Zillow for Machine Tools?

The ability to see spec-by-spec comparisons between machine tools made Techspex.com immediately popular. Now, the machine tool search engine boasts a fresh new look and 5 must-see upgrades.

by: Brent Donaldson, Editor-in-Chief Modern Machine Shop

One of the most valuable tools for navigating the housing market is the ability to bookmark houses during online research and cross-reference important specifications and features (e.g., no fireplace, no deal). Buying a house is one of the most significant — and expensive — decisions most people make in their lifetimes. But for manufacturers and shop owners, the purchase of a new machine tool is just as significant, often as costly, and every bit as stressful.

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This is because the number of variables among brands and models are overwhelming, and side-by-side comparisons between different makes and models can be difficult or impossible to find. This functionality — the ability to make spec-by-spec comparisons between several brands of machines — is partly why the machine tool research site Techspex.com became so popular when it launched in the late 1990s.

Today, Techspex is the largest machine tool database in the world, containing detailed information and specifications on nearly 8,000 machine tools (for milling, turning, grinding and EDM) from hundreds of builders and brands. Companies from Tesla to Rolls Royce, Northrup Grumman to one-person garage shops use the site as a research tool.