How do I tell the age of a FADAL 4020?

[Rickady]

I know this is a hard question to answer, but I am looking at buying a 4020 with CNC 88 control. The machine is at a warehouse and is an auction. The seller did not list the year of manufacture. Maybe the type of control will give a vintage? So I cant see it in person BUT has a money back guaranty that it will work with no charge to me to ship it back. It was supposed to be tested at the facility?
I know very little about the Fadal but have used a HAAS. Is the 4020 CNC 88 upgradable? Dose it need to be upgraded? I am looking for a VMC to make custom hot rod parts and the VMC must be able to fit in my home garage. I have a ceiling 98" high and the door opening is 81" high. With a machine height of 97" high I could modify the ceiling if needed but the garage door can not be changed. So can I disassemble the machine to fit thru the garage door then reassemble it inside? How hard would this be to do?

Thanks, Rick

[drewmeister]

the quickest way to tell the age is to look on the back. There is a tag with the serial number and date of manufacture.

[Rickady]

Originally Posted by drewmeister the quickest way to tell the age is to look on the back. There is a tag with the serial number and date of manufacture.

That info is not posted. What year did FADAL upgrade the control from the FADAL 88?

[Neal]

In the old serial numbering system the first two digits are the year of manufacture. In the later numbering system the first two digits are the product code and the net four digits are the year of manufacture.

Neal

[carbidecraters]

1992-back all had cnc88 controls. 1993 some had 88 controls and from 94-on they had 88hs, 32mp, 840d, legacy, 104d (watch out for this one) and lately its been fanuc. I think the 88hs is the better control. I really dont like the 88 controls.
Not to mention once the 88hs controls came about the machines got ALOT better (1994). And in 1996 the servos went to AC IIRC

[Rickady]

Originally Posted by Neal In the old serial numbering system the first two digits are the year of manufacture. In the later numbering system the first two digits are the product code and the net four digits are the year of manufacture. Neal

How does this look?
Model #: 906-1 / VMC 4020

Serial #: 8810793

[carbidecraters]

That looks like a 1988 4020...worth less than 10K in any condition

[Rickady]

Originally Posted by carbidecraters That looks like a 1988 4020...worth less than 10K in any condition

Thanky very much.

[donl517]

Originally Posted by Rickady I am looking for a VMC to make custom hot rod parts and the VMC must be able to fit in my home garage. I have a ceiling 98" high and the door opening is 81" high. With a machine height of 97" high I could modify the ceiling if needed but the garage door can not be changed. So can I disassemble the machine to fit thru the garage door then reassemble it inside? How hard would this be to do? Thanks, Rick

I have the extended Z so this may not apply; but with mine the casting is taller than 81".

HTH,
Don