Which X3 do I need?  What one do you think I should get?  Which X3 works better with the kit?

 

These are all questions we get asked over and over and the answer to us is always the same ... get the STANDARD X3!!

 

Huh!!

 

Yep the standard one is what we recommend ... but let us explain why as some of the reasons we recommend it over the Super may not be applicable to you and at the end of the day the decision of course is yours alone.

 

Firstly the standard X3 has a higher spindle speed. The Super has a more powerfull motor but the standard one spins faster. The X3 is rated at 2000RPM whereas the Super is rated at 1750RPM (Australian Specs). We're looking at making and add-on that will take the standard X3 up to 4000RPM - we currently have this on our own X3 and it achieves 4000RPM without detracting too much from the cutting power at the tool. Most bearings like the ones used in the X3 are only rated to 5000RPM so running at 4000 keeps them within spec.

 

The Super has a digital readout on the front to display quill depth. This is handy perhaps if you want to drill lots of semi-accurate holes by hand but once NC'd you get onscreen DRO's for each axis anyway. Plus the standard X3 still has a calibrated depth indicator around the quill handle ... just as accurate (but not 'digital').

 

The Super's tapping feature... on the end of each of the quill handles there's a little button - pressing one makes the motor reverse and in theory it's used to tap with. The problem as we see it, as told to us and as report in various reviews ... is that it's really good at breaking taps!!. In reality we think you'd be far better off saving hundreds of dollars by buying the standard X3 and putting the money towards a 'real' tapping head ... assuming that lots of tapping is on your horizon.

 

And finally there the rotating head feature of the Super X3. This feature in itself is quiet good if you need to machine stuff at various angles. The problem with it is that EVERY time you move the head even slightly you will need to spend anywhere from 15-60 minutes re-tramming the system. Tramming is the process of aligning the tool to be square with the table ... if your machine isn't trammed correctly you will not machine vertical sides and surfaces will be jagged (saw-toothed). If you need to machine at various angles then think about our TV6 as a 4th axis instead - and be able to completely rotate !!

 

As far as which machine our kit works better on or fits better to - they are identical. The kit doesn't discriminate between either model of machine.... columns are the same length, tables the same size, X&Y travel is the same, kit performance is the same. The Super's additional features do not detract from the end unit - if you have aready purchased a Super X3 then great!!

 

UPDATE 2010. We are removing support for Super X3's until further notice as we have recently had several customers experiencing difficulties installing the kit. It appears that Seig have made some changes to the Super X3 that can cause difficulties in aligning the various components - to date we have not seen these changes on the standard X3.