I'm thinking about purchasing a mill/lathe combo machine. There are several on the market and I'm sure there are good and bad ones out there. Anyone have an opinion on a particular manufacturer or model?
I toured Smithy in Michigan, and was impressed with their machines. They're Chinese made, but the guy I was talking to said they refused an entire shipment of machines once, and that took care of any manufacturing quality control issues they had with the Chinese factories. Home Shop Machinist is a magazine--I think they have a site, but not sure. Do a Google search and see if there are sites for home and hobby machinists. -Brad
Here are a few that shouldn't kill a budget... http://www.machinerydistributors.com/metallathes.htm http://www.smithy.com/
Are you looking for a bench-top machine, or something more industrial. I bought a Grizzly combo. It is also sold under other names. You have probably seen that there are really only a few benchtop combo models, but they are sold under many names. I am happy with the Grizzly. When I bought it I was warned that in the future I will probably want separate machines. This is true. There is a kit for about $200 to make the mill stand-alone.
If you are looking for a "hobby" lathe or milling machine, try www.sherline.com. Both lathe and mill are benchtop models, excellent quality, inexpensive AND MADE IN THE U.S.A.! We have been using their products for more than 35 years. Very pleased, with both quality and customer service. And when you need a service part, a telephone call to an individual in the U.S.A. that can understand you, and you them; with parts shipment the next day. Jon.
If you gota have a combo the larger Smithy is the one to have as it is actually is big enough to work in a car enviroment. And as I recall the mill side uses the Bridgeport R-8 collets which most all tooling is available in. Just remember no matter how big you get someday you will find it's just a bit too small.LOL BTDT
i have a very, very basic harbor freight mill/lathe combo ( http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46199 ). i bought it brand new for $300, but I wouldn't pay full price for it. as with anything from harbor freight, the quality is marginal but it gets the job done. i've definately got my money's worth by making bushings, spacers, shafts, tools and other stuff. the lathe portion is actually pretty good. the headstock is true within .0005", but the chuck is not quite as true. the carriage/mill bed uses acme screws through bronze bushings and they get sloppy after a while. as a temporoary fix, i just take the bushings off and smack 'em with a hammer to tighten them up, but I plan to replace them eventually. Unless you've used a milling machine before, it's hard to imagine the tremendous force needed to mill something. You need plenty of power to the spindle to make any significant cuts, and you need to be able to hold the work ABSOLUTELY still. If you don't, the finish will suck and you could turn your work into a projectile and do some serious damage to yourself, your machine or anything in the vacinity. I realize that people like us always want the biggest and best, but if you aren't running a machine shop out of your house, a fair size combo machine will probably suffice...at least until you get familiar with machining and develope a need for a bigger machine.
i have never owned a combo machine, but have heard to steer clear of them for several reasons. i agree with getting a r8 style on the mill is pretty important. i bought seperate bridgeport style knee mill and jet lathe. are you sure you won't need something bigger and with a little more umpfh. if you are always on the cheap like me why not look around for some used quality units. unless room is a issue...
Ok Here is the scoop. I thought about one for years. i asked several general machinists (I am an automotive machinst) and millrights what they thought. All poo pooed the idea and then one fine day I thought to ask "have you ever seen one or used one?" The answer to a man was no other than in a picture or store window. I went right home and phoned and ordered my smithy lathe Drill mill that very day. From the first day i got it it made me money. Other shops sent in work which it handled with no trouble. The lathe alone is as good as any normal lathe. Tolerences to .001"are always possible and occasionally when needed even a bit better on my unit. So even if it had no mill drill attachment just as a lathe alone it is almost a gift. It is as good as any of the ones you might buy for 1500 to 2500 dollars. Then there is the Mill. It works very well. The accesories that come will do almost anything you need although I did need a flycutter but made it in the machine too. No it isnt a bridgeport or a south bend but it is a good versitile machine any shop would find handy to have. Its biggest problem is it costs too little which throws folks off. If they doubled the price it would be a better representation of its value. So you can listen to those who think it would be no good or you can listen to those who have the pleasure of enjoying its use and versitilty for many many years. Count me among the latter please. Now git on the phone and order the dang thing and quit worrying . It will do all you will ever want and more. I promise. You may even like me find yourself doing things for the very folks who originally tried to discourage its purchase. Don
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