Many woodworkers buy Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery secondhand to save money, but a pre-owned CNC machine still requires a significant investment. When it does, woodworkers should evaluate the machine carefully before buying it, assessing its reliability based on four crucial concerns. When they shop for a used CNC router for sale, or another type of woodworking equipment for sale, woodworkers should consider the following before they make a purchase.
Age of the Machine
In terms of price and performance, buying a maintained machine that is roughly halfway through its lifespan can be an excellent choice. Although the machine can perform as well as newer pre-owned machines, it costs less than newer machines due to its age. When the right technology can be found in a maintained machine that is ten to fifteen years old, buying it can be a smarter decision than buying a newer machine.
Previous Owner of the Machine
How its previous owner operated a machine affects its lifespan. For example, machines that were owned by factories typically have more wear than machines owned by individuals. In some factories, machines operate around the clock—a practice that can make them older than they are on paper. Whenever possible, woodworkers should look for pre-owned woodworking equipment for sale that was owned by an individual, a trade school, a woodshop, or another owner who did not strenuously use the equipment.
Maintenance History
When searching for a used CNC router for sale, the customer should look for equipment that has a spotless maintenance record, as gaps in maintenance can dispose it to premature breakdown. Reconditioning can improve the performance of a machine by replacing its worn or recalcitrant parts, but it may not correct the wear a machine experiences resulting from poor lubrication and build up of dust inside part housings. More often than not, a machine that has a poor maintenance history ends up having a long history of repairs.
State of Wear
The first step in assessing a machine’s state of wear is determining whether it has been reconditioned—a process in which worn parts are replaced and exterior blemishes are removed to restore the machine to “like new” condition. Because a reconditioned machine does not need its condition examined to the degree that a non-reconditioned machine does, it is a better purchase for buyers who lack the training to assess the condition of pre-owned woodworking machinery.
RT Machine Sells CNC Machinery
RT Machine sells a variety of affordably priced new and pre-owned CNC machines. When woodworkers need a used CNC router for sale, they can often find what they need in our inventory. If a machine is out of stock, our machine locator service can locate it in the inventory of another seller, and have it shipped to the buyer. To find the best woodworking machinery for sale, woodworking companies and independent woodworkers turn to RT Machine. Call us today to learn more about our products and services.
