Sherline Tools Is Going Out of Business

	Sherline Tools Is Going Out of Business(toolguyd.com)
	250 points by tliltocatl 23 days ago \| 179 comments
	tl;dr: Sherline Products, a US manufacturer of precision miniature lathes, mills, and CNC machines since the 1970s, is winding down manufacturing operations, citing COVID aftereffects, rising costs, and shifting consumer habits as unsustainable for a small American manufacturer. The company plans to continue selling machines, tooling, and parts through October 2026 as inventory allows, and will maintain warranty support and technical archives, but expects to be fully shut down by year's end.
	HN Discussion: ↑Broader industry decline of hobbyist hardware makers reflects the same pressures Sherline faced ~Sherline's failure is about poor value/stagnant products, not just macro industry trends ↑Manufacturing in US/EU is increasingly hard due to bureaucracy, lost ecosystems, and workforce issues ↑3D printers, laser cutters, and cheap Asian tools have displaced small precision machine demand •Loss of hobby space (garages) and high prices reduce the customer base for such tools