A good used machine can be cutting parts weeks sooner than a new one, and for less money. A poor one can cost more in repairs than it saved. The checks below apply to any used CNC lathe or machining centre, Victor or otherwise.
Start with the paperwork
- Service records. Regular maintenance is the best predictor of condition. Gaps, or no records at all, are a reason to check everything else more carefully.
- Hours. Most controls record power-on hours and spindle running hours. A machine that ran three shifts a day for years has worked far harder than one with the same age on a single shift.
- Crash and repair history. Ask directly. A crash that was properly repaired and realigned is not necessarily a problem, but you want to know about it.
- Original specification. Confirm the options actually fitted: spindle speed, tool magazine size, through-spindle coolant, probing, and any control software options.
Look at the machine
- Guideways and covers. Damaged way covers let chips reach the guideways. Look for scoring, rust or uneven wear marks.
- Spindle. Listen for noise and roughness through the speed range, check warm-up behaviour, and look for runout at the taper.
- Coolant and lubrication. A tidy coolant tank and a working automatic lubrication system suggest a machine that was looked after.
- Electrics. Check for alarms in the history, tired cables in the cable carriers, and cabinet fans and filters that have been kept clean.
See it cut
If you can, watch the machine run a test part or a ballbar test. Then check:
- Positioning and repeatability against the machine’s specification.
- Backlash on each axis.
- Surface finish and roundness on a turned or milled test feature.
Results that are close to specification after the machine has warmed up are a good sign. Large errors can sometimes be corrected by realignment and compensation, but price that work in before you agree a deal.
Plan for after the purchase
A used machine needs the same installation as a new one: a suitable foundation, levelling, power, air and coolant, then commissioning and accuracy checks once it is in place. Budget for a service and any wear parts straight away, so the machine starts its new life from a known condition.
Victor Taichung offers manufacturer-certified pre-owned machines as well as its new range. See pre-owned machines for more.