Home Blogs Used CNC Machine Inspection Checklist: What to Look for Before You Buy Used CNC Machines

Used CNC Machine Inspection Checklist: What to Look for Before You Buy Used CNC Machines

Buying used CNC machines is a financially sound step for your business. You get to buy machines at a lower cost for your business, with similar features to a new one. But buying used CNC machines also needs a bit of effort. There are several machines available in the market of different brands, but you need to choose the right one for yourself. From the features of the machine to the current condition and hours of operation, everything needs to be deeply inspected before you buy a machine. Now, if you want to get a detailed list of what are the things you need to look for while buying a used CNC machine, then read till the end and your doubts will be cleared.

Top things to keep in mind before buying a used CNC machine –

Here is a list of the things you need to check before you proceed to buy a used CNC machine for your business –

Understanding your own requirements – The first thing you need to do is to get a detailed understanding of what you are going to need in your product, which includes –
- The work you want to do – Different types of industries need different kinds of CNC machines, if you need a machine for any heavy industry work then you may go with a five axis CNC machine.
- The features you need – You need to understand what features your business will need. From modern technological features to heavy drilling capacity, get your feature requirements clear.
- Your budget – There are several brands, and all their products’ prices vary a lot. So, you need to get a clear budget to buy a product within that limit.

General appearance of the machine – The next thing you need to do to get the best used CNC machine for your business is to check the general outer appearance of the machine. Though outer appearance will not give you any insight into the functionality of the machine, it can give you knowledge about how the machine was used in previous years. So, make sure to check out –
- Cleanliness – Outer cleanliness is an indicator of how the machine was treated during the usage years. If the machine is not clean and has spots of excessive oils and rusting then it may prove that the machine was not treated properly.
- Frame stability – If you are buying a CNC machine for heavy manufacturing then the stability of the frame is one of the most important parameters you should consider. So, make sure that the frame of the machine is free from deformation.
- Wiring and connections – The next thing you must check is the wiring of the machine, torn and damaged wiring can lead to extra costs after the purchase for repairing.

Check the mechanical components – Now, after checking the outer condition, you must proceed to inspect if the mechanical components of the machine are in the right condition or not. The most important mechanical parts include –
- Spindles – Spindles are the most important part of a CNC machine, and it is very important for precision machining. Make sure that there are no unusual sounds or vibrations during the machining process, and also check for excessive play in the spindle.
- Bearings – check if there is any kind of wear in the bearing as bearing is very important to the longevity of the machine.
- Tool holder – Lastly, don’t forget to check the condition of the tool holder as the tool holder will ensure the better performance of the machine.

Check the electrical system of the machine – After checking the mechanical components thoroughly, you must also check the electrical system in detail. The important components of the electrical system are –
- Control panel – First, check the control panel of the machine properly. Check all the switches, buttons and the knob functions too. A malfunctioning control panel would cost you a lot of money to repair after purchase if not checked properly.
- Motors and drives – Check if the motors and drives are working properly, and inspect if they are making any unusual sounds during the manufacturing process.
- Wiring – Check the condition of the cables and wires as any problem in the energy supply may cause huge damage in the manufacturing. Also, exposed wires could be a reason for safety hazards for your employees.

Inspect the coolant system – If you have been in the manufacturing world for a long time, then you know that coolant systems are a really important part of any machine. Overheating can cause big accidents in the plant. So, here are the things you need to check regarding the coolant system –
- Coolant tank – Check the coolant tank at first, look for any sign of rust, leaks, or contamination. A dirty or leaking tank can contaminate the whole tank leading to the breakdown of the machine.
- Hoses and piping – Check if there are any kind of cracks or leaks in the piping of the coolant system as that can lead to overheating and reduced performance of the machine.
- Coolant pump – The coolant pump is meant to maintain a constant flow of the coolant for optimal performance of the machine, any damage to the pump can lead to overheating and underperformance of the machine.

Software and the controlling systems – After you are done inspecting the hardware like the mechanical parts and the electrical systems, you should start checking the software system of the machine. Different features you should be looking for –
- Compatibility with existing systems – Firstly, you should make sure that the software system of the new machines has compatibility with the existing systems otherwise it may become problematic for the controllers.
- Display and interface – Next, you should inspect the display and interface of the software systems as it helps the controller to navigate and monitor easily.
- Restoration ability – A machine having a restoration feature will be a better choice for you as it helps to restore the machine to its default main settings if the system fails at any time.

Documents and the machine history – Once you are done with all the technical inspections you must focus on the documentation and the history of the machine. Here are the top documents you need to take care of –
- Servicing records – Get a servicing record from the seller. A proper record of the previous servicing shows that the machine was properly taken care of and has been correctly serviced from time to time.
- Operating hours – Find out the exact operating hours of the machine as that is directly correlated with the performance of the machine and should influence your decision.
- Details about the manufacturer and manual – If it’s a new brand you’re unaware of then you should get proper documents about the manufacturing company. Also, you should get a detailed manual in case of any problem while operating the machine in your plant.

Additional tip

Do a demo run – Before you make your final decision to buy the machine then you should do a final demo run of the machine so that you can check if it’s showing any kind of problems.

Conclusion:

In our final message, we want to say if you’re planning to get a used CNC machine then don’t just make the final choice in a hurry and take your time to do all the inspections we mentioned. If you make the purchase without doing a thorough check-up of the machine then you will have to bear further costs in repairing and servicing the machine. To get the machine of your preference, you can fill up our machinery locator form and our team at Machine Station will help you out.