[boogerlad]

hello everyone. i have a really simple question about the sieg kx3 cnc mill. Does it come with everything it needs to be cnc, and just needs the software and the computer? i think it comes with the stepper controller, psu, and all the other electronics, but i just want to make sure. I don't want to buy it and realize that i'm missing something. so i just plug in the sieg kx3 to the power outlet, and the parallel port to the pc, install software, make some gcode and let it run? or do i have to solder stuff, buy components, fabricate this and that, etc?

[tmarks11]

Have you found a source for the KX3? In the US, Smithy is the only importer at present, and they sell the Smithy 622 (aka the Sieg KX3) in a number of different levels of completeness.

The only other distributor that I am aware of is in the Philippines. You can read some about the machines here: http://www.machsupport.com/forum/ind...?topic=3446.30
http://cncworksonline.com/

And of course, Franke Poole has done a review at mini-lathe.com
http://www.mini-lathe.com/KX3/KX3-2.htm

I think how the machine arrives is based upon how it is spec'd by the vendor. It sounds like CNCWORKS is buying the bare machine (KX3-NU) and adding electronics himself. I think it also comes from the factory fully outfitted, needing only a computer to be added.

[BrendaEM]

Not to FUD all over your plans, but would you miss the ability to drill and bore by hand?

At the same time, it would be interesting to see the price on a bare machine, as it has less parts than a X3.

[boogerlad]

yeah, i guess you guys are right. it's probably too much of a hassle to order from sieg directly. so if i order the one from smithy for 4600 bucks, i'll just need my computer with a parallel port and it'll run right? no control box or anything?

[kanton]

Has anyone been able to log onto http://www.mini-lathe.com/ ? I would like to read his review.

[BrendaEM]

Perhaps you forgot the dash.

http://www.mini-lathe.com/KX3/KX3-2.htm

[Please always mouse-over links to make sure they aren't Phish.]

[kanton]

Brenda,

All I see is in Firefox or Explorer is a loading message then in Firefox:

The connection was reset

The connection to the server was reset while the page was loading.

I haven't been able to access any part of his site for quite a while.

[tmarks11]

About 30 guys tried to put together a group buy for the Sieg SX3 and C6B a few years ago, before the SX3 was sold in the US. Their efforts crashed and burned, partly because of language barriers and partly because Sieg didn't seem interested in selling to individuals when they had established retailers in the market (even though they didn't carry the SX3/C6B). You can read it in the archives at:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/grou...6B/message/338
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/grou...6B/message/566

That being said, Lathemaster.com has an established relationship with Sieg, and Bob Bertrand has said that he would be willing to attempt a purchase if their were ten people interested in the KX3.

I believe that by the end of the year that we will see other US vendors (maybe Grizzly?) for the KX3, so waiting might save some $$$ as competition drives prices down to a reasonable level.

SmithyCNC will sell you just the KX3-NU (mill without electronics) for $3030 if you want. The $4600 pc ready version just requires you to supply a PC that has a parallel port, and software. Remember, CAD/CAM is not cheap... we are talking thousands of dollars unless you can get an educational discount or settle for BobCAD and sweet talk them into a good deal.

About mini-lathe... try clearing out your cache on IE and try again. I had no problems pulling it up yesterday when I linked to it, and it came up just now as well. The site is not down... your computer or your ISP is refusing to load it.

[BrendaEM]

Perhaps you forgot the dash.

http://www.mini-lathe.com/KX3/KX3-2.htm

[Please always mouse-over links to make sure they aren't Phish.]

Still works for me.

I am assuming that you can get on to this site, or I would recommend "repairing" the network connections, which really is just self-discovery.

[BrendaEM]

BTW,in the article, I can't seem to place the Y-axis motor; it's not in front of the base. Looking at the back of the base, I don't see it either.

[kanton]

Brenda,

Apparently my problem in accessing the mini-lathe site is with my router. I can access the site with a direct connection.

I may be interested in purchasing the machine in a few months. What can we do to encourage U.S. firms to carry it?

[tmarks11]

What can we do to encourage U.S. firms to carry it?

email grizzly customer service....

Seriously, I think we will see a couple US vendors pick this up by the end of the year. Right now I think that they are still at prototype/limited production stage, and the big importers are waiting to make sure that it is everything that is promised; I think they all got burned with the initial shipment of SX3 with it's speed control and tapping malfunctions.

[kanton]

tmarks11,

You told me to :"email grizzly customer service...."

This is the result:

"Dear Sir or Madam,



Thank you for your email dated March 15, 2008.



We appreciate your interest in our products. We do not carry any Sieg products; therefore, we will not be carrying the Sieg KX3 CNC Mill.



If we may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We value your consideration of Grizzly tools and we look forward to serving your woodworking and metalworking needs.





Sincerely,



Lisa

Customer Service

Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

EN #888"

[tmarks11]

that is pretty funny. I guess CS doesn't really know what purchasing is doing, since Grizzly carries the X3 and SX3.

Shiraz Balolia (Grizzly CEO) frequents many online forums (Woodnet, SawMillCreek, Benchrest), and I PM'd him about it last summer... which was probably more useful then emailing grizzly CS.

[kanton]

tmarks11,

Maybe you should contact him again.

[kanton]

I think the Sieg KX3 CNC Mill is available from Novakon. They refer to it as; "Bench Top Series Bed Mill Price: $3330 USD" at:
http://www.novakon.net/3.html .

[tmarks11]

Sieind.com has updated their website with another cnc page.

http://www.siegind.com/cnc_machine/index.html

They also have updated their pdf brochure (warning: big buggy pdf file, tends to crash IE if you open it inside a browser window).
http://www.siegind.com/cnc_machine.pdf

They show both a servo driven and a stepper-mach version of the KX3, with either R-8 or MT-3 as available spindle options. Looks like the OZ25 collet system on the protype might be gone.

They are now advertising two cnc lathes, the KC0 and the KC6. The KC0 is the new offerring, and is a 4x8? lathe... incredibly small.

I think the Sieg KX3 CNC Mill is available from Novakon.

Novakon is the Canadian distributor for Smithy CNC. Their benchtop machine is the SMithy 622 (which is a KX3 varient), although it looks like they are not selling the smithy control and software system and are instead offerring Mach3 and BobCAD to their customers.

It is also interesting that both SmithyCNC and Novaken are still showing pictures of their 622 which resemble the first KX3 prototypes, and don't have the changes to the base that occured before the production run started. That makes me wonder how many machines Smithy has in stock, and if they are trying to sell their stocks of the pre-production models, or if they are just lazy and haven't bothered to update their sales information to reflect the actual configuration of their machines. If either of these things are true, then it would be a good reason to avoid dealing with them.

[kanton]

How can we get Grizzly to carry the KX3?

[squale]

I am interested in buying the 622 from Smithy.. anybody else looking for one? maybe a group buy is in order.

I want to run the Mach3 software... how is the Smithy cnc controller box in comparison to what sieg offers direct, etc..

[tmarks11]

Looks like Sieg is moving into full production with the KX1 and KX3. AceEuroTrade in the UK is now advertising them for sale:

http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/New-Products

Of interest, Travers.com has an entry in their catalog under "Milling Machines... Bench Universal Mill/Drill" for "CNC Super X3 mill", but no pictures or price. I am guessing that they are picking up the KX3 in the near future.

I bet it is only a matter of time before you can pick up one at Grizzly or Horrible Freight.