{"version":1,"reviewed":"2026-10-07","source":"/#what-do-you-need","note":"The thirteen stages are The Machine Blue Book's ownership taxonomy (home page, “What do you need to do?”). The interaction (stage rail, ?stage= deep link, information to collect, stage-filtered resources) follows the earlier twelve-stage map; b_stage names the nearest earlier stage.","stages":[{"n":1,"id":"identify-the-machine","name":"Identify the machine","phase":"Before you buy","phase_n":1,"question":"What exactly is it, and what can it do?","b_stage":"identify","b_stage_name":"Identify","collect":["Make, model, generation and serial-number range","Control make and software version on the exact unit","Published specification sheet for that generation (not a newer one)","Machine type and the process it is built for"],"resources":[{"href":"/machines/","title":"Machine directory"},{"href":"/equipment-encyclopedia/","title":"Encyclopedia"},{"href":"/reference/","title":"Reference library"},{"href":"/value-explorer/","title":"Blue Book explorer"}]},{"n":2,"id":"research-what-its-worth","name":"Research what it’s worth","phase":"Before you buy","phase_n":1,"question":"What have comparable machines been offered for?","b_stage":"value","b_stage_name":"Value","collect":["Published asking prices for the same model and year range","Condition, hours and options on each comparable","Date of each price and whether it is an ask or a sale","Currency and the region of each listing"],"resources":[{"href":"/price-guide/","title":"Value Center"},{"href":"/machines/products/","title":"Asking-price records"},{"href":"/machine-market-evidence/","title":"Evidence glossary"},{"href":"/value-explorer/","title":"Blue Book explorer"}]},{"n":3,"id":"decide-what-to-buy","name":"Decide what to buy","phase":"Before you buy","phase_n":1,"question":"Does it fit the work, the shop and the budget?","b_stage":"apply","b_stage_name":"Match the application","collect":["Part sizes, materials, tolerances and batch sizes the machine must handle","Minimum travels, spindle speed, tool capacity and power, with the source for each requirement","Which requirements are confirmed by the record and which still need evidence","Every way to get the work done: new, used, retrofit, automate, outsource, keep, wait"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/","title":"Buying guide"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/new-vs-used/","title":"New vs used"},{"href":"/new-machines/","title":"New machine technology"},{"href":"/decision-workspace/","title":"Decision workspace"},{"href":"/compare/","title":"Compare"}]},{"n":4,"id":"know-the-standards","name":"Know the standards","phase":"Before you buy","phase_n":1,"question":"Which quality, safety and export rules apply?","b_stage":"apply","b_stage_name":"Match the application","collect":["Standards named in your customer contracts and quality system","Safety and electrical rules in your jurisdiction","Export-control or regulated-industry rules that apply to the parts","Which standards the machine documentation claims and the evidence behind each claim"],"resources":[{"href":"/standards/","title":"All standards"},{"href":"/standards/aerospace-defense/","title":"Aerospace & defense"},{"href":"/standards/medical-devices/","title":"Medical"}]},{"n":5,"id":"prepare-the-floor-and-space","name":"Prepare the floor and space","phase":"Bring it in","phase_n":2,"question":"Will the slab, the doors and the layout take it?","b_stage":"prepare","b_stage_name":"Prepare the site","collect":["Machine mass and footprint from the specification sheet","Slab thickness, floor loading and any engineer’s review","Door, aisle and ceiling clearances along the route to the pad","Service clearances the manufacturer requires around the machine"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/foundation-floor-loading/","title":"Floor & foundation"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/footprint-layout-access/","title":"Footprint & access"},{"href":"/machine-installation-foundations/","title":"Installation"}]},{"n":6,"id":"power-and-utilities","name":"Power and utilities","phase":"Bring it in","phase_n":2,"question":"Voltage, phase, load, air and coolant ready?","b_stage":"prepare","b_stage_name":"Prepare the site","collect":["Voltage, phase and frequency the machine is built for","Full-load current or kVA, and what the panel can supply","Compressed-air pressure, flow and quality required","Coolant, extraction, chip handling and network needs"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-electrical/","title":"Electrical & power"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/electrical-power-readiness/","title":"Power readiness"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/air-coolant-mist-utilities/","title":"Air & coolant"},{"href":"/control-support/","title":"Control support"}]},{"n":7,"id":"pay-for-it","name":"Pay for it","phase":"Bring it in","phase_n":2,"question":"What will it really cost to own, and how is it financed?","b_stage":"budget","b_stage_name":"Budget","collect":["Machine price and every add-on quoted separately","Freight, rigging, electrical, foundation, tooling and training figures","Yearly service, warranty, insurance, software and maintenance costs","Lender terms: rate, term, down payment and what is excluded"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-financing/","title":"Financing"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/total-installed-cost/","title":"Total installed cost"},{"href":"/production-ready-cost/","title":"Production-ready cost"},{"href":"/decision-workspace/","title":"Decision workspace"}]},{"n":8,"id":"move-it","name":"Move it","phase":"Bring it in","phase_n":2,"question":"Who lifts it, hauls it and permits the load?","b_stage":"move","b_stage_name":"Move","collect":["Shipping dimensions and mass, and whether the machine ships in one piece","Rigger and carrier quotes with insurance named","Permits for the route and the load","Who is responsible at each hand-over point"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-rigging/","title":"Rigging"},{"href":"/machine-shipping/","title":"Shipping & permits"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/freight-permits-rigging/","title":"Freight plan"}]},{"n":9,"id":"install-and-accept","name":"Install and accept","phase":"Bring it in","phase_n":2,"question":"Level, running and proven before you sign off?","b_stage":"commission","b_stage_name":"Commission","collect":["Levelling, geometry and test-cut results in writing","Which acceptance tests the contract names and who witnesses them","Tooling, workholding and probing included in the delivery","Training delivered and the people who received it"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/installation-commissioning-acceptance/","title":"Commissioning"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/tooling-workholding-inspection/","title":"Tooling & inspection"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/training-staffing-safety/","title":"Training & safety"}]},{"n":10,"id":"run-and-maintain-it","name":"Run and maintain it","phase":"Own it","phase_n":3,"question":"Who supports it, and is its history on record?","b_stage":"operate","b_stage_name":"Operate","collect":["Maintenance schedule from the manual and who performs each item","Service history, repairs and spindle history on file","Who supports the control, and until when","Spare-parts lead times for the items that stop production"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-maintenance/","title":"Maintenance"},{"href":"/manufacturer-support/","title":"Manufacturer support"},{"href":"/machine-tool-distributors/","title":"Distributors"},{"href":"/control-support/","title":"Control support"}]},{"n":11,"id":"solve-a-problem","name":"Solve a problem","phase":"Own it","phase_n":3,"question":"Something is wrong after the purchase. What now?","b_stage":"maintain","b_stage_name":"Maintain","collect":["What was promised in writing, and what was delivered","Warranty and service terms, response time and exclusions","Evidence of the fault: logs, photos, measurements and dates","Who can repair this control and this mechanical system locally"],"resources":[{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/used-machine-problems-after-purchase/","title":"After-purchase problems"},{"href":"/machine-buying-guide/service-parts-warranty/","title":"Service & warranty"},{"href":"/machine-services/","title":"Service network"}]},{"n":12,"id":"sell-or-liquidate","name":"Sell or liquidate","phase":"Own it","phase_n":3,"question":"What will you actually keep after fees and removal?","b_stage":"sell","b_stage_name":"Sell or transition","collect":["Published asking prices for the same model and year","Hours, condition, options and service records a buyer will ask for","Removal, rigging and transport costs you will bear","Fees and commission under each sale route"],"resources":[{"href":"/selling-a-cnc-machine/","title":"Selling guide"},{"href":"/selling-a-cnc-machine/seller-net-calculator/","title":"Seller net calculator"},{"href":"/machine-shop-liquidation/","title":"Shop liquidation"},{"href":"/value-explorer/","title":"Blue Book explorer"}]},{"n":13,"id":"start-a-shop-or-get-parts-made","name":"Start a shop or get parts made","phase":"Own it","phase_n":3,"question":"Building a shop, or need parts without a machine?","b_stage":"apply","b_stage_name":"Match the application","collect":["The parts, volumes and tolerances you need made","Total installed cost of the equipment a shop would need","Supplier quotes with lead time, quality terms and tooling ownership","The point at which owning beats buying the parts"],"resources":[{"href":"/starting-a-machine-shop/","title":"Start a shop"},{"href":"/get-parts-made/","title":"Get parts made"},{"href":"/sell-your-machine-shop/","title":"Sell a shop"}]}]}