Used CNC Machines: How to Buy Affordable & Reliable Equipment

The search for used CNC mills can take you to a wide range of places, from auctions to marketplace platforms and directly at sellers’ warehouses. Yet while you may easily find a vertical machining center or boring mill, it becomes harder when trying to find one that is both affordable and reliable. When you are on your search for CNC mills, use the following advice on how to make the most out of the purchasing experience.

Buying Affordable & Reliable Equipment

Start the Search Early

Unless you need a piece of emergency equipment due to finish an important project immediately because your existing CNC machinery malfunctioned, you want to give yourself an adequate amount of time to research equipment brands and evaluate current market values. Rushing yourself during the buying and selling process leads to costly mistakes as you may be stuck with a CNC turning center that is not what you want or overpriced.

Evaluate Dealers

Some equipment dealers strictly allow sellers to post their machines on their website without further services. Other dealers may provide enhanced services such as 30-day warranties or appraisal work. There may also be dealers who handle auctions and liquidations. Before working with a company, evaluate their credentials, offered services, and the types of machines that they sell. You want to find dealers who have a wide variety of CNC machine tools and offer countless different brands, such as Mori Seiki or DMG Mori. Then you can select the brand and model that best fits into your specifications and your budget.

Understand the Machine You’re Purchasing

If it is the first time you are purchasing horizontal machining centers or CNC lathes, you want to learn everything you can about the machine, how it operates, the tooling available, the CNC controls & software, and any additional features. Read technical specifications, watch videos, or visit a shop that is willing to provide you with a demonstration of the machine in action. You want to understand how it operates so you can figure out all the features that you want with your used CNC machine.

Inspect Used CNC Machines

Visual inspections of CNC boring mills, horizontal machine or CNC vertical machine allows you to see the condition of the equipment firsthand. It also allows you to ask questions while the seller is there, as you can glean important details regarding the type of work that the machine was used for, the types of materials that were used, and how often it was put into service. Ask for the seller to turn on or run the machine through a typical work project, if applicable. You can watch the spindle’s movements and how the rotary blades cut into the workpiece. You’ll also have the opportunity to listen to how the machine works and take note of any abnormal sounds.

Compare Milling Machines and Prices

Once locating serval boring milling machines that would work with your operations, compare their features, age, and conditions. You’ll want to pick the best one that fits most of your specifications or may offer a few added benefits that makes it ideal to your liking. Yet keep in mind that the more features the machine has, the higher the price will be. Always rein yourself in if you get too carried away into wanting a used machine that can do everything, as you may already have another machine that can perform similar tasks. Instead, select the milling machine that can enhance your operations without leading to redundancy.

Equipment Hub for New and Used Machine Tools

Searching for the right equipment can be a long and drawn out process when you are unsure of what you need. Here at Equipment Hub, we are a premier machine tool dealer that has been in business for a decade. We help sellers appraise the value of their machines and list them while sellers can easily find the brands and types of equipment they need. Find the reliable and affordable CNC machines at Equipment Hub by contacting us today.