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MX3 CNC Mill Kit

 

For X3 Milling Machines

(See Links page for links to various mill suppliers)

 

Designed specifically for the X3 mill our MX3 kit will transform one of these machines into a very accurate and extremely capable system with features similar to units costing many thousands of dollars more. 

PLEASE NOTE:

Due to variations in the Super X3 we are no longer supporting them.

If you have access to a 'resaonable' workshop then you will be able to get the MX3 kit installed on a Super X3 with some modifications to the kit and/or machine.

For Australian customers we also offer turn-key solutions ...

 

TK Is a complete turn-key system built around a standard X3. It includes the X3 Mill fitted out with our HMC kit plus optional PC, Monitor and Mach3.

 

UTK Is our ULTRA turn-key solution. Same as the TK but also includes our 4000rpm upgrade, spindle speed index, spindle speed control plus a fitted worklight. 

 

Ready to go ...just add G-Code!!

 

Shipping


For customers within Australia we ship our kits via Australia Post however customers can also arrange their own courier to pick up. Turn-key systems are sent via road transport only due to their size and weight.

 

Customers located in or around Melbourne can also pick up from us however we do request that this is arranged with us in advance.


Kits are shipped internationally by Parcel Post which in most instances takes 5-7 days to arrive. We can also arrange for faster delivery if you require it.

 

For all customers shipping charges will be advised prior to order acceptance.

Here are just some of the benefits of our MX3 kits
 

- Increase Y axis travel - better Y travel than the standard X3/Super X3
- Very low profile - protrudes less distance from the table than the original X & Y handles
- Easy to install - full instructions included (in English) ... can be installed in just a few hours
- No modifications required - utilise existing mount points for all hardware
- Timing belt drivetrain - zero slip, zero vibration and ease of adjustment
- Retain quill use - does not interfere with the quill operation - great for precision manual drilling
- Excellent free air transverse - 2100mm/min (~60"/min) conservatively
- Efficient power transmission - smooth precision ball nuts and leadscrews

- Dual ball nut option - for adjustable backlash setting
- Complete end to end solution - no redesigning, modifying or guesswork
- Microprocessor intelligent controller - designed for functionality and safety - ultra reliable
- Loom tubes and fittings included - cables are hidden and protected
- Optical (IR) homing sensors - for homing of each axis
- New bearings - our kits contain new roller, thrust and angular thrust bearings from the USA and Japan

-  Spindle Speed upgrade -option available for standard X3's

- Neat & tidy - no birds nest of wiring between multiple drivers and break-out boards, self contained
- Australian designed and built

- quality you can see in every part, quality you can trust every day

- One stop shop

- no need to source parts from multiple suppliers and worry if they will work or fit

Plates and Brackets


Included in each kit are two new end plates for the X axis and one for the Y axis, X&Y stepper motor mounting plates, X&Y thrust bearing plates, stand-offs for the Y motor plate and cover plates for both X & Y timing belts & pulleys. Z stepper motor mounting plates. 
Below is an exploded view of the X axis kit ... not shown are the screws, timing belt, wiring or loom tubes. Our kits include new angular thrust bearings.
Above is a view of the Y axis kit ... not shown are the screws, timing belts, wiring or loom tubes.
In this diagram we also show the loom tube plate which goes over the hole where the original Z handle came out from.
To left is the same type of exploded view but of the Z axis complete kit ... not shown are the screws, timing belt, wiring or loom tubes, leadscrew and upper bearing.

Stepper Motors


Exhaustive testing has shown that our motors work exceptionally well when driven by our intelligent controller. These motors are actually capable of achieving much higher RPM than most large motors can because of their lower internal inertia. The higher RPM coupled with our reduction drive means that ultimately you get high torque and  respectable speed. This is one of the reasons why we say our systems are designed ... we like to think of it as 'performance engineering'.
 
Due to the gearing ratio we employ in our kits we effectively double the motors rated power. This coupled with quality Thomson 5tpi leadscrews and high efficiency ball nuts means that you can easily achieve 1500mm/min - and that's being conservative!!. Our prototype will achieve over 3000mm/min free air transverse (ie rapid moves).

 

Large stepper motors are only needed on the X3 if the underlying system is poorly designed. Our system delivers enough torque to easily snap 6mm(1/4") cutters... something which you don't want to do but it demonstrates that the motors can handle cutting loads easily. 

Leadscrews and Ball nuts


We use 16mm (0.6" or 5/8") Thomson 5tpi rolled leadscrews with recirculating ball bearing ball nuts for efficient and smooth operation. Leadscrews are turned as necessary on each end to suit the supplied bearings and pulleys.

Nuts, Bolts Screws


Our kits include all of the appropriate metric screws that are needed to complete the installation.

Timing Belts and Pulleys


In all MX3 kits each axis is driven by a timing belt and pulley. Each axis uses a different length timing belt and the correct sizes are supplied in our kits.
 
Timing belts will last a long time but if you would like to have spares on-hand we can supply a set for a reasonable price. We have machines running in our shop that have hundreds of hours use under their belts (pardon the pun) and show no signs of fatigue or failure.
 
The style of timing belt we've utilised is  very common and you should have no problem ordering them from a local supplier should you ever need to. See below for more information about timing belts. 


Bearings


Our kits include replacement bearings so there's no need to use the existing bearings from the X3 (which are not exactly the best quality!!). We believe that good quality bearings are the starting point for a good kit. You get roller, thrust and angular thrust bearings to suit each axis in your kit so you can be sure that your leadscrew will stay right where it's supposed to be and will rotate properly.

We include angular thrust bearings where many suppliers simply use a standard roller bearing or none at all. Standard bearings can take a degree of axial load but it's not what they're designed for.  Angular thrust bearings are designed for both axial and radial loads and as such are the correct choice in this application - it makes our kits a little more expensive but we think you'll agree that its worth a few dollars more up front to have a machine that will continue to function properly well into the future.

Please note that the images below are from the HM kit.

... however for those 'buffs' out there we also offer a dual ball nut option which can virtually remove backlash. For the vast majority of customers the standard offering is more than sufficient!!! The photo to the right is a part made on a single ball nut MX3 machine - the reflecting surface was edge machined... see our photos page for a larger image.

 

People often ask us why our leadscrews are a dull black where other kits have a nice chrome finish. The answer is that the high quality Thompson leadscrews have a black  Manganese  Phosphate coating.  This  coating  produces  a dull black  to gray 

A mounting fixture is included for each ball nut. Thomson specifications on the leadscrew and ball nuts we use state backlash of 0.002" to 0.013" ... we've measured our prototypes and they average 0.003"

Wiring Looms, Loom Tubes And Clamps


Stepper motor wiring looms are supplied with our kits and are ready to install. The easy fit screw terminals make removing the connector a breeze (to allow cable routing). Also included are the homing sensors. These are optional to install - but if you do decide to use them all you need to do is attach them to the appropriate mount points and route the provided cables as shown in our instructions.
 
Black plastic rippled loom tube is also supplied ready to install. These tubes are split all the way along their length so all you need to do is slip the cables through the slot - you don't even have to remove the plugs. These tubes makes for a very neat & professional finish and also help to protect the wiring. Loom tubes are held firmly in place by special tabs in the X & Y HDPE covers and by the 4 way loom tube clamping plate on the back of the column cover.

Timing Belts


There are several reasons why we employ timing belts and pulleys...
 
One of our main design criteria was to keep the kit small - low profile. By using timing belts we can tuck the motor safely back in behind everything - direct coupling means that the motor has to protrude straight out from the leadscrew which means that more free air space is required around the machine.
 
Direct coupling to the end of the leadscrew is also far more prone to damage as any pressure applied to the motor will lever against couplings and mounts. Imagine the leverage applied to the mount points if somebody was to lean on the motor or a heavy piece of stock was balanced or dropped on it!
 
Another reason for using timing belts is that common stepper motors only have standard roller bearings which are designed for radial loads - not axial ... a misaligned direct coupling could result in power loss and premature bearing failure. 
 
In our application of timing belts the load is entirely radial which means that the bearings are handling the pressure in a manner they are specifically designed for.
 
Timing belts are also specifically designed for applications such as this. They have internal radial reinforcing (usually fibreglass or carbon fibre) which are there specifically to eliminate stretch - so contrary to popular belief they will not cause backlash. In fact we feel there's actually more rubber to compress and cause backlash in most direct drive couplings!. Timing belt trapezoid teeth and corresponding pulley grooves provide a very positive and positionally accurate lock. 

Timing belts are cost effective, low noise, easy to fit, non slip and readily available.
 
For more information about timing belts please click here.
Complete MX3HMC Kit

Ideal for ...

 

Prototyping

Manufacturing

Education

Farm

Radio Control Hobbies

Custom Repairs

Model Engineering

Hobbyist

Home Workshop

 
...and much more

Looking for product photos - Click here

 

Looking for product videos - Click here

finish and  sometimes  appears  to have  a crystal  like structure on  its  surface.  Manganese  Phosphate  is one  of  the  best  wear  enhancing coatings  you can  put on apart.  It traps  oil in  the  coating  and  acts  like an  automatic lubricator. The  coating,  especially  when  oiled,  retards  corrosion. 
X3
Super X3

So ... X3 or Super X3 ????

 

Hover your mouse over an image to see our thoughts ...

Optional spindle upgrade kit to increase the spindle speed to nearly double the standard machine. 

(Suits standard X3 only)

 

Onsite installation available in Melbourne & Brisbane metropolitan areas. We bring the kit to your location, strip down your X3 and reassemble with the kit and controller.

(HMC kits only) 

 

NEW - Ultra Turn-Key System. It is a standard X3 fitted with our kit, a worklight, a quality spindle speed controller and spindle speed feedback plus our 4000rpm spindle upgrade. Turn-key systems are only avilable to Australian customers.

 

Onsite Installation ...

 

We bring the kit to you and install it on your existing machine. The machine may be one you've had for some time and decided to convert or it may be a brand new machine you have recently purchased and had delivered.

 

The service includes:

-Delivery of kit

-Install kit and make initial adjustments

-Connect controller, test movement

 

This service is only applicable to our HMC kits and is currently only available in these Australian locations:

- Sydney Metro

- Brisbane Metro  & Gold Coast

- Melbourne Metro & Geelong

- Regional Victoria up to 200km from the GPO (travel time rates apply)

 

We offer the kit in 3 Models ...

 

H Basic Hardware Only kits includes all necessary axis hardware  - panels and plates, leadscrews with ball nuts, nuts, bolts and washers, replacement ball bearings, timing belts, pulleys and of course full concise instructions.

HM Hardware & Motors kits include all of the hardware only (H) kit PLUS stepper motors, wiring and loom tubes.

HMC Complete kits include all of the above PLUS our Intelligent Controller with axis cards and optical homing sensors.