CNC Vertical Machining Centers
Used Fadal VMC 3016: 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 3016 is a three-axis CNC vertical machining center from the heart of Fadal's VMC range, built around roughly 30 inches of X-axis travel, 16 inches of Y-axis travel, and about 20 inches in Z, with a CAT40 spindle taper. Most examples run one of Fadal's own controls, the earlier CNC88HS or the later 32MP, and many have since been retrofitted, so control vintage varies from machine to machine. A typical configuration pairs a 10,000 RPM class spindle with a 21-tool automatic changer, enough capability to hold real production tolerances without the mass or utility draw of a larger frame. Its footprint sits between the compact VMC 2216 and the larger VMC 4020, giving job shops a table sized for multi-part fixturing in a machine that still fits a smaller floor plan and standard shop power. Toolrooms and contract manufacturers buy the 3016 for that middle ground: enough travel and tool capacity to run part families across a shift, at a size and price a growing shop can justify. Buyers also value how well the Fadal platform is supported, with control boards, spindle cartridges, and servo parts still widely available across the aftermarket, which keeps these machines serviceable long after Fadal itself stopped building them. KD Auctions moves Fadal CNC machines to buyers drawn from the brand's large North American installed base and a network of 500,000+ industry contacts. The strongest results go to machines that carry documented spindle and servo service and a healthy, current control.
Buying a Used VMC 3016
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 VMC 3016
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 3016 worth at auction?
Value comes down to the machine's age, spindle hours, and overall condition, which control it carries (the earlier CNC88HS, the later 32MP, or a third-party retrofit), and the tooling and fixturing included. Rather than quote a blanket number, KD Auctions provides a free AMEA-accredited, USPAP-compliant appraisal covering both orderly liquidation value (OLV) and forced liquidation value (FLV), so you have defensible figures for your specific machine before you decide how to sell.
How does the VMC 3016 differ from a larger Fadal like the VMC 4020?
The model numbers track the travels: the 3016 offers about 30 inches of X and 16 inches of Y, against roughly 40 by 20 inches on the VMC 4020. The smaller envelope makes the 3016 a better fit for small to mid-size parts and tighter floor plans, with lower power and space requirements, while keeping the same CAT40 spindle taper and Fadal control lineage as the bigger machines. Shops that do not routinely run large plates or long parts often pick the 3016 to save floor space and cost without changing their tooling standards.
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.
View all Fadal models →