A well-chosen used machine can deliver most of the capability of a new one for a fraction of the outlay. A poorly chosen one becomes a very heavy problem parked in your workshop. The difference is almost entirely in the inspection.
Insist on seeing it cutting
A machine that cannot be demonstrated under power is a machine with something to hide. Ask for a test cut in material you supply, and keep the part. If the seller will not run it, treat the price as scrap value.
Check the spindle first
The spindle is the most expensive thing that can be wrong. Listen at several speeds, check for runout with an indicator, and feel the housing temperature after a run. Ask when it was last rebuilt and by whom.
Ways, ballscrews and backlash
Look for scoring on exposed ways and check that wipers are intact. Measure backlash on each axis. Some is expected on a used machine; the question is whether compensation is already at its limit.
Control and documentation
- Is the control still supported, and are spares realistically available?
- Do you get manuals, ladder diagrams and parameter backups?
- Are the parameters backed up somewhere other than the machine itself?
An unsupported control on an otherwise sound machine is a real risk. Price it in.
Hours, history and honesty
Ask for spindle hours and power-on hours, and compare them against the visible condition. A machine that claims light use but shows heavy wear is telling you the more reliable story.
Budget for commissioning
Rigging, transport, foundation, power, coolant and a first service are real costs. Add them to the purchase price before you compare against a new machine, or the comparison is not honest.
Buy with support
Machines listed on ToolClinic come through a network where sellers are known, and our experts can inspect on your behalf if you cannot travel.