CNC Vertical Machining Centers
Used Fadal 2016L: Sell or Buy at Auction
Fadal is an American CNC vertical machining center brand: hugely popular in the North American job shop market through the 1980s and 1990s. Fadal VMCs are known for their rugged construction, the Fadal CNC 88HS and 32MP control systems, and exceptional longevity. Thousands of Fadal machines remain in active production use, creating a large and active used market.
The Fadal VMC 2016L is a compact three-axis vertical machining center from Fadal Machining Centers, and one of the most common small Fadals on the used market. Travels run roughly 20 inches in X, 16 inches in Y, and 20 inches in Z, following Fadal's convention of naming the machine for its X and Y travel, over a table of about 16 by 29.5 inches rated to roughly 2,000 pounds. The spindle uses the CAT40 taper that Fadal built its reputation on, driven by a 15 horsepower motor, with speeds that run to 7,500 or 10,000 RPM depending on the spindle option and 15,000 RPM high-speed spindles found on some later units. A side-mount changer holds 21 tools, and the control varies with vintage: the earlier CNC 88 and 88HS on 1990s machines, and the newer 32MP on later ones. That mix of a small footprint, a rigid 40-taper spindle, and the familiar Fadal control makes the 2016L a go-to for toolrooms, prototype shops, and small manufacturers who need real cutting capability without the floor space or power draw of a full-size VMC. KD Auctions moves these Fadal CNC machines briskly at auction, drawing bids from the deep bench of Fadal-trained shops inside our 500,000+ industry contacts, especially units with documented spindle and servo service history.
Buying a Used 2016L
Job shops, toolrooms, general manufacturing operations, and small manufacturers seeking affordable, proven vertical machining capability. Fadal's massive installed base means experienced operators are widely available, a key factor in buyer demand.
Browse Upcoming Auctions →Selling Your 2016L
Fadal VMCs sell reliably at auction. The massive North American installed base creates a consistent buyer pool of job shops and toolrooms. Machines with recent servo and spindle service, and updated control boards, achieve the strongest results.
Get a Free Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Fadal VMC 2016L worth at auction?
Auction value for a 2016L comes down to its age, spindle and servo hours, overall condition, the control it carries (the older CNC 88HS versus the newer 32MP), and the tooling and fixturing that sell with it. Rather than quote a figure sight unseen, KD Auctions provides a free AMEA-accredited, USPAP-compliant appraisal that reports both orderly liquidation value (OLV) and forced liquidation value (FLV), so you know where your machine stands before you decide to sell.
How does the 2016L differ from a larger Fadal VMC like the 4020?
The 2016L is Fadal's compact 20 by 16 inch platform, with roughly half the X travel of a VMC 4020 and a noticeably smaller footprint, so it suits toolroom, prototype, and small-part work rather than large production runs. Both share the same CAT40 spindle and Fadal control family, so operators move between them easily. If you have a 2016L to sell, call KD Auctions at 480.455.3910: managed auctions run 6 to 10 weeks from engagement to payout, with onsite dispatch typically within 48 to 72 hours.
About Fadal
Fadal is an American CNC vertical machining center brand: hugely popular in the North American job shop market through the 1980s and 1990s.
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