Purchasing doesn’t ghost you because they’re rude. They ghost you because your photos don’t answer the only question that matters: is this machine worth a site visit?
Here’s the shot list I ask for before I’ll push a used CNC toward a serious buyer.
The required pack (8–12 frames)
- Data plate — make, model, serial, year if present. Sharp, lit, readable.
- Control — full pendant/screen, not a crop that hides alarms or missing keys.
- Spindle / taper / nose — clean enough to see damage, fretting, or crash marks.
- Ways / linear guides (if visible) — don’t hide the wear band with oil and hope.
- Tool changer / turret — pockets, grippers, obvious missing tooling.
- Overall four sides — so nobody’s surprised by a missing sheet-metal panel.
- Chip pan / coolant tank area — sludge tells a story.
- Hours / docs — hour screen if available; binders, manuals, maintenance logs as separate shots.
Optional but high-value: under-power short video of spindle ramp and axis moves. One minute beats ten adjectives.
What each shot is proving
- Data plate → identity (no bait-and-switch model)
- Control → generation, options, “does it boot”
- Spindle/taper → crash and abuse history
- Ways → remaining life before scrape/rebuild talk
- ATC/turret → tooling package reality vs brochure
- Overall → transport risk and missing covers
- Chip/coolant → how it was lived in
- Docs/hours → whether claims are checkable
Red flags in photos
- Only beauty angles from far away
- Heavy filter / HDR that hides scoring
- No data plate “because it’s dirty”
- Reflections that obscure the control screen
- Seller refuses under-power video on a machine that “runs perfect”
Next step
Building a pack for a machine you want to move? Text it to me — I’ll tell you if it’s listable, needs more shots, or is a walk.
usedcnctools.com · Call or text 508-343-1219 · Taunton, MA
FAQ
Do I need a pro photographer? No. Daylight, steady hands, and the list above beat a studio shoot that skips the taper.
What about NDA shops? Crop badges and people. Don’t crop the serial if the buyer needs identity.
Can I use this for auctions too? Yes — same pack raises bid quality and cuts “not as described” fights.
Call or text 508-343-1219 · Taunton, MA