Buying a used Hardinge Conquest T 42 SP (or a variant of the Conquest T42 with sub-spindle / live-tooling) is a smart move if you’re cautious. These are well-built American CNC turning centers, but over years of use things degrade. Below is a professional, practical checklist—tailored for this model—to help you avoid costly mistakes.

---

Background / Typical Specs & Key Features (to benchmark against seller claims)

Before you inspect, arm yourself with common specs so you can spot exaggerations or inconsistencies. Some reference specs:

Parameter	Typical / Published Value
Max swing over bed	~ 21.2 in (≈ 538 mm)
Max turning diameter	~ 9 in (≈ 228.6 mm)
Machining length (Z travel)	~ 13.1 in (≈ 333 mm)
X (radial) travel	~ 5.31 in (≈ 134.6 mm)
Spindle bore (bar capacity)	~ 1.625 in (≈ 41.3 mm)
Spindle speed range	~ 50 – 5,000 rpm (main spindle)
Motor / power	~ 10 hp (≈ 7.5 kW) for main spindle
Control	Often GE Fanuc 18T (for this model variant)
Turret / live tooling	12 stations; often 6 with live tooling (depending on variant)

Use these as your “sanity check” when sellers quote specs. If they promise, say, 10,000 rpm or double the feed rates, question those claims strongly.

Also, get a copy of the machine’s manual (e.g., the Hardinge Conquest 42 operator’s manual for the 18T control exists) to understand control, parameters, and originally intended tolerances.

---

Inspection / Due Diligence Checklist

Below is a structured checklist you can bring with you (or send to a technician) when evaluating a used Conquest T 42 SP. Go through it step by step.

1. Documentation & History

• Maintenance logs & service history
  Request all historical records: lubrication, alignment checks, spindle rebuilds, control repairs, etc.
• Usage profile & parts history
  What kinds of materials did it run (stainless, cast iron, etc.)? Heavy duty or occasional work?
• Hours / cycles / duty
  Try to get spindle hours, axis movements, tool changes count.
• Modifications, retrofits, and “surprises”
  Ask whether any drives, motors, controllers, or electronics were replaced or retrofitted.
• Parts, schematics, wiring diagrams, and spares included
  Having original drawings and spare boards is a big advantage.
• Manufacturer’s original specs / certificate
  Confirm serial number and model plate (T 42 SP vs plain T42) to avoid mislabeling.

If the seller cannot or will not produce decent documentation, treat that as a red flag.

---

2. Visual / Structural Inspection (Before Powering)

Some problems reveal themselves even when cold.

• Frame, castings, base
  Look for cracks, welds, distortions or repairs. Check whether the bed is warped or sagged.
• Way covers, scrapers, bellows, guards
  Damaged or missing protective covers mean that chips or coolant may have infiltrated critical surfaces.
• Guideways / ways
  Examine for pitting, scoring, rust, or signs of heavy wear.
• Ball screws / leadscrews
  Check for wear, backlash, binding, or uneven friction when manually moving (if possible).
• Spindle nose / taper / contact surfaces
  Inspect for nicks, wear, or corrosion. Use a test holder to verify how well it seats.
• Coolant and hydraulic systems
  Look for sludge, corrosion, leaks, and condition of coolant tanks and piping.
• Electrical cabinet & wiring
  Inspect insulation, terminal blocks, signs of overheating, or ad-hoc wiring.
• Accessory systems
  Check tool turret, live tooling drive units, sub-spindle (if present), chucks, collet assemblies, coolant nozzles, chip conveyor, etc.

Take plenty of photos and record locations of wear or damage. They become your evidence.

---

3. Powered / Functional Testing (Live Machine)

If the machine can be powered and controlled, perform the following:

A. Power-up & Basic Control Behavior

• Watch for abnormal startup currents, phase imbalances, or tripping.
• Observe any initial alarms, error messages, or control faults.
• Let the machine warm up; check whether temperatures stabilize or drift.
• Confirm that all control functions, keys, jogs, overrides, etc., are responsive.

B. Axes Motion Tests

• Move each axis (X, Z) over full travel at slow, medium, fast speeds. Note smoothness, stiction, binding, rough patches.
• Reverse direction, see backlash, hysteresis, overshoot behavior.
• Test accelerations / decelerations to detect lag or overshoot.
• If simultaneous motion (e.g., movements while spindle turning) is possible, test that.

C. Spindle Tests

• Spin spindle(s) across speed range (low to high). Listen for unusual noise (grinding, whine, squeal).
• Let spindle run for an extended period and monitor temperature.
• If possible, test for axial and radial play in the spindle; any measurable looseness is expensive.
• Inspect spindle lubrication (oil or grease), check for metal particles, contamination in coolant.
• Under light load (if safe), test vibration or runout behavior.

D. Turret / Live Tooling / Sub-spindle (if applicable)

• Cycle the turret fully, index it randomly, test response and repeatability.
• Run live tooling (milling/drilling) if installed; test rpm, torque, vibration.
• If there’s a sub-spindle, test transfer, chucking, back and forth motion.
• Test tool change sequencing under load, check for misfeeds or errors.
• Operate clamping systems (hydraulic, pneumatic) and check for stable pressure, leaks, slow response.

E. CNC & Software / Control

• Access alarm logs, diagnostic screens, memory usage, and error histories.
• Load or enter a test program; run a dry (no-cut) test to check motion logic.
• Edit, save, and restore a program to test memory reliability.
• Verify offset tables, macro usage, parameter loading, backup/restore capabilities.
• If the control is original (Fanuc 18T or equivalent), confirm firmware / hardware authenticity.

If any subsystem refuses to function or shows serious deviations, use that in negotiation or walk away.

---

4. Accuracy, Tolerance & Test Cut Validation

Even if the machine “works,” it must produce parts within your required tolerances.

• Linear positioning / repeatability tests (compare actual vs nominal). Use high-precision measuring equipment (laser interferometer, gauge blocks, etc.).
• Ballbar / circular interpolation tests to detect servo misbehavior or dynamic errors.
• Test cuts / benchmark parts: machine representative parts and measure key dimensions, surface finish, runout, roundness, repeat cycles.
• Thermal drift / warm-up stability: run for a few hours, check whether dimensions drift.
• Dynamic load tests under real cutting conditions (speeds, feeds) to see stability under load.

Establish and enforce acceptance criteria in writing (e.g. “X-axis repeatability must be ≤ ± 0.01 mm over full travel”) prior to purchase.

---

5. Spare Parts, Serviceability & Obsolescence Risks

This is often where used machines become expensive over time.

• Critical wear / consumable parts
  Spindle bearings, collets, seals, belts, guides—all must be available.
• Electronics, drives, and control modules
  Older controls, boards, or drive modules may be obsolete. Confirm parts’ availability or equivalent substitutes.
• Control support & firmware
  Ensure the CNC system (Fanuc 18T or variant) is still supported and spare parts exist.
• Local serviceability & support
  In Türkiye / your region, verify whether there are suppliers, retrofit houses, or service engineers familiar with Hardinge machines.
• Documentation & parts catalogue
  Having original parts lists, exploded views, wiring diagrams is a huge asset.
• Spare / backup modules included in deal
  Negotiate for essential spares (bearings, fuses, boards, collets) as part of the purchase.

If a key module is unobtainable, your machine becomes a liability.

---

6. Installation, Logistics & Hidden Costs

Many buyers underestimate the “other” costs around the machine itself.

• Transport / rigging
  Large CNC lathes are heavy and require proper disassembly, crating, crane/rigging at both ends.
• Foundation & leveling / anchoring
  The floor may need reinforcements, anchor bolts, damped foundation or vibration isolation.
• Electrical power / infrastructure
  Confirm supply voltage, phase, grounding, cable sizing, power quality, transformers.
• Cooling / coolant systems & filtration
  You may need to refurbish or replace coolant pumps, piping, filtration, sumps.
• Commissioning, alignment & calibration
  After installation, you must align axes, calibrate, tune.
• Operator training, tooling setup & debugging
  Expect time and expense in bringing your operators up to speed.
• Downtime & ramp-up period
  Allow buffer time for debugging, rework, fine-tuning before full production.

Get realistic quotes for these “soft” but expensive items and include them when comparing against new/other machines.

---

7. Contractual Protections & Acceptance Terms

Because risk is higher with used machines, your purchase contract should protect you:

• Conditional / provisional acceptance
  Don’t finalize full payment until all tests, alignments, and test cuts pass.
• Holdback / escrow
  Retain part of payment until satisfactory performance is proven.
• Acceptance criteria specification
  Write in allowable tolerances, test protocols, alignment tolerances, etc.
• Warranty / guarantee period
  Even for used machines, negotiate a limited warranty on major components (spindle, drives, control).
• Spare parts & documentation handover
  Ensure delivery of any spare parts, manuals, schematics, and parameter backups.
• Liability for hidden defects
  Include recourse if critical faults emerge soon after installation.
• Right to third-party inspection
  Allow your technician or an independent party to inspect and sign off.

---

8. Major Red Flags / Deal Killers

Watch out for these; encountering more than one is a warning sign:

• Seller refuses full functional tests, motion tests, or test cuts.
• No maintenance or service history; or logs look falsified.
• Long idle period, especially in poor environment (damp, dusty, unprotected).
• Spindle play, vibration, or abnormal noises on test spin.
• Axes binding, rough motion, or excessive backlash.
• Turret mis-indexing, tool change errors, or failed live tooling.
• Obsolete or unavailable parts.
• Control modules are missing or heavily modified.
• Price far lower than comparable machines without clear justification.
• Serial numbers, nameplates, or model plates are missing or defaced.

If you hit multiple red flags, walk away or negotiate heavily.

---

9. Post-Delivery / First Tasks After Taking Ownership

Once you accept delivery and installation, do the following immediately:

1. Thorough cleaning & flushing of coolant, oil lines, filters, sumps.
2. Replace consumables / wear parts: seals, filters, belts, fluids, collets if needed.
3. Precise leveling, alignment & calibration.
4. Baseline performance testing: same ballbar, test cuts, positioning checks.
5. Set up compensation / offsets as needed based on test results.
6. Preventive maintenance plan: schedule lubrication, inspections, vibration monitoring.
7. Stock essential spares: bearings, seals, electronics, collets.
8. Operator training & process validation.
9. Performance monitoring & logging: alarms, drift, deviations — watch trends.