Resources
Install Checklist
Use this Install Checklist to verify spindle condition, cutter fitment, hold-down, and datum before the first sheet or plate goes on the bed. It is aimed at South African CNC workshops preparing for site installation, final fitment, or a supervised test cut.
How Install Checklist helps on fitment week
The Install Checklist page sets out the checks that matter before cutting begins. It covers machine setup, tooling changes, and the install points a South African workshop should confirm before running the job.
Begin with the job material, tool diameter, and machine table size. Humidity on the coast, fine MDF dust inland, and planned power interruptions can all change how you stage the install. A checklist done before unloading saves rework when the machine reaches Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, or a smaller regional shop.
Take clear photos of cable routing, vacuum lines, collet condition, and the machine bed before any panel is cut. Add the planned install time, who signed off the setup, and any item that failed before dispatch. Those notes are useful when the operator, fitter, and buyer compare the machine state on arrival.
Checks before first cut
Record the machine reference, installed tooling, workholding method, and the file revision being loaded. Include any rainbow-coated bit used for the run so wear, finish, and feed choices can be traced properly.
Before setup, compare the programmed path with the actual cutter in the spindle and confirm the install location details are correct. Note any damaged packaging, missing clamps, or site access limits that could affect unloading and setup.
- Spindle, collet, and nut inspected
- Photos logged before tooling starts
- Install faults listed with photos
Workshop conditions worth noting
South African install work often means uneven loading zones, dust-heavy production spaces, and tight access around existing machines. Capture whether lifting gear is on site, whether extraction is connected, and whether the incoming machine footprint matches the available area. Gauteng warehouse timing and long-distance transport from coastal routes should be noted if the machine is still in transit.
Salt air can affect bare steel parts, stored cutters, and electrical enclosures near the coast. Dry inland conditions push dust into rails, sensors, and cabinets, so cleaning status belongs on the checklist. If power supply is unstable, record whether a test cycle was completed under normal load or only as a dry run.
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What to capture on site
Complete the Install Checklist with on-site photos, install timing, and anything that failed before arrival. Use the job name, site, or machine in the subject line.
List the machine model, controller, spindle rating, cutter type, and material to be cut during commissioning. Add photos of the bed, extraction, hold-down, and the first acceptable sample if one was produced. This gives CNC Rainbow a usable install record instead of a short message with missing details.