22/09/2025 By CNCBUL UK EDITOR Off

What Industry Experts Recommend Before Purchasing a Pre-Owned / Second-Hand / used Röders RXP 600 DSH CNC 5-Axis High Speed Machining Center?

If you’re considering buying a used/pre-owned Röders RXP 600 DSH (or similar high-speed 5-axis machining center), industry experts recommend doing a very thorough evaluation — there are many subsystems, tolerances, and use-history factors that can greatly affect performance, remaining life, and total cost of ownership. Below is a detailed checklist of what to look for, what to inspect, and what to ask.

What Röders RXP 600 DSH Is / Key Specs to Know

First, to know what you’re checking against, here are some of the “as-new” or typical published specs for the RXP-600 DSH or the closely related RPT 600 DSH model:

Spec	Value / Range
Machining (travel) envelope / work area	~ 470 × 530 × 300 mm (approx)
Feed rates	Up to ~ 60,000 mm/min (for some models)
Spindle speed	42,000 rpm is common, with HSK tool interface (often E40)
Tool changer capacity	e.g. 42 or 87 positions (depending on config)
Workpiece weight max	~ 60 kg (for this size machine)

Knowing these helps you check whether the used unit meets your production needs (size, speed, capacity).

What to Inspect / Ask for Before Buying

Here is what experts recommend to check, inspect or ask about — mechanical, controls, history, and support.

1. Machine Condition & Maintenance History

Usage / working hours / load history: Ask how many hours the spindle has run, and under what conditions (continuous heavy cuts vs intermittent light duty). Has the machine been used for hard materials, casting, etc.? Heavy duty or abrasive work will accelerate wear.
Maintenance documentation: Service records, parts replaced, spindle overhauls, crash history. Machines forced to run with issues tend to have cascading wear.
Environment: How was it installed? Temperatures, humidity, cleanliness, presence of coolant corrosion, dust, vibration, etc. These affect precision and electronics.
Crash or damage history: Any collisions (tool, workholding, fixtures) that knocked out axes or damaged rails, bearings, the rotary/swivel axes.

2. Spindle Condition

Run spindle at various speeds: Listen for noise, vibration, bearing play. At high RPM, bearing health is critical. Worn bearings degrade precision and surface finish.
Spindle growth (thermal expansion): Röders machines often have spindle-temperature compensation; check whether that system is working.
Spindle interface condition: Check the taper / HSK fitting for damage, wear, cleanliness. Any deformation or wear here will cause run-out, vibration.

3. Axes, Rotary / Swivel Components

Accuracy of the rotary & swivel axes: Because this is a 5-axis machine, the C-axis and tilt (B or whatever swivel) must hold angular accuracy and repeatability. Check for backlash or slop. A test: index file/boring/nib into a workpiece, rotate 180°, check repeatability; etc. Similar to advice in 5-axis buy-used forums.
Encoder condition: Röders uses high-precision optical encoders on all axes (linear + rotary) in “new” spec. Check that these have not been degraded/damaged.
Linear guides, ball screws: Are the rails, ballscrews, slides well maintained, lubricated? Any grease contamination, scoring, gelled lubrication, rust? These affect motion smoothness and accuracy.

4. Accuracy / Geometric Tests

Volumetric accuracy: Measure geometric errors throughout the work envelope. Checking “volumetric” errors (not just single axis) is crucial for high precision.
Repeatability tests: Move to a point, mark it, move away and back, see if same.
Test actual machining of a reference workpiece: Use a known geometry that exercises all axes (tilt, rotate, plunge, etc.) and see surface finish, tolerances, straightness.
Thermal drift behavior: See how machine stabilizes when running a warm-up, in production; whether dimensions shift.

5. Controls, NC / Software, Tooling & Accessories

Controller version and condition: Is it original? Has it been updated/retrofit? Are spare parts and support available for the version in that machine?
Tool changer & magazine: Does it shift tools reliably? Are grippers tight, magazine free of wear, misalignments?
Probing / measurement systems: If it has integrated probing (e.g. 3D probe) or laser tool measurement, check those are functioning and calibrated. These are often optional add-ons and can be expensive to repair or replace. The used RXP 600 DSH from Gindumac included a laser tool measurement and spindle temperature compensation.
Workholding / pallet systems: Condition of pallets, chucks, fixtures. In RXP 600 DSH case or related machines, look at how work is fixed, capacity (weight, size) etc.

6. Auxiliary Subsystems

Chip removal / coolant systems: Efficiency and condition of chip conveyors, screw conveyors, coolant filtration, coolant pump, coolant type used. Poor coolant filtration or coolant contamination will damage tools/spindle etc.
Lubrication system: Are automatic lubrication systems functioning? Are there leaks?
Cooling systems: For spindle, for linear axes, for machine ambient. Röders machines often include cooling for spindle and linear drives. These must be working.
Electrical / wiring / power supply: Check for overheating, proper insulation, no burned components. Any modifications? Aging capacitors, fans, etc.
Safety systems: Doors, guards, interlocks.

7. Capacity & Size Fit for Your Needs

Travel / envelope vs your parts: Make sure your maximum workpiece size (including fixturing, clearance for tilt/rotation) fits. Sometimes published envelope doesn’t translate to usable envelope due to fixture size etc.
Feed / RPM capability relative to your materials: If you work with hard/hardened steels or interrupted cuts, check whether feed and torque available at necessary RPM are sufficient.
Tool diameter & reach limitations: Big tools may interfere with head/swing, or cause collisions in 5-axis.
Workpiece weight: If your part is heavy, check payload limits of rotary and swivel axes, table strength etc.

8. Total Cost of Ownership Factors

Spare parts availability & cost: In your region, are parts (spindle bearings, encoders, rotary axis parts, controllers) available? Lead times? Import costs?
Servicing & technical support: Röders support availability, local service engineers, expertise with this specific model.
Energy consumption, running costs: Operating costs for power, cooling, compressed air, etc.
Resale value / expected depreciation: If you plan to re-sell, condition and history will matter.
Warranty or guarantee (if any): Sometimes sellers of used machines will offer limited warranty or support period; this is valuable.

9. Inspection On-site / Factory Acceptance Tests

Operational test: Run the machine under load, with typical cuts (if possible) to feel cutting forces, thermal behavior, chatter, vibration.
Visual inspection: Check for signs of rust, corrosion, especially on rails, bearings, spindle taper; check alignment of doors, windows, covers; condition of way covers.
Check error logs / alarm history: What faults has it had in the past? Does it frequently alarm for thermal issues, axis overloads, tool change errors etc.?
Check documentation: Operator manuals, maintenance manuals, wiring diagrams, parts lists. If missing, replacement may be hard.

Risks / Common Pitfalls with 5-Axis / High-Speed Used Machines

Here are things that people often underestimate, which later lead to big cost:

Spindle rebuilds at high RPM are expensive, and if bearings are worn, performance drops (surface finish, concentricity).
Rotary axis wear (bearings, gear teeth or direct drives). Tilt/swivel axes may have more wear due to use/force, especially in older machines.
Controller obsolescence: Older control electronics may have parts discontinued; software updates unavailable; integration issues.
Thermal and geometric drift: High-speed machines are sensitive to small temperature changes. If cooling/temperature compensation not maintained, accuracy suffers.
Usage history of hard materials or abrasive materials: Abrasives and hard steels wear guides, spindles faster.
Hidden damage from crashes or misuse. Even “minor” crashes may bend or misalign components in ways not obvious until high-precision parts are made.
Hidden cost of tooling, fixturing, attachments needed to make the machine useful for your parts.