Anybody using a Smithy 1240 with mach3?

[bones]

The actual machine itself is ok. No problems there with the chinese part.
It runs nice and smooth.
All the missing parts and other issues have been resolved very quickly.
I will be giving them a list of the issues I have had and other fixes to make the machine spot on.
Things like easier to clean swarf, a second drain hole etc.
Hopefully they take some of them into consideration.

We will be buying another machine direct from the factory in china and ship to Australia.
Identical system except for a chinese driver box instead of the US one with US parts.
I've found the chinese drivers to be very good for steppers.
But we will be ripping off the steppers and fitting servo's.

The machine is huge and has a great working area.

Rodney

[sharpshooter90]

Rodney,
Looks like you have turned a very negative first impression into a positive result. With some constructive dialogue, most people can resolve almost any issue. Of course, being a skilled machinist means you could repair any defect yourself if need be.

[bones]

Hi,
Thats right, But if I wasn't and electronics person, knew cnc machines, electrician, fault finder etc the machine would still be sittting there.
Mind you one of the guys there is extreemly knowledgable on the system.

I'm working 12-15 hour days to catchup on the work eg time lost fixing the machine.
But all good now and it's working. Not 100% yet but running.
I need to get time to fit new drivers, For some reason the gecko's seem to be not coming out of the reduced current mode. Very weird.
But will fit them soon and crank up voltage to them and see how quick this baby can run.

Rod

[GMFAB]

if you think that bad then you have never done businesse with john taylor at shoptask. and your are right , you should have bought a tormach.

I Own two Smithy's and have had nothing but GOOD things to say about there after sale service .( A 3-1 and a 1240 cnc)

[bones]

Do you have Smithy CNC machines?

The machine itself is great. The chinese part of the machine is fine.
It is all the American parts.
The used their own control box. It was the wiring of the box and a wrong cable that was the issue, missing parts and having to hound people to get anybody to talk to me or know anything about it.

I would buy one of these machines again but directly from the factory in china.
Same machine they sell for $10000 is $6800 from china.

rod

[sharpshooter90]

I would buy one of these machines again but directly from the factory in china.
Same machine they sell for $10000 is $6800 from china.

rod

That is going to be the wave of the future. Most of the US companies rely on contracts to maintain some sort of exclusivity. These contracts require minimum annual purchases. As the economy drops sales below this level, the Chinese will be within their rights to sell direct. The Chinese economy is crashing as well and the central government is offerring tax rebates to companies that export goods. With some negotiating, you could probably get a machine direct for 50% of the USA price. Syil is already selling their machines direct from their website.

[bones]

That Price was November last year.
The chinese will sell to who ever, even if they have an exclusive buyer.
Because there is no such thing as a exclusive buyer to china.
We bought machines direct from Seig years ago.
I might have to check the price again.

Rod

[sharpshooter90]

That Price was November last year.
The chinese will sell to who ever, even if they have an exclusive buyer.
Because there is no such thing as a exclusive buyer to china.
We bought machines direct from Seig years ago.
I might have to check the price again.

Rod

Its interesting how things cycle around. From what I read, Smithy got their start as a dealer for someone else and then went around them direct to the Chinese themselves. Now some of their former people have done the same and set up shop under various names.

[jeff 888]

Did you ever get Mach3 up and running on your Smithy and if you did could you email me a copy of the config file?

[bones]

I did get it going and I do think the file they sent me did work but they sent me a serial cable not a parallel cable. That was my issue.
Get a meter and check that the cable is a straight through cable.
eg pin1=pin1, pin2=pin2, pin3=pin3.
If it's ok send me a PM with your email address.
I'll have a look to see if I still have it. I left that company I worked for years ago.
But I think I still have the file somewhere.

Rod

[chagocnc1]

Can you share the mach3 file for the smity?