I believe you will be happier in the long run. I only know 2 people that had 3 in 1s and they sold them after a while. I didn't see where they claimed to be made in the US but they have a striking resemblance to the clone machines sold by many companies.
The mill appears to be a rf45 clone and the lathe looks like many s out there. There are many options out there. Sometimes it may come down to who has the machine in stock because the clones are very similar. Take a look at the forum post for different machines to judge the differences for yourself. Look at standard features such as a lathe coming with 2 chucks which would allow you to use the machine and "grow" into a higher end chuck down the road. On a mill consider what you plan down the road.
Spending money on power axis' when you intend to CNC soon for instance could be better spent on steppers and drivers. Happy shopping, Dave. Ray C Registered Registered. Joined Nov 16, Messages 5, As far as I know, there are no more US companies making that class of machine. The last one I knew of was branded as International where some parts were made in the US. I believe they no longer answering their phones, emails or updating their website.
Even all the South Bends are made in either China or Taiwan. Most folks will always go for individual machines if they have the space and that is what is strongly recommended. Things get cramped in those tight quarters and it drives me nuts.
I help a friend run a robotics program at a local high school and they have a 3 in 1 and I'm constantly gritting my teeth trying hard not to swear in front of the kids It's not to say they are bad. They can do good work provided you stay within their capabilities.
The upshot is, if you have the space, go with individual machines. Many, many folks here that are looking at new machines are going with the Precision Matthews line. There are literally dozens of happy customers here and you can read thread after thread with positive things and barely find an unfavorable word about them. The mill you're looking at is the equivalent of a PM or PM The two units are nearly identical but, the is a slightly upgraded version that comes with power table, Z and variable speed.
It's also about a grand less than the Smithy. Precision Matthews www. I've been a happy camper for 5 years with my PM45 mill and for about a year now with the lathe. I crank-out precision stuff with ease and have a small part time business I do a lot of help and question answering for Matt at Precision Matthews and I've written countless posts here about how and where machines are made in Asia and how they're ordered, customized and shipped.
Search around through my threads and you'll get a lot of insight. Have a look at the PM machines and if you have questions, let us know and you'll hear a chorus of help from myself and others here. Ray Trentbennett66 said:. Click to expand I did a little investigation Smithy machines are and always have been produced in China. Joined Jun 18, Messages Finally a thread I can contribute to. I've been hearing about the Smitty 3 into 1 for several years on the various H-D forums that I frequent.
I've not heard one person yet that would do it again if they had it to do over again. Most have shifted them at the first opportunity absorbing the hit and eventually did what Ray suggests which is getting "dedicated purpose machines". The consistent story line is that while it will do somewhat what it says it will do, it does none of them really well. It's a compromise in most situations where in the majority of the cases one would prefer to not have to do so.
It will be the second year The Hoylake St house, known as the Smithy , was completed about a year and a half ago. The design had to keep the existing blacksmith building, with the new The Smithy offering bevy of local edibles.
It's a sunny Saturday afternoon in the little village of New Preston. The Smithy on Main Street is abuzz with activity. Customers are browsing the shelves for Forget it — footy's as good as ever. The memory of that horrible game at 'C'town' a few weeks back has faded to nothing after the footy feast going on at present, even in this torrid time for the The Smithy will host its second opening reception of the season from 5 to 7 p.
Monday, with music by Dana Marcine and local catering by Mel's at Sunday Profile: At 40, the Smithy is far from toast. For 40 years, the Village Smithy has been an essential meeting place for longtime locals, transplants and visitors alike. It has held its own against a sumptuous Smithy Wood inquiry: Resident's plea to keep Sheffield woodland as ….
Dr Christina Perring, aged 68, of Cowley Lane, Chapeltown, gave evidence on day two of the public inquiry into plans to turn Smithy Wood in Chapeltown into a Public inquiry starts to save Smithy Wood from being bulldozed.
Plus, he's mentioned a minor frustration about the small capacity of the mill table for adding rotary table, dividing head, or other fixtures he might want to use. And he hasn't even used it all that much yet. He's pretty happy with how the lathe functions. Pretty standard gripe I guess - decent lathe, but milling pretty weak. Much better to have a separate dedicated mill, but it might get you out of a pinch if it's all you've got.
He's pretty happy with the company's service, so if you settle for a 3-in-1 it's not a bad source. Dont overlook the Shoptask Bridgemill. I think it is a bit stiffer and also is CNC ready! But the Smithy has a great support system, I came close to buying one myself.
The most recent 'higher end' Smithys are also "CNC ready", it appears that Smithy has taken note of the heavy interest in this modus operandi and the inroads of Shoptask. Shoptask has long emphasized the milling side of the machine and significantly improved the functionality with the quadralift which gives spindle to table distance between 3 and 14 or so in.
One of the bigger drawbacks to 3n1 is the difficulty of work placement in the envelope provided. Second is the miserable rigidity, also addressed with the Bridgemill. Shoptask has always had a large table. OTOH Shoptask lathe is inferior: no halfnut, no thread dial and lowest speed rpm. Smithy is variable speed, "" , Shoptask belt drive. Although a little more money, a square column mill drill and an inexpensive think HF 12x36 lathe will run rings around a 3n1 if you have the space and ability to manhandle the machines into place.
I have had a Granite for several years, so I can give a fairly decent review of drawbacks. Definitely a better lathe than mill. Mill spindle lacks rigidity, as others noted. Spindle is not parallel to column, so if you try to drill a hole and then raise column for a reamer, you are in a new location. Since you can tram only one of these two semi-vertical motions at a time, you pretty much have to pick a column height and then use just quill to go up and down.
Clearance and range of table movement are somewhat limited. Bottom line: I just bought an old used Deckel mill. For the lathe: I think they tried to put too large a bore in the lathe spindle for its size.
Parting off is painful and an 8" chuck seems too big and heavy and too much overhang for use without tailstock support even on very short pieces.
DC motor is good but can't be used very effectively below about rpm.
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