I do a lot of my work inside the Steel mills here in and around the Detroit area.
While many argue that the (cheaper) import lathes, mills and other machinery are built to the same tolerances as our American made machines, there are other things not being said. Even if the ways are just as clean, even if the surface finish on the bearings, gears, and Gibs are just as smooth, even if the tolerances all around are as tight, or even built with the same types of machines used here.... The foreign Steel itself is the weak link. Here at US Steel, Severstal North America, and Mital Steel, our Steel production is held to the highest Standards in the world, and always have been. Our USA made lathes, mills, saws, grinders etc. for that reason alone stand to last longer than the Ones built on the west side of the Pacific Rim, no matter what country. If for no other reason than the quality of the Base Material.
Paul