Try Shopmaster for the 3 in 1 machines- may be just right for your needs-
following is a link about robotics work on one of their machines
http://forums.delphiforums.com/Shopt...es/?msg=1215.1

"W.E.Cole" wrote in message
...
I'd like to get a small metal working lathe to use for my robotics hobby,
preferably a table top or workbench type. The parts I plan to make will be
small, typically less than 6", and I expect to mostly use aluminum,
although
I'll also be working with plastic and maybe a little brass. I'd like a
quality product that won't break the bank but also won't fall apart after
a
year or so of use. It doesn't have to produce NASA quality parts, but
since
I'll mostly be making small parts, I don't want a cheap import that's real
sloppy. What would be a couple of good brands/models to look for?