If you’re looking to buy a pre-owned Takisawa TS-20 / TS-20C CNC Lathe, that’s a solid machine—but as with any used gear, there are many things that can go sideways if you’re not careful. Below is a detailed guide: what specs to watch, what to test, what problems show up often, red flags, and how to negotiate wisely.

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Key Specs to Know, What a Good TS-20C Should Do

To spot when a machine is under-performing (or overstated), you need to know what it should deliver. Here are specs from a TS-20C listing plus related variants.

Spec	Typical Values for TS-20C / TS-20
Control	Fanuc Series 21i-T in TS-20C (2001 unit)
Spindle bore (through hole)	~ 63 mm
Max spindle speed	~ 4,000 RPM
Swing over bed / turning diameter	~ 260 mm
Turning length / Z-travel	~ 463 mm for TS-20C version
X-axis travel	~ 180 mm
Turret capacity	12 tools (stations) on that listing
Tailstock quill travel	~ 100 mm
Spindle nose & taper	A2-6 nose, Tool Taper: MK-5
Power / electrical load	~ 25 kVA connected load in the listing

These give you benchmarks to test against what the seller claims. If something is significantly worse (less travel, slower spindle, worn parts), you should expect a price drop or require refurbishment.

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What to Inspect & Test On-Site

Here are the crucial subsystems and aspects to check / test in person, what to look for, and how to identify problems.

Component / System	Tests / Inspection Steps	What to Look For / Common Problems
Spindle & Bearings	• Run spindle at different RPMs (low, medium, high). Listen for noise, vibration.   • Measure run-out at spindle nose (chuck nose) or spindle bore with indicator.   • Check for heat buildup after say 30 mins or so under moderate load.   • Inspect spindle taper & nose for wear/fretting or corrosion.   • Check bearing lubrication: whether oiling system works, whether seals are good.	Bearing wear leads to noise, vibration, poor finish. Run-out degrades accuracy. Fretting damages taper, difficult to repair. Heat is a sign of bearing or lubrication issues.
Axes (X, Z), Slideways / Ways	• Move X & Z axes full travel: smoothness, whether there are sticking points.   • Check backlash: move to a position, then reverse, measure error.   • Inspect slideway surfaces: gouges, rust, pitting, “steps.”   • Check condition of screws, nuts, and any linear guides: play, wear, binding.   • Lubrication: are way lube / axis lubrication systems working; any leaks.	Worn slideways reduce accuracy, repeatability; wear can become severe and difficult or expensive to repair. Screws with backlash degrade surface finish and precision. Poor lubrication rapidly accelerates wear.
Turret / Tool Holding	• Operate turret through all tool indexing; check for mis-indexing, slow movement, noisy operation.   • Test tool change: load/unload tools, check tool holders seat well, no play.   • Inspect turret drive/motor, sensors (tool positions).   • Examine cutting tools / holders: condition, compatibility.	A bad or sloppy turret causes downtime, tool life issues, possible damage to the spindle or tool holders. Sensors out of adjustment can cause “tool number wrong” issues or crashes.
Tailstock, Quill, Workholding	• Inspect tailstock alignment: can it be brought to center; is there play or wobble in the quill.   • Test quill travel, locking mechanism.   • Check workholding: chuck, chuck jaws, whether they clamp well; condition of chuck bore; any chuck run-out.   • If a steady rest or guide bush / bar stock capacity is relevant, check those.	Misaligned tailstock / worn quill causes taper in long parts; weak locking leads to chatter or movement under load. Bad chuck or jaws causes vibration, poor finish.
Control System / CNC & Electronics	• Power up the machine: see if control boots cleanly; check for error/alarms.   • Test display, control panel, hard keys / buttons, emergency stops.   • Check wiring, connectors: signs of moisture, burn, corrosion.   • Confirm fan / cooling in control cabinet works.   • See if parts / boards / spare modules are still available or obsolescent.   • Check for parameter memory, backups, whether operator manuals are included.	Old electronics may be unreliable or parts hard to replace. Corrosion, heat damage degrade reliability. Lack of backups / documentation makes maintenance much harder.
Coolant & Lubrication	• Inspect coolant tank: cleanliness (rust, sludge), proper filters.   • Check coolant flow, hoses, nozzles; look for leaks.   • Lubrication systems for slideways / screws: are automatic systems working? Any oil leaks.   • Check whether coolant through spindle or any additional cooling is functioning (if machine is equipped).   • Check chip management: conveyor or way of removing chips; cleanliness inside covers.	Poor coolant or lubrication causes overheating, rust, slideway deterioration, shorter life of parts. Leaks / bypassed systems are common sources of hidden damage. Chips inside covers or around critical bearings cause damage.
Test Part & Accuracy / Repeatability	• If seller allows, run a test job typical of what you plan to do.   • Measure surface finish, concentricity, turning accuracy, alignment of features etc.   • Do multiple repeats: same program, see whether results drift over repetitions or as machine heats up.   • Move axes to known positions and return, measure error.   • For longer cuts or turning long workpieces, check taper or deflection.	Even if looks clean, only under real load do many issues appear: heat drift, vibration, spindle deflection, etc. Repeatability problems often hide until actual use.
Physical Condition & Structural Integrity	• Check for dents, damage, weld repairs (especially near the bed, carriage, headstock).   • Check bed alignment & flatness; whether base has been properly supported / leveled.   • Look for rust, paint flaking, corrosion—especially in slideways, leadscrews or in areas where coolant or chips accumulate.   • Guards, covers, shields in place and intact.   • Tailstock, guide rails, chuck guards etc. properly installed.	Structural damage can misalign machining; rust or corrosion can penetrate and cause hidden issues. Missing or damaged guards often indicate neglect and may also be a safety liability.
Usage History & Maintenance Records	• Ask for hours of operation, particularly cutting hours vs just powered on/idling.   • Maintenance logs: bearing changes, slideway lubrication, alignment checks.   • Any history of crashes, overloads, misuse.   • Environment: shop conditions (humidity, cleanliness, dust, coolant quality).   • Whether original manuals, spare parts lists, etc. are included or obtainable.	Good records strongly reduce risk. Poor environment, neglect accelerate wear. Prior damage, even if “made to work,” may mean latent problems. Documentation helps in future repairs.

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Common Problems / Weaknesses Seen in Takisawa TS / TS-20 / Similar Machines

From adverts, forums, and used machine reports, here are issues people often run into with Takisawa TS-20 machines:

• Turret sensor or turret “Not Ready” errors: Some TS-20 units show “Not Ready” status because turret sensors (tool position, clamp, or indexing sensors) are out of adjustment or failing.
• Electrical / wiring / sensor issues: Aging wiring, connectors, and sensors especially around the turret, tailstock, door interlocks often cause intermittent faults.
• Control panel / display aging: CRTs or early digital displays sometimes are dim, partially failing, or control buttons worn, causing difficulty in operation.
• Slideway / bed wear: Especially if lubrication has been neglected, or if chips/coolant slurry have leaked into ways, slideways can show wear or corrosion.
• Spindle speed / power deficits: Some older TS-20s may be advertised with higher RPMs but have slower spindle motors, or lower torque, or worn bearings.
• Missing or inoperative coolant / chip removal systems: Often coolant pumps, filters, or chutes are neglected, or chip conveyors don’t work.
• Limited parts availability for older FANUC or proprietary boards: If the machine is older, some parts may be scarce or expensive.

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Red Flags (Deal-Breakers)

If you see any of the following, they’re serious warnings unless the price is very good or the seller commits to repairs / parts replacement:

1. Spindle run-out above what you can tolerate; spindle noise or heat that indicates bearing problems.
2. Severe backlash in axes (X or Z) that causes accuracy errors, or slideways with visible damage / rust that cannot be cleaned up.
3. Turret mis-indexing, tool-change problems, or “Not Ready” faults due to sensors that are erratic or cannot be fixed easily.
4. Control or electrical faults that recur or are vague (“buzzing,” “not ready,” unexplained alarms). Especially old or failing control boards, used terminals, or wiring in bad shape.
5. Coolant / lubrication systems not working (or bypassed), filthy or rusted coolant tank, leaks, or damaged line hoses.
6. Missing critical accessories (e.g. chuck, jaws, tailstock with quill, tool holders), or mismatched tooling.
7. Structural damage: damage to bed, headstock, base; warping, base leveling problems.
8. No documentation: no maintenance records, no manuals, no parts catalogues; or seller can’t show hours under load vs idle.
9. Poor environmental condition: machine exposed to moisture, rust, dirty shop, lots of chip accumulation especially in sensitive areas (turret, guides, sensors).
10. Seller refuses or heavily limits your ability to run a test piece or to measure critical tolerances.

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How to Negotiate & What Hidden Costs to Build Into Your Offer

Even if everything looks good, there are likely costs lurking. These should factor into your offer or budget:

• Bearing / spindle rebuild costs.
• Slideways / guide maintenance: repolishing or scraping ways, replacing lead screws or nuts.
• Turret / tool holder refurbishment (sensors, actuators, cleanups).
• Replacing worn or missing tooling, chucks, jaws, tailstock quill, etc.
• Control electronics or display replacements (if old or failing).
• Clean-up, coolant tank clean / filter replacement, and coolant system repair.
• Transportation, rigging, unloading, installing, leveling. TS-20 is a heavy machine; mis-moving can damage it.
• Electrical / power supply upgrades or modifications, especially if your shop has different voltage / phase than what the machine currently has.
• Safety compliance, guarding, interlocks if local regulations have changed.
• First production run: time to adjust, calibrate, test parts; scrap or trial parts.