Make condition visible.
Do not manufacture certainty.
Show what was observed, when and under what conditions while preserving safety, confidentiality and known exceptions.
Evidence should be serial-specific and time-specific.
A polished listing cannot substitute for current condition evidence. Buyers need to understand what was tested, who observed it, which systems were not tested and what changed before pickup.
Facts to establish
- Current power-on state and machine identity
- Axis, spindle, turret, changer, probe, coolant and accessory observations
- Alarm history, leaks, noise, backlash, wear and visible damage
- Service, repair, calibration and maintenance records
- Test part, material, tools, program and measurement conditions
- Changes between inspection, sale, disconnection and loading
Documents and deliverables
- Dated photo and video index
- Demonstration scope and limitations
- Known-condition and exception list
- Service and measurement evidence
- Buyer inspection acknowledgment
- Pre-disconnection and pre-loading condition updates
Ask before the decision becomes expensive.
A useful answer identifies a person, document, number, date, scope or acceptance test. Replace assumptions with evidence.
What exactly was tested?
Name each function, load, speed, duration, tool, program and measurement rather than saying 'runs good.'
Who observed the demonstration?
Record seller, buyer, technician or third-party participation and whether results were independently measured.
What was not tested?
List unavailable tooling, utilities, options, software, axes or operating conditions so silence is not mistaken for proof.
What changes before pickup?
Track draining, disconnection, removal of accessories, batteries, transport locks and any new damage or alarms.
Pause when the scope is vague.
- Old or undated operating video
- Demonstration from a different machine
- Machine powered down before buyer inspection without explanation
- Test cut with no measurement method
- Known alarms cleared from the presentation but not disclosed
What a controlled file contains.
- Dated condition package
- Test and observation log
- Known exceptions
- Buyer questions and responses
- Condition at handover
Use the source that controls the question.
These links provide a starting point. The exact machine, agreement, site, jurisdiction and qualified professionals control the final decision.
Connect this question to the whole machine.
Machine ownership is a chain. Use the next relevant guide instead of treating any one checkpoint as the complete answer.
Document the asset
Tie every image and result to the exact serial and configuration.
Open the guide →INSPECTIONControl buyer access
Define inspection, confidentiality, safety and qualification.
Open the guide →HANDOVERPreserve final condition
Update the record at disconnection, loading and custody transfer.
Open the guide →Direct answers, with the boundary intact.
Machine Blue Book organizes research. It does not replace engineering, legal, tax, insurance, safety, appraisal or trade advice.
Does an operating video prove machine condition?
It proves only what the dated video clearly shows under the recorded conditions. It does not establish untested performance.
Should the seller make a test part?
It may be useful when safe and practical, but define the part, material, program, tools, conditions and measurement method.
Can alarms be cleared before a demonstration?
Normal operation may require resets, but preserve and disclose relevant alarm and service information rather than creating a misleading presentation.
Who pays for third-party inspection?
The parties should agree on scope, access, safety, cost, restoration and use of results in writing.
Selling a CNC Machine
Carry this evidence into the rest of the decision—from machine identity through handover and final economics.