Hi all,
I have a new base Smithy 516 to be delivered Thursday the 15th. I ordered the base without a controler. I will build my own using PMDX boards and GECKO drivers.
I'll keep posting as I go along.

I received the 516 mull. It was very well packed in a wood crate.
I am now building the electronics. So at this time all I have been able to do is take the cover off and look it over.
first impressions:
1. It is verylwell made.
2. bearings on both ends of the x,y an z axis.
3. Very pleasant hammertone paint job on the metal covers.

Smithy customer service is very good. Pleasant to talk to and follows up on questions after the sale.

I have a seig mini-mill and the quality and construction is much better on the Smithy 516.

Hi Pixel. Welcome to the Zone! Congrats on your purchase! Can you post some pics please?

CR.

I'm also looking for a lightweight cnc mill like the KX1... I'm curious, how was it shiped, with the low weight i think they could use ups if they wanted..

Hi,
It was shipped by freight for $229.00. Smithy would not ship by UPS. It was very well packed.
The difference in cost was very little I think $19.00.
So far I am very pleased with the 516 I will post pictures later.

so have you cut anything yet with the KX1? Any new observations/opinions on it?

No I have not made chips yet. I am still working ont the electronics.

Hi Pixel

Can you please post a few pictures of the machine. Did you get it with the axes motors of just ready for mounting your own motors but with all the couplings and motor mounts ?
I'm also thinking about getting this machine and put my own system on it.
Thanks

Hmm, I wonder if it is a good sign or a bad sign that we have heard nothing more from pixel about this mill.

Hopefully the mill is so good that he's had no time to post because he's been using it so much...

Has anyone seen anything from anyone independent of smithy talking about a smithy516 they have purchased and actually used?

Sorry about not posting recently. I have had some health problems including hospitalization. The 516 is still setting on my work bench, the Gecko drives, power transformer, and BOB still in the box.
Hope to start on the project next week.
Will try and post some pictures in a few days.

Sorry to hear that. I didn't mean to be impatient or anything, I was just a little worried that maybe you gave up because of problems or something... It's hard to find any real info about the smithy 516 anywhere on the web... It looks like a nice machine for people who have to keep things lightweight and want something smaller than an X3... the 516 looks like a nice balance of size/capacity/weight... I'm very constrained space-wise and also like the idea of a machine i can pick up on my own... please keep us updated once you are able to get back into things...

I have noticed that for the past week the smithy516 is not on the smithy webpage anymore.... Just the 1240 and the 622...

That is true. I called today and was told it is no longer available. So I have one of 30 sold.

Thats the second one of their CNC products they have dumped in as many weeks. There is a saying in business that when times are tough you should stick to your core products. maybe they are going back to the old 3 in 1 line that they have sold for 20 years.

What was the other model number

The other model was one of the larger machines- It was a 10 X 32 if I recall- there is another thread on this forum about it. It appears that they have made some poor choices in an effort to expand the line of products- maybe in an attempt to be another Grizzly or harbor Freight. Not long ago they were selling a Chinese made bulldozer and dropped that one too. Smithy made their rep for good customer service on the back of those simple 3 in 1 machines. But when you get into things like bulldozers and professional grade CNC machines you need a much higher level of quality control and technical expertise.

Has anyone heard anything about anyone else carrying the KX1 (516) now that smithy has dropped it? Or is it to be unavailable in the US now?

I think only in China and UK
www.arceurotrade.co.uk/catalogue/product.aspx?prod_id=d4f080fb-c48e-44dc-b484-83361d4e4e73 - 25k

This Canadian company seems to sell them as well:
http://www.novakon.net/3.html
I've also called Smithy after I've read the last few posts and got an answer that they might have them back next year. I was told that if I'll place an order now they can add it to their next shipment from the same manufacturer and it will be here within about two months ( I think ). (I'm currently in the US )
I'm still waiting for someone to give a report on this machine so I didn't place any order.

From what I 've read on this forum, Novakon buys machines from Smithy and adds their own controllers. Being close to Smithy, my guess is that they simply pick up machines in Ann Arbor and take them across the border for the retrofit. It's possible they may be a canadian arm of Smithy. In any case, its unlikely they will have the machines if Smithy does not.

Hey all, I've been lurking for some time but have only posted once before. It looks like Harbor Freight is now carrying the KX1 and the KX3. Their price on the KX1 (item #66052) is $2999.99 compared to the $4995 price of the Novakon. The KX3 is $4999.

I'm an EE type by trade doing some hobby work on an X2 and would like to upgrade to CNC so I've been reading all the great info on this forum trying to decide which way to go.