What most folx don't know is that in last month there's been a radical,
groundbreaking,
momentous development in what us hobby machinists can get here in US.

Drum rolllll ... Grizzly is now carrying Sieg X3 for something like
$900 http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0463


This IS the mill to get. I would, if I didn't have the X2 already.

This thing is just right size & power to fit between X2 and RF45
clones.

It is small enough to fit into any garage/basement, you can move it
around on the bench, you don't have to pay a team of 5 $1000 to get it
down
stairs etc etc.

What it lacks is track record and CNC plans. I am sure we will have CNC
taken care of shortly.

About belt snapping on HF's mini-mill: X2 is direct drive (gears,
mostly plastic).
I converted mine to belt drive and it's been wisper quiet ever since.

The X3 is drive-belt outta-box, a MUCH desired feature. Less noise, the
belt
will absorb load shocks and save the gears (if any). I am not sure if
X3 has
any gears at all, or it is a toothed pulley right on the spindle.