Hi All - I am a Toolmaker/Mouldmaker working from home - in New Zealand - I have a Syil X3 - but now I have just discovered the Tormach.
This machine looks a lot more solid - and looks as though the slideways have much better engagement length. Could someone please post the length of slide engagement and length of travel while fully engaged - The X3 Y travel only has about 3" of travel before engagement length reduces badly.- And at max of about 6" is only half engaged. The Tormach looks a lot better. also the X3 vertical colum is light in section only about 4"X 6" - love to know what the Tormach is - it looks in the pics I have studied to be more like 8" x 6" ..?
I have limited ridgidity for steel work eg a 3/8 HSS cutter with 0.050 cuts is almost too much..... or a 1/2" with 0.030" etc - metal removal is better with max revs and carbide - but the lack of ridigity means the edge does not last very long.....and I see the Tormach spins faster.....
Cheers