Used CNC machine inspection checklist
Control vintage, spindle hours, geometry, and power — before you buy a machining center.
Written for Shop owners and CNC leads. Print this page or save as PDF. Licensed CC BY 4.0 with a link to this URL.
Control and identity
- Record control make/generation, options, and whether passwords or dongles are included.
- Match serial to the Fanuc/Siemens/Heidenhain records if available.
- Confirm transformer, phase, and compressed-air quality the machine expects.
Mechanical
- Spindle hours, taper condition, and tool-changer cycle without a crash.
- Axis travel vs spec; look for way cover damage and leaking way lube.
- Ball-screw backlash or a ball-bar report if the seller has one.
- Chip conveyor, coolant, and through-spindle coolant if advertised.
Run and paperwork
- Home all axes, run a warm-up, and cut a simple coupon if possible.
- Pull alarm history; ask about any spindle or axis rebuilds.
- List included tooling, vises, probes, and spare servos.
- Get the last PM and any remaining OEM warranty transfer terms.
Related: equipment glossary · buyer’s guide · live listings