A showroom sample machine is a lathe that has been on display, demonstrated, or used for test cutting at our works and is now released for sale at a special price. It is the same machine, built the same way, checked and adjusted before it ships — the only difference is that it is no longer brand new stock.
For a workshop that needs capacity quickly, it is usually the best value in our range. This article explains what you are buying, what to check, and how the process works.
Why the price is lower
There is no secret to it. The machine has been out of its crate and run, so it cannot be sold as new stock. That is the whole reason for the discount.
Nothing else changes:
- The castings, bed and headstock are the same as a new machine of that model
- It has been adjusted and test cut, so any bedding-in issues are already behind it
- It ships with the same accessories and documentation
- It carries the same technical support from us
In effect you are buying a machine that has already had its first inspection.
What we check before a sample is offered
Every showroom machine goes through a check before it goes on the list:
- Bed wear measured along the full length of the ways, with the results recorded
- Headstock and spindle run-out checked, with bearing preload adjusted if needed
- Carriage and cross slide gibs adjusted for correct clearance
- Tailstock alignment verified against the headstock axis
- Test cut on a reference workpiece, checking diameter consistency and surface finish
- Threading verified across the range of pitches
- Electrical and safety functions checked
Anything that falls outside tolerance is corrected before the machine is offered. If it cannot be brought back into specification, it is not sold as a sample.
What to ask for when you buy
When you enquire about a sample machine, ask for:
- The measured bed wear figures
- The test cut results — diameter consistency along the length
- Photographs of the actual machine, not a stock image
- The list of accessories included
- The machine’s build year and the hours it has run
- The warranty terms that apply to a sample machine
We provide all of this as standard. If a seller cannot or will not provide it, that tells you something.
What samples suit which workshop
Samples suit shops that need to be producing quickly and cannot wait for a build slot. They are a particularly good fit for:
- Repair and maintenance shops that need a general-purpose lathe now
- Job shops adding a second or third machine to increase throughput
- Training workshops where a machine will be used for instruction
- Shops testing a new size before committing to a new machine of that model
If your requirement is a specific configuration — a particular spindle bore, centre distance or motor rating — a new machine built to order is usually the better route, because samples are sold as they stand.
How the process works
1. Tell us what you machine. Send a drawing, a part description or just describe the job. We need to know the largest diameter and length you work with.
2. We shortlist. We tell you which sample machines currently in stock will do the job, with the check results for each.
3. You inspect. Either visit the works, or we send detailed photographs and video of the machine running.
4. We agree the specification and price. Including accessories, tooling and shipping.
5. We prepare and dispatch. The machine is cleaned, re-checked against the agreed specification and packed for export.
Stock changes as machines are sold, so the list is always moving. If you are looking for a particular size, tell us and we will let you know when one comes up.
Frequently asked
Is a sample machine reliable? It is a used machine that has been checked and brought back into specification. In many cases it is more predictable than a new machine, because it has already been run and adjusted.
Can I get a warranty? Yes — the terms are confirmed with the quotation, and they reflect that the machine is a sample rather than new stock.
Can I buy tooling with it? Yes. Chucks, steadies, faceplates and toolposts are available and can be quoted with the machine.
Do you ship samples for export? Yes. We export to India, Africa and South Asia, and we handle the packing and documentation.
See what is available now
If you tell us the largest diameter and length you turn, we will tell you which machines in the current sample list will do the job, with the check results and a price. Send us your requirement and we will come back within one business day.