Thread: WTB- Makino KE-55 CNC mill

Prefer newer model with Fanuc 21i color LCD control, but would consider others.

Don, did'nt one of the newer ones just sell today in your neck of the woods.Later Jason.

Originally Posted by demoj21

Don, did'nt one of the newer ones just sell today in your neck of the woods.Later Jason.

Yes, but not to me. Gawd, what an awful auction....among other things, a questionable Moore G18 jig grinder went for aprox $19,000 (incl buyer rip). I had a G18 way nicer about a year ago and I couldn't get half that much. An antique Moore no. 2 jig grinder went for aprox $8,000. Both with no tooling. Huge crowd, one of the largest I've ever seen...not to mention 150 folks on Bidspotter.

Don,

Didn't you just have one of those? Maybe a bit older with the Fanuc OM.... but I was drooling and contemplating when you posted it for sale..... sweet machines.

Originally Posted by Brian

Don,

Didn't you just have one of those? Maybe a bit older with the Fanuc OM.... but I was drooling and contemplating when you posted it for sale..... sweet machines.

Yeah I did...sort of...mine was the RMC model. The KE has some advantages...like 3 handwheels instead of 2 and more intuitive control and operations panel.

Anyone here have experience running one of these? I do mostly prototypes and this would seem to be geared in that direction.

Who was the auctioneer?

Originally Posted by Mebfab

Who was the auctioneer?

CIA mostly...but they were in cahoots with Myron Bowling. Since I first posted about the Makino yesterday I've found out what some of the stuff sold for after I left and it is mind boggling....like twice what I could get.

Note to self, never ever go to any auction near Asheville, NC

Forgot to mention, if anyone has a late KE-55 for sale, please email me directly at procyon@charter.net

Huge crowd, one of the largest I've ever seen...not to mention 150 folks on Bidspotter.

Wow, if those 150 folks were bidders, that is really something, as you had to have a min. deposit of 5K to bid online!

I was there, the prices were astronomical. Small tools such as calipers were selling for retail price or more, BEFORE adding in the additional 12% BP. The only deals I saw, were some of the big heat treat furnaces, IF a person needed them.

Originally Posted by Davis In SC

I was there, the prices were astronomical. Small tools such as calipers were selling for retail price or more, BEFORE adding in the additional 12% BP. The only deals I saw, were some of the big heat treat furnaces, IF a person needed them.

Speaking of small tools, tell them about the Bridgeport vise

Sheesh, who were the nut cases bidding at this auction ? It was like a race shop auction back in the glory days

At the second sale location, there was a table of mill vises. One Kurt, and a bunch of the old Bridgeport ones. A guy bid way up there, 350, IIRC, and got choice of one or all at that price. He took one, and it was one of the old BP's..

Don, just compare this sale to the one 2 years ago at the Afa sprayer plant.. Prices on Thursday were double or triple what things brought back at that sale.

Maybe this is a sign the economy is getting better..

Just bumping this thread up as I'm still hot to trott on a KE-55 with En control. I now have a KE-55 with Jn control and like it so much I want the En as well !

Originally Posted by rob daniel

Anyone here have experience running one of these? I do mostly prototypes and this would seem to be geared in that direction.

If you don't need the versatility of a Deckel or Maho, this is the ultimate prototype mill, bar none.