CNC Machines LLC has launched cncmachines.com, a free price guide tool aimed at small machine shops and machining startups. It works similarly to sites such as Zillow or Zestimate, the company says, giving manufacturers a price guide when buying or selling their used machines for a fair market value. The tool was tested with manufacturers at IMTS 2018, who provided feedback on its function and features and ideas for expanding features.

The site is said to provide free access to valuations for most CNC machine tools, from five-axis milling machines to waterjet systems. Buyers and sellers go to the site and follow three guided steps to determine pricing in a process the company compares to how Kelley Blue Book provides used car valuations.

The developers of the tool stress that the main goal of the tool is to help U.S. machinists and manufacturers grow through cost transparency. They also say the tool will not only help manufacturers to get the most value for their used CNC Machines, but over the long term will also help to grow the industry and provide more opportunities, jobs and ROI without unnecessary overhead costs.

The company’s rationale behind the site is to protect buyers and sellers, especially smaller shops and startups, when it comes to acquiring or getting rid of used machines on their own rather than through a dealer. According to CNC Machines LLC, small and mid-size machine shops with modest budgets often rely on pre-owned CNC machinery, which are frequently resold not because the machine is not functional, but rather because the owner’s manufacturing needs have changed.