First off, hello everyone, this is my first post. I've been observing as a guest for a while but have finally registered.

Now for the good stuff, the plan: I want to find an older vintage, vertical machining center with good mechanicals and dead controls, and run it with a fagor 8055 control system.

This machine will be used as the heart of a start-up shop where its bread and butter will be flattening, profiling and drilling aluminum plate. Why the fagor control? I have access to this system at oem cost and to a control guy who has worked with fagor controls for years.

My question is this: Where do i start looking for a dead machine? I need something with about 40x20 travel (x,y) and would prefer it to be in the northeast.

I know there are a lot of different opinions on this forum on the best way to start a shop, and I am hoping not to spark another debate. I am open to all your comments - I would just prefer that they are on the technical side of things.

Many thanks in advance.
Scott