Machine tool reconditioning
A good machine tool is worth rebuilding. We strip it, regrind the ways, rebuild the drives and test it against Schlesinger accuracy standards, so it cuts true again for years.
When a rebuild beats a new machine
Older cast-iron lathes, mills and borers were built heavy and stiff. When they lose accuracy, it’s usually worn ways, tired bearings and slack gear trains — all things we can put right. A full reconditioning typically costs a fraction of a comparable new machine, and you keep the capacity and the floor footprint you already have.
What we recondition
- Centre lathes and heavy lathes
- Horizontal boring mills
- Universal and vertical milling machines
- Surface, cylindrical and knife grinders
- Planers and shapers
- CNC and VMC machines
What’s involved
Each machine is stripped, cleaned and inspected. Guideways are reground on our 4 m slide-way grinder and scraped where needed. Spindles, bearings, gearboxes, lead screws and feed drives are repaired or replaced, and worn drives can be upgraded — on the Hulse lathe in our projects, we fitted new geared motors to the carriage. Machines are restored to OEM specification, repainted and tested before handover.
Schlesinger accuracy
We test rebuilt machines against Schlesinger’s geometric accuracy checks — straightness, flatness, squareness and spindle run-out — the basis of modern machine tool acceptance tests.
How it works
- Assessment. We inspect the machine on your site or in our workshop and measure what’s worn.
- Scope and quote. You get a written scope, price and turnaround before any work starts.
- Strip and rebuild. Ways reground, bearings and drives renewed, castings cleaned and repainted.
- Test and hand over. Accuracy checked against Schlesinger tests, then delivered and commissioned if needed.
Questions we’re asked
Is it worth reconditioning an old machine?
Often, yes. Heavy older machines are rigid and well made; what wears is the ways, bearings and drives. We’ll tell you honestly after the assessment if a rebuild doesn’t make financial sense.
Can you collect the machine?
Yes. We can arrange rigging, transport and offloading to and from our KwaMashu workshop.
Do you work on CNC machines?
Yes. We recondition conventional and CNC machines, and offer CNC programming support.
How long does a full rebuild take?
It depends on the machine size and the parts it needs. You’ll get a turnaround estimate with your quote.
Related services
Related services
Most jobs touch more than one of these.
Get your machine assessed
Tell us the make, model and what it’s doing. We’ll advise whether to rebuild, repair or replace.