UK buyer: LongMill / AltMill — shipping/customs + owner feedback?

Community Discussion 📄 General
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Hi all—UK‑based and deciding between the Sienci LongMill (30×30 or 30×48) and maybe the AltMill ( it’s pushing my budget a little though) for wood signs/crafts (likely a 1.5 kW spindle). I also considered the FoxAlien XE‑Ultra 8080, but the lack of independent reviews makes me cautious, it seems pretty good on paper

.I’m new to CNC routers, but I’m comfortable with CAD and have several years of 3D printing experience, so I’m ready to learn CAM, feeds/speeds, and workholding. I’m aiming for something beginner‑friendly yet capable—this is a big spend for me and part of my plan to get active again through some hands‑on occupational therapy

Is anyone else UK based that could give me a heads up on customs charges? VAT obviously is unavoidable.

My only other concern is the longmill being phased out by the new version. That said I’m sure I’d still be happy with it

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@Shed_guy If you look at the user map, you’ll find a few users from the UK. You could try a private message to them.

Welcome to the forum and good luck on your purchase. You might want to look at the blog for info on the upcoming Longmill mk3.

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Thanks Chucky great idea! unfortunatly I cant PM people yet. I’ll see if i can get unlocked

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Oi Sheddy,

I am based just across the channel so cannot say more than yes there will be VAT.

About the difference in machines and the outphasing of the longmill. There is just a new model out, so that does not sound like it’s going to be phased out yet. That said, my model mk2 is and isn’t much like the mk2.5 (different controlboard, no switches) I say is and isn’t because I can fully upgrade my machine to be the same as the model2.5. I have nkt looked at the model3 but I take the biggest difference will be that the open steppers will be replaced with closed loop and with that a new slb-ext instead of the model2.5 SLB. This too can be added to my old model, to upgrade my mk2 to a mk3. (Assuming the steppers and slb is the biggest difference between the mk2.5 and mk3.) I believe it even possible to up the mk1 to be an mk3 though with different looking axis.

To me, this effort put into keeping the longmill lineage upgradeable alongside flagship model, tells me the mills at sienci are designed with the future in mind.

The question is, will you regret having a longmill, while you could have stepped only a wee over budget and get the more capable altmill. For let’s be fair, it is more capable. This question is yours and your alone to answer. For me there was no altmill to choose. If it was, I would have gone with it.

Am I dissapointed with my longmill? Ab-so-lu-te-ly

Not. It does whatever I ask it to do and way more than I could have dreamt it could do when I was in your shoes a good 4 years back. And mine does not even have a spindle. Both machines will have a steep learning curve, but the altmill seems to have the more active userbase. Are there less longmill users? Not that I know off. I can theorise that since the longmill mk1 and mk2 are kinda like at least the mk2.5 and these machines go back a good few years, this forum contains enough trouble shoots to give the newer longmillers enough answers to not have to ask.

On the fox alien machines. There are some topics that mention at least the brand. Dunno if the specific machine you mentioned is discussed in any way, but as far as I can see, it seems the fox alians don’t have the active userbase, the sienci products have.

I have said in one of these topics (top of my head, not a quote.) that when, not if, you get into trouble, an active place like this - including the manuals sienci provides, is what you wish to find for the machine you have standing still, doing nothing and having you frustrated.

https://forum.sienci.com/search?q=FoxAlien%20order%3Alatest

Going to look into the longmill mk3 now, to see how much of my assumings are actual bs.

Well, I feel like I know The Sienci minds a wee. They only always know to surprise me with extra innovative things like the SLB-lite mentioned in tne blog. I say woooooouw!

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Hi Eddie— sorry for the delay replying I’m still limited on post counts. thank you for the very helpful reply and for confirming what I suspected about the advantage of LongMill/AltMill support online. It’s reassuring to know that when the inevitable hiccups crop up, there’s a knowledgeable and friendly community to lean on. From what I understand, the 2.5 won’t be upgradable, which still isn’t a deal‑breaker for me—it already looks more than capable. I’m not sure I can wait until later in the year for the new version either, haha.

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Hey Shedman,

Thanks for reacting back. I was happy with the like and now even happier with you wasti.. using one of your scarse posts on me. A treat, indeed.

I see you are correct in the assumption that the 2.5 will not update to the 3, but that’s being frame wise. when I look at how the steppers are mounted, it miiiight just be that the steppers and slb-light will fit an older version just fine. /speculation

Now for waiting.. it seems there’s still time to apply to be beta tester of this machine that will be marketet as the best beginners machine on the market. You, being a complete beginner. I feel a match!

Get it while it’s hot!

Oh by the way.. when in doubt about the size.. 30x30 may seem enough but the need to make larger signs than a measly 30inch will bite you in the rear sooner than you might think. Being able to fit a 1.4 meter (going metric now because.. you know.. metric.) Between the y’s of your machine may safe you to get into tiling jobs early. (though they will eventually come and bite your rear too.) As it did me a while ago, don’t mind my blatant self promotion.

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