28/09/2025 By CNCBUL UK EDITOR Off

From Factory Floor to Your Workshop: Evaluating a Pre-Owned , Used , Secondhand, Surplus CNC Machines Before Purchase Okuma Genos M560-V CNC Vertical Machining Center 4-Axis made in Japan

Here’s a detailed, structured evaluation guide (with specs & best practices) for assessing a pre-owned / used / surplus Okuma Genos M560-V (4-axis or potentially 5-axis variant) vertical machining center before purchase. Use this as a “due diligence” roadmap from factory floor to your workshop.

I. Know the Machine — Baselines & Specification Check

Before visiting, acquire the original documentation (brochure, service manuals, factory data). These are your “reference envelope” — any large deviation is a red flag.

Here are some published specs for the Okuma Genos M560-V series to use as benchmarks:

Parameter	Published Value	Notes / Source
X / Y / Z travels	X = 1,050 mm, Y = 560 mm, Z = 460 mm	The “Affordable Excellence” product page gives X×Y×Z = 1,050 × 560 × 460 mm.
Table size	1,300 mm × 560 mm	Okuma Europe site lists table size 1,300 × 560 mm.
Spindle speed (max)	15,000 rpm	The product page states spindle speed up to 15,000 rpm.
Spindle motor power	22 / 18.5 kW	Okuma Europe cites motor kW = 22 / 18.5.
Tool magazine / ATC	32 tools	The product page notes a 32-tool magazine.
Rapid traverse (X/Y)	~ 40 m/min	From the product page (X–Y rapid) = 40 m/min.
Rapid traverse (Z)	~ 32 m/min	The Z rapid is given as 32 m/min.
Taper / tool interface	#40 taper (CAT-40 / BT-40)	MachineTools.com listing shows taper #40.
Machine weight / footprint	MachineTools.com lists ~16,500 lbs (~7,485 kg) for a used unit	For the Genos M560-V, Machinetools data gives weight 16,500 lbs.

Because the Genos M560-V is relatively modern, it is likely in better shape than many older machines — but wear, misuse, and deferred maintenance can take a toll.

Use these numbers to compare what the seller claims. If the inspected machine falls far short (in travel, spindle rpm, tool count, or rapid feed), that’s a warning sign of wear or modification.

II. Pre-Inspection / Offsite Questions & Required Documentation

Before going to see the machine, gather or ask for:

Maintenance / Service Logs
- Any spindle rebuilds / bearing replacements
- Way reground / re-scraping history
- ATC / tool changer maintenance
- Past repair invoices, parts replaced
Operating Hours / Usage Data
- Total hours, cutting hours
- Intensity of use (heavy cuts, continuous shifts)
Crash / Accident History
- Any tool crashes, over-travel collisions, spindle hits
Retrofits / Upgrades
- Has control been changed / replaced?
- Added axes (4th / rotary), additional sensors, automation retrofits
Spare Parts Inventory
- Does the seller have spare spindles, drives, tool changer parts, motors
Tooling / Accessories Included
- Chucks, fixtures, probes, tool holders, cooling / chip conveyors
Power / Utilities
- Voltage, phase, coolant systems, hydraulic / pneumatic requirements
Rigging / Transport Plan
- How will the machine be moved, disassembled, aligned
Inspection / Trial Rights
- Ensure you can power it up, jog axes, do test cuts
Acceptance / Warranty Clause
- A limited acceptance period post-installation is desirable

If the seller refuses or is vague on these points, it increases your risk and should affect your negotiation.

III. Visual & Structural Inspection (Before Power)

Once at the machine, before energizing anything, perform a thorough walk-around.

A. Structure, Castings & Enclosures

Examine the base, column, saddle, cross-rails for cracks, repairs (welds), distortions, or fatigue signs.
Check for corrosion, pitting, rust, especially on surfaces near coolant, chip zones, or under covers.
Inspect way covers, bellows, telescopic covers, scrapers — damaged or missing covers allow chips & coolant ingress, which accelerates wear.
Inspect the tool changer / magazine assembly: look for bent arms, missing fingers, misalignment, wear on slides.
Check all panels, doors, protective enclosures, covers — missing or damaged ones suggest neglect.
Look at wiring, cable carriers, connectors — check for damage, chafing, wire splices, nonstandard repairs.
Inspect coolant / lubrication piping, reservoirs, pumps, filters — any leaks, corrosion, or blockages.
Inspect spindle nose / taper interface area — dents, wear marks, rust.

B. Mechanical / Static Checks

Manually (if safe) or with minimal motion, move axes (X, Y, Z) slowly to feel for binding, rough spots, or uneven resistance.
Use a dial indicator or feeler gauges to test for backlash / play in each axis: push in one direction, reverse, measure “dead” motion.
Mount a test tool / arbor or dummy bar if possible, and check for axial / radial play (wiggle) in the spindle / tool interface.
Inspect lubrication points, grease pockets, oil lines for clogging, missing fittings, or leakage.
Visually assess alignment of the table / guide rails / slides with a straightedge if possible.

If major structural defects or excessive play appear, that’s a serious issue.

IV. Power-Up & Basic Electrical / Control Tests

After your visual / static checks look acceptable, carefully power up the machine with all safety protocols.

Observe the control boot sequence: look for errors, missing modules, alarms, or communications issues.
Test all operator interface components: buttons, switches, displays, hand-wheels, emergency stop.
Switch to manual / jog mode and command each axis slowly; verify smooth motion with no drive faults or alarms.
Test home / referencing / limit switch operation — axes should home and limit correctly.
Monitor motor / drive current (if metering available): unexpected surges or instability may indicate drive or electrical problems.
Test spindle start / stop, forward / reverse (if available), and check for smooth acceleration.
Test tool changer commands: eject / load, tool change sequencing.
Engage override features (feed override, spindle override) to check responsiveness.

Any faults at this stage suggest underlying electrical or servo issues.

V. Motion Testing, Accuracy & Repeatability

Assuming the axes respond, you need to stress-test motion and accuracy to uncover more subtle wear or misalignment.

A. Axis Motion / Reversal / Repeatability

Command full-axis moves across their travel at multiple speeds (slow → medium → fast); watch for stuttering, vibration, or uneven motion.
Reverse direction on axes and use a dial indicator (or test probe) to measure backlash / reversal error.
Move to a point, retract, and then return — see how precisely the axis returns (repeatability).
Run combined or interpolated moves (if controller supports) to test coordination and smoothness.
If you have a ballbar or circularity test rig, perform circular / arc tests to detect servo tuning issues, geometric distortions, or nonlinearities.

B. Spindle / Tool Interface Tests

Rotate the spindle at multiple speeds and listen for bearing noise, hum, or vibration.
Mount a test tool or indicator to measure radial runout at the spindle nose or tool holder.
Run the spindle at no load for a sustained period; watch for increases in noise or vibration (indication of failing bearings or imbalance).
If possible, load a tool and perform light cutting to test how the spindle behaves under load — look for chatter, taper error, or vibration.

C. Test Machining / Sample Part

Perform a sample machining operation (face, pocket, slot, etc.) using material similar to your intended production.
Measure the output: dimensional accuracy, surface finish, repeatability, deviation across the workpiece.
Test near the machine’s travel limits (edges) to stress the geometry extremes.
Monitor chip evacuation, coolant flow, cleanliness — poor chip or coolant behavior often reveals hidden problems.
After machining, compare results to tolerances; significant deviations indicate wear, misalignment, or control/servo issues.

If the machine fails to produce reliable parts under test, it’s a strong warning.

VI. Geometric / Alignment / Calibration Assessment

If you or a metrology technician bring precision measuring tools (straightedges, laser tools, precision indicators), perform alignment checks:

Check straightness of axes (X, Y, Z) over full travel; look for bow, sag, or deflection.
Verify parallelism between axes (e.g. table surface vs spindle path, X vs Y axes).
Check squareness / orthogonality between axes (X vs Z, Y vs Z) over travel.
Drive known move distances and measure actual vs commanded — detect scale error / linearity deviations.
Warm up the machine (run for some time), then re-check critical alignments to find thermal drift.
At extremes of travel or heavy overhangs, test whether the geometry holds or flex / twist appears.
Verify alignment of the tool changer, spindle to table, and tool-change interfaces.

Some small geometric error can be compensated, but structural distortions or severe wear may be non-repairable or costly.

VII. Estimating Refurbishment Costs & Risk Buffer

Even a well-maintained used Genos often needs refurbishment. Be realistic. Some likely areas to budget for:

Spindle bearing rebuild or replacement
Refurbishing or regrinding guideways / slides
Ball screw / nut replacement or tuning
Servo drive / motor repair or replacement
Control electronics repair or upgrade
Tool changer / ATC repair (fingers, indexing, cams)
Wiring harness repairs, cabling, connectors
Sensors, limit switches, encoders replacement
Lubrication / coolant / filtration system overhaul
Alignment, calibration, compensation tuning, shimming
Replacement of protective covers, way wipers, guards
Transport / rigging / disassembly & reassembly, leveling
Spare parts (bearings, seals, fasteners)
Contingency buffer (15–25 %) for unexpected issues

Because vertical machining centers need tight geometric integrity, even small misalignments or wear can degrade final parts significantly.

VIII. Red Flags & Deal-Breaker Conditions

While inspecting and testing, be particularly wary of the following “deal-killer” signs (or ones that demand steep discounting):

Spindle with audible noise, vibration, or heating (likely bad bearings)
Control / drive system faults, missing modules, repeated errors
Excessive backlash / slop or axis binding beyond simple repair
Structural damage: cracked or welded body, bent column / beam
Tool changer malfunctions: bent arms, misindexing, broken fingers
Missing or damaged covers, way-guards, bellows — exposing ways to chips / coolant
Obsolete control modules or electronics with no available spares
Machine cannot produce acceptable test parts or hold tolerances
Large geometric deviations (misalignment) that cannot be explained
Severe thermal drift, instability over time
Seller refusing to allow full tests, sample machining, or to provide warranty / acceptance clause