How Premier Equipment Works
Buying a used CNC machine is a big decision. You are not buying a catalog item. You are buying a machine that has to make parts, fit your floor, work with your people, and make sense for the job in front of you.
Premier Equipment has been buying and selling used CNC equipment since 1988. The team works out of 990 Sunshine Lane in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and helps shops across the country compare machines, confirm details, and plan the next step.
Use this FAQ when you are looking at a machine, getting financing in order, planning shipping and rigging, or deciding whether to sell equipment you no longer need.
For help with a specific listing, call Premier Equipment at (407) 786-2000, email quotes@premierequipment.com, or request details from the machine page.
Quick answers before you call
- Start with the part you need to make. Then look at machine type, control, capacity, condition, tooling, timing, and logistics.
- Ask what is included with the machine. Tooling, manuals, chucks, bar feeders, probes, chip conveyors, and accessories can change the real value of a deal.
- Plan shipping and rigging early. A machine can be the right buy and still get delayed if the truck, rigger, door clearance, or power requirements are not ready.
- If you are selling, send the brand, model, year, serial number, control, photos, location, accessories, and timing. That saves everyone time.
How buying from Premier works
Start with the work.
Tell Premier what the machine needs to do. Part size, material, tolerance, production volume, floor space, power, and operator experience matter more than a clean model name.
Compare the right machines.
Review the current used CNC inventory. If you are not sure where to start, compare machine type first:
Confirm the details.
Before you move forward, confirm the specs, condition, included items, availability, loading details, and anything your team needs for approval.
Line up money and logistics.
If financing is part of the plan, look at used CNC financing early. At the same time, think through rigging, trucking, offloading, electrical, air, coolant, and floor space.
Get the final terms clear.
Used equipment should be reviewed under Premier Equipment’s terms and conditions. Confirm specs, availability, shipping, rigging, and compliance details before purchase.
Buying a used CNC machine
What should I ask before buying a used CNC machine?
Ask what the machine was built to do, what it comes with, what condition it is in, and what needs to happen before it can ship. You also want to know the control, year, serial number, hours when available, capacity, tooling, accessories, manuals, and whether anything is missing. A cheap machine can get expensive fast if the details are wrong.
How do I know if a used CNC machine is a good fit?
Start with the part. If the machine can hold the tolerance, handle the material, fit the work envelope, and work with your operators, it may be worth a closer look. If it only looks good because the price is attractive, slow down and ask more questions.
Can Premier help me choose between two machines?
Yes. Send the listings and explain what you need to run. Premier can help you compare capacity, control, age, options, condition, and timing so you are not guessing from photos alone.
How often does Premier update inventory?
Premier’s inventory changes often because machines are bought and sold regularly. If you do not see exactly what you need, call (407) 786-2000 or contact Premier. The team may know what is available now, what is coming in, or what is close enough to consider.
What should I have ready before I request a quote?
Have the machine type, part requirements, preferred brand or control, timing, location, and budget direction ready if you can. If you are early in the process, that is fine. The more Premier knows about the job, the easier it is to point you toward the right machine.
Condition, inspections, and warranty questions
Are used CNC machines inspected before sale?
It depends on the machine and where it is located. When a machine is in Premier’s warehouse, the team can review details and answer condition questions more directly. If a machine is still in another shop, ask what photos, videos, records, or inspection options are available before you make a decision.
Do machine hours matter?
Yes, but hours do not tell the whole story. A lower hour machine can still have problems if it was crashed, neglected, or used in a rough environment. A higher hour machine can still be worth buying if it was maintained well and fits the work.
What should I look for in photos or videos?
Look at the control, spindle area, turret or tool changer, way covers, chip conveyor, coolant tank, guards, table, chuck, bar feeder, and included accessories. If a photo raises a question, ask before the machine is moved.
Does Premier rebuild or refurbish machines?
Do not assume a used machine has been rebuilt or refurbished unless that is stated for that exact machine. Used equipment should be reviewed by its actual condition, specs, documentation, and what is included in the sale.
Does used CNC equipment include a warranty?
Used equipment is sold under Premier Equipment’s terms and conditions. Review the terms and ask any machine-specific questions before purchase. If your company needs specific warranty language for approval, ask Premier to clarify what applies to that machine.
Financing and budget planning
Can I finance a used CNC machine?
Financing may be available for qualified buyers. If financing matters, start early so the machine search lines up with what can be approved. You can review Premier’s used CNC financing page or ask the team what information is needed.
What should I budget for besides the machine?
Budget for rigging, trucking, offloading, electrical, air, coolant, tooling, workholding, software posts, service technician time, and any facility prep. The machine price is only one part of the purchase.
Should I get financing lined up before shopping?
It helps. Good used machines can move quickly. If you already know your financing path, you can act faster when the right machine shows up.
Why do used CNC machine values vary so much?
Brand, control, year, size, options, condition, hours, tooling, accessories, market demand, and location all matter. Two machines with the same model name can be very different deals once you look at the details.
Shipping, rigging, and delivery
How does shipping a used CNC machine work?
First confirm the machine location, weight, dimensions, pickup timing, loading requirements, and where it is going. Then line up the rigger, truck, insurance, offloading plan, and delivery timing. Heavier or larger machines may need more planning. View more on how to ship a CNC machine >
Who handles rigging and trucking?
Rigging and shipping responsibilities should be confirmed before purchase and are controlled by the final terms. Premier can help buyers think through logistics and coordinate next steps, but the buyer should know who is responsible for loading, trucking, offloading, and installation.
What should my shop prepare before the machine arrives?
Check door clearance, floor space, concrete, power, air, coolant, chip handling, rigger access, and offloading space. If the machine needs a technician, schedule that early too.
What usually delays delivery?
The most common delays are rigger schedules, truck availability, seller timing, missing information, facility prep, and special handling requirements. The earlier those details are handled, the smoother the move usually goes.
Can Premier help with international shipping?
Premier works with buyers outside the United States. International moves can involve crating, container loading, customs paperwork, freight forwarders, insurance, and buyer-side offloading. Ask early if the machine is leaving the country.
Selling equipment to Premier
Does Premier buy used CNC machines?
Yes. Premier buys used CNC machines, including single machines, multiple machines, and larger shop packages when the equipment fits current demand. Send the machine details, photos, location, and timing to start the conversation.
Can I sell an entire shop or facility?
Yes. Premier can review individual machines, groups of machines, and full facility situations. Depending on the equipment and timing, the right path may be a direct purchase, trade-in, appraisal, consignment, auction, or liquidation.
Does Premier accept trade-ins?
Premier may consider trade-ins depending on the machine, market demand, condition, and the equipment being purchased. A trade-in can help a shop move out an older machine while adding another one.
How do appraisals work?
For an appraisal, gather the asset list, brand, model, year, serial number, control, options, condition, photos, and location. Appraisals can help with financing, insurance, business planning, estate matters, or liquidation planning.
When does an auction or liquidation make sense?
An auction or liquidation may make sense when a shop is closing, relocating, retiring equipment, or clearing a larger group of assets. It is not the right answer for every seller. Timing, asset mix, urgency, and buyer demand all matter.
Machine types, brands, controls, and tooling
What types of used CNC machines does Premier carry?
Premier’s inventory can include CNC lathes, vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, Swiss lathes, boring mills, EDM machines, grinders, fabrication equipment, CMM machines, bar feeders, robots, and other shop equipment when available.
What is the difference between a CNC lathe and a CNC mill?
A CNC lathe turns the part while tools cut it. A CNC mill holds the part while rotating tools cut the shape. Lathes are common for round parts. Mills are common for prismatic parts, pockets, faces, holes, and complex shapes.
Does the CNC control matter?
Yes. A familiar control can save time. Shops often care about Fanuc, Mazak, Okuma, Haas, Siemens, Heidenhain, or other controls because operators, programmers, service techs, and CAD/CAM posts may already be built around them.
Which used CNC brand should I buy?
The best brand depends on the work, the machine condition, the control, the budget, and the support your shop is comfortable with. Premier carries many used CNC brands when available, including Mazak, Okuma, Haas, DMG Mori, DN Solutions and Doosan, Makino, Kitamura, Citizen, Star, Tsugami, and others.
Do used CNC machines come with tooling and accessories?
Sometimes. Some machines include chucks, collets, toolholders, probes, rotary tables, bar feeders, chip conveyors, manuals, or extra accessories. Others do not. Confirm what is included because tooling and workholding can change the real cost of getting the machine into production.
Helpful outside references
These are not a replacement for Premier Equipment’s terms or machine-specific review. They are useful background for safety, trucking, and export paperwork questions that often come up during a used CNC purchase.
- OSHA machine guarding guidance: general safety and guarding awareness.
- FMCSA cargo securement rules: heavy equipment trucking and securement context.
- Trade.gov common export documents: international shipment paperwork basics.
Talk to Premier about a machine
Call (407) 786-2000, email quotes@premierequipment.com, or use the quote form on a machine listing. If you are selling equipment, send photos, specs, location, and timing so Premier can review it faster.