Here we go 924 cnc lathe on the way

[cncbpt]

Sold as a brand new machine

[flatheadford49]

Thats interesting- there was another thread a while back in which someone claimed that Smithy was imported used/rebuilt machines. Did they sell it to you as used?

here's the link
ARE SMITHY MACHINES USED / REBUILT?

JD,
Do you still have your 3 in 1, or did you sell it and are looking for a used Smithy.


Here is your quote from another forum here on the CNC Zone.

"Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: usa
Posts: 74
jdclark
PATRIOT- Excellent quality
I opened up my Patriot over the weekend, and so far I am very impressed with the overall quality of the machine. I have the DRO system installed as well. I read as many posts as I could on this and other forums as well as visiting some owners of different machines. I think Shopmaster and Smithy have the best quality machines, but Shopmaster has a much better design, especially in the milling function. I welcome other patriot owners to share any tips or tricks not already posted here."

[jdclark]

JD,
Do you still have your 3 in 1, or did you sell it and are looking for a used Smithy.

No- still have the Patriot. I have gotten good service from it and consider it the best of the 3 in 1 machines due to its better mill design. The only down side is that now Shopmaster has the new version with ball screws, VFD drives and CNC as standard features. They offer upgrades for the older machines, but by the time I do them, I am at nearly the price of a new machine. The good news is that they offered me 80% of my original purchase price on trade toward a new machine, and since I am in driving distance of Vegas, I won't have freight to pay.
While thinking this deal over, it jogged my memory of the guy who bought the Smithy lathe and was unhappy, and was curious about whatever happened. His lathe cost him around 10 grand and is a 9 X 24. While I can get the new Shopmaster for 1/2 that price and it is a full 17 X 30 CNC lathe plus a 10 X 25 CNC mill. Plus Shopmaster uses Gecko drives and Mach III software which have the best reputation in this forum. I haven't seen anyone who can offer as much as that for 5 grand.

[flatheadford49]

No- still have the Patriot. I have gotten good service from it and consider it the best of the 3 in 1 machines due to its better mill design. The only down side is that now Shopmaster has the new version with ball screws, VFD drives and CNC as standard features. They offer upgrades for the older machines, but by the time I do them, I am at nearly the price of a new machine. The good news is that they offered me 80% of my original purchase price on trade toward a new machine, and since I am in driving distance of Vegas, I won't have freight to pay.
While thinking this deal over, it jogged my memory of the guy who bought the Smithy lathe and was unhappy, and was curious about whatever happened. His lathe cost him around 10 grand and is a 9 X 24. While I can get the new Shopmaster for 1/2 that price and it is a full 17 X 30 CNC lathe plus a 10 X 25 CNC mill. Plus Shopmaster uses Gecko drives and Mach III software which have the best reputation in this forum. I haven't seen anyone who can offer as much as that for 5 grand.

You must really love your 3 in 1, your post sounds like a sales pitch. The CNC Zone is going to send you a bill for advertising.

If you can get an 80% trade in on a new machine with those kinds of upgrades, you should go for it. But then you seem to be ok with the 3 in 1 design. For me they are too limited and restrictive. I bought an older yellow manual model at an estate sale years ago. Instead of $5000 it only cost me $300 to find that out, and I ended up buying a lathe and a mill separate. But any machine is better than no machine.

[flatheadford49]

it is a full 17 X 30 CNC lathe plus a 10 X 25 CNC mill.

If it is then try this and report back the results.

For the mill:
I have a 3/4 inch thick aluminum plate that is 10 inches wide and 25 inches long that I cut on the table saw. I tried to get it as square as possible. Drilled holes are ok on this piece to use t-nuts and studs to clamp it, I only need it squared and with a milled finish all around the outside edge. With the workpiece centered on your mill table and using a 3/4 inch endmill, can you machine it to 9.250 x 24.250 plus or minus .020 in one set up.

For the lathe:
I have a piece of aluminum 3 inches in diameter and 30 inches in length. I'll make it easy on you, one end has a center in it. I want you to hold one end in the chuck and the other end with a live center in the tailstock. Now I want you to take a roughing cut from the tailstock end towards the chuck jaws in one setup. What would be the length of the cut. Can you cut all the way to the chuck jaws in one setup.

[matt_g_shaver]

As far as I know, the gentleman who bought this lathe and originally posted the message that started this thread has never called back or otherwise contacted Smithy. If he had, I'm pretty sure he would have been directed to me. In case he reads this, he is welcome to call me anytime (although 9am-9pm EST would find me most awake). I can be reached at (443)789-4628. I promise to do whatever I can to help resolve any problems with his machine, provided he is willing to work with me.

Thanks,
Matt Shaver

[jdclark]

Mr. Shaver,
Another poster has revived an old thread about whether Smithy sells used or rebuilt machines.

here's the link
ARE SMITHY MACHINES USED / REBUILT?"

This was in response to someone on this thread who said his machine appeared to have a lot of hours on it. I have been on your mailing list for quite some time, and don't recall ever seeing any offers for used equipment.
There were some documents posted on the thread showing used equipment being imported, can you clear this up?

[flatheadford49]

Mr. Shaver,
Another poster has revived an old thread about whether Smithy sells used or rebuilt machines.



This was in response to someone on this thread who said his machine appeared to have a lot of hours on it. I have been on your mailing list for quite some time, and don't recall ever seeing any offers for used equipment.
There were some documents posted on the thread showing used equipment being imported, can you clear this up?

JD,
Don't lie to the man. You revived that old thread when you posted a link to it here in this very thread, look at post #36, on 10/28/11. I just wanted to know why you keep bringing it up. How does any of this help you with your patriot machine.

[jdclark]

JD,
Don't lie to the man.

Flathead, you should heed your own advice. Anyone who reads this thread can see that it was dead for more than a year and fell completely off the charts before you revived it with your post. If you want to help Smithy, why not just let it die and rest in peace.

[Legion99999]

Its my machine. I contacted smithy many times and came to the conclusion that i was on my own. i asked for a refund, they said that wasn't possible. The software is a joke, smithy really should be embarressed about it.
I use it for one single part as it cannot understand even basic cad/cam programming, i hand write it. My syil cnc lathe is far superior.
I will never buy a smithy machine again ever.

[Legion99999]

Sorry for my short replay that was from my cellphone.
The delayed responses is due tot he face that i have been working on a engineering degree, raising kids, and running my business.
In answer to the many questions.
I ended up purchasing to other cnc lathes, one from Syil america, and one from microkinetics. The smithy has be demoted to single operation.

As for not contacting Smithy, i called several times, worked with a tech, and still got no where, after i asked for a refund (and was turned down) I have the feeling that i have been scammed and saw no more reason to try to work with Smithy. i got more help fromt he people here than a company i spent 10,000.00 with.

As you can see they no longer carry the lathe i bought and i likely have one of the few POS ever sold. My plan has been to use the machine in its limited format (it wont even cut arcs) until i have the spare time to do a large, expensive mach retrofit.

I was truly disapointed in every way by this machine. I have many machines, both cnc and manual, and of all of them this is the only one i truly regret buying.

In summary. Leaks, No wizards, software is buggy and limited, it is truly a piece a junk. i wont resell it because i wont do that to some one else.

I would love a refund but i wont hold my breath, the machine has less than 100 hours on it.

[jdclark]

Too bad they wouldn't give you a refund- from what I see on Yahoo and Google , I'm guessing they are spending 5K per month or better on pay per click ads.