What's the overall build quality like compared to the mini mill Dennis? Does it feel like it will easily tackle bigger work?
Are you going to get a better quality machinist vice (if you don't already own one)?
Build quality?/
Well like most things it is made in China But to German specs And feels very superior
Very smooth travel with table and main pillar .
Fine feed locking is a lot easier than the sieg . On the sieg you had to slide the lever wheel across into a castalated nut . On the new one it is just a wheel to screw in .
Sieg like most others has a parallel gib and 4 or 5 gib screws and lock nuts .
The Optimum has a taper gib with one screw at the end to slide it in
I have yet to use it but already made a part for it .
I had to make a new Draw bolt as supplied was 1/2 inch by 12 tpi and my collet chuck is a metric 12 mm
The most surprising thing was the price
A new Sieg X2 is NZ$1115.00 -plus shipping Like i have replaced
A Sieg X3 similar size to Optimum is NZ$2900.00
Optimum was NZ$ 2200.00 plus NZ$110.00 shipping to my front door
My vice for the mill ? Well I sat it on the table and it look lost And I suppose the rotary table will be the same
Cheers
Dennis