Define Your Need

• What tolerances do you need to hold?
• How large are your lot sizes?
• How flexible do you want to be?

Answer those three questions and you can immediately narrow the field on the brands and types of machines that you should consider. At Lindstrom Machining, we typically hold +/- 0.0004" tolerances, run lots ranging from 50 to 2,000 pieces and want a high level of flexibility. For us, Milltronics is a perfect fit. The machines provide the accuracy we need, and the conversational programming allows us to quickly tackle small jobs that would prove unprofitable with longer setup and programming times.

Lease vs Buy

Generally speaking, leasing can make sense in the face of uncertainty. If you're establishing a new shop and aren't sure of where you'll be in five years, a lease can be a cost-effective way to start your business while avoiding a large capital expenditure and maintaining some flexibility.

Similarly, if you're taking on a new job that requires specialized capabilities that might not provide value to the rest of your work, leasing a machine can let you take that on, even if you don't have a high level of confidence that it'll be there in the long term.

In most other situations, purchasing a machine will yield a better ROI.

New vs Used

Shops don't get rid of a machine because they're happy with it. It may have just been a poor fit for their operations, but it might also represent problems with performance or lack of support. When considering purchasing a used machine, it's important to understand why it's being sold and to factor the lack of a warranty into the price.

Additionally, depending on how you finance capital equipment purchases, you will likely get more favorable terms on a new machine, which is another factor to take into account. A used machine can make sense in select situations, but it's usually better to buy new.

Compare Apples to Apples

Once you've narrowed a choice down to a handful of machines, you'll start to consider price. Make sure the figures you're comparing include the features you need and aren't just base prices. Depending on the company, a base machine may or may not include through-spindle coolant, chip management, and so on. For each builder that's in the running, ask for pricing that has all the options you've decided on.

For a deeper look at this topic, see What's Really Included in Your CNC Machine Price?

Verify You'll be Supported

Even the best shop running the best machine will eventually encounter unexpected issues. When that happens, a lack of timely support can completely wreck your profitability for the month. In a worst-case scenario, it can go so far as to impact the long-term health of your business.

Before signing a purchase order for any machine, make sure you're confident in the level of service you'll receive. Ask about the builder's spare parts inventory. Meet the service team. Talk to other shops that can tell you about the support they've received. Know the risk you're taking on and only move forward if you're comfortable with it.

Be Curious

Even the best machine tool builders aren't perfect, and they may have a gap that would directly impact your success. Additionally, companies change over time. If you've had a long-held opinion of a specific builder, it may well be out of date. That goes for both good opinions and bad.

Given the price and potential impact of a machine tool, it always pays to be curious. No machine or company is all upside. Understand what a builder does well and where they could improve. Ask what they're doing to maintain the former and address the latter. And if it's a company you haven't worked with before, talk to some of their current customers before establishing a new relationship.

Always Add These Three Options (Four if You're Buying a Milltronics)

Every shop's needs are unique, but there are some machine features that are nearly universal in providing a level of value that far outpaces their cost. The following three areas fall into that category, with a bonus addition for if you're buying a Milltronics machine.