amount that the spindle differs from being at 90 degrees to the table. It seems to be a result of the weight of the head and the relatively light construction of the mill column. It can vary depending upon the hight of the head and whether the gibs are locked or not.

    You can measure it with a dial gauge held in the chuck, by taking readings at the front and rear edges of the table. Think "Tramming" but across the table width.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    For the $2,500 that it'll cost to buy this machine, you could get a decent universal mill with some tooling. Admittedly you wouldn't get a "suface grinder" thrown in, but with the change from the one I added earlier, you could possibly buy one.
    SIEG SU2 HiToque Universal Milling & Grinding Machine

    SIEG SU2 HiToque Universal Milling & Grinding Machine | eBay
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    27

    Default

    Thanks everyone for your input.
    I picked up a HM50 Mill thats in pretty good nick, for what felt like a good deal. I didn't get my Horizontal. but going from a drill/mill to a knee mill with DROs, inbuilt coolant, power feed etc I feel pretty happy.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Glad to hear that you've been able to pick up a decent machine, any chance of a pic and what it set you back Please?
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Geelong
    Posts
    27

    Default

    yeah sure pictures will follow
    Machine in on the other side of the state for now, Im going back down on friday week to collect, and the whole next week off to get it in place leveled up etc.
    Cost me $2700
    And I will have follow up questions about mounting it. I have a 800mm slab where it will got but its not particularly level,
    So will be asking follow questions about bolting it down with a viabration damping rubber or shimming it or just putting it on feet?

Similar Threads

  1. Sieg KX3 CNC Mill
    By da9jeff in forum CNC Forum
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 2nd Oct 2017, 12:42 PM
  2. Sieg SX4 Mill Measurements
    By ronboult in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 24th Jun 2017, 11:26 AM
  3. Fly Cutter for Sieg X2 mill
    By Briangoldcoast in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 11th Nov 2014, 04:07 PM
  4. SOLD: Hafco Mill (X3 Sieg)
    By dmgrai in forum METALWORK - Machinery, Equipment, MARKET
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 30th Jul 2013, 02:14 PM
  5. Schaublin Mill - Dividing Head Mounting Alternative
    By Anorak Bob in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 23
    Last Post: 19th Dec 2011, 11:59 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •