Resources
Power Guide
The Power Guide sets out the electrical checks for CNC routers, vacuum units, compressors, and spindle support equipment before a machine is positioned or switched on. It helps a workshop confirm that supply type, plug format, breaker size, and cable reach suit the equipment planned for the job.
How Power Guide matters during cutting week
The Power Guide helps teams check the electrical side before CNC equipment is moved or started. Use it for routers and support gear where supply, plugs, and site conditions need to match the machine.
Begin with the machine nameplate, spindle rating, and the power available on site. Three-phase supply, single-phase outlets, extension leads, dust extraction load, and load-shedding arrangements can all change whether a router starts cleanly or trips protection. Workshops in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and smaller industrial areas often need these details recorded before transport is booked.
Include clear photos of the machine connection point, plugs, distribution board, and the area where the router will stand. A quick image of the isolator, cable route, and extraction connection can flag issues that are easy to miss on a phone call. Keep the completed guide with the job timing and any spindle, inverter, or tripping faults noted against the machine.
Power checks before machine movement
Use the guide to record voltage, phase, amperage protection, plug type, and the support gear that shares the same supply. It also gives the team one place to note generator use, extension restrictions, and whether the machine will run with extraction, vacuum hold-down, or compressor demand at the same time.
Attach the completed Power Guide when sending site details through the contact form. Add the machine model, job date, and any previous overload, breaker trip, or spindle power fault so the electrical side can be checked against the planned setup. Where more than one machine is involved, list each supply point separately.
- Supply type matched to machine load
- Photos of plugs, DB, and isolator
- Spindle faults listed with site details
Workshop power conditions in South Africa
Many sites differ sharply between factory units, mall fit-out areas, and shared industrial premises. One location may have three-phase available near the loading bay, while another only offers single-phase outlets far from the cutting area. Recording the exact supply point matters before the machine leaves the workshop or arrives on site.
Coastal moisture can affect plugs, connectors, and stored electrical accessories, especially if machines stand unused between jobs. Inland dust and MDF fines can build up around cabinets, fans, and switchgear, which makes inspection worth doing before startup. During load-shedding periods, generator capacity and restart procedure should be written into the guide if the router will not run from mains alone.
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Details to capture on the sheet
Attach the Power Guide with machine photos, the timing of the job, and any power or spindle issues already encountered. Keep the subject line exact.
Write down machine make and model, spindle kW, supply requirement, plug type, breaker size, cable length needed, and support equipment connected nearby. Note the site address, access constraints, and whether a first power-on will happen in the workshop, at a customer premises, or during installation with other trades present.