The five-minute screen
Before paying a deposit or scheduling freight, answer these ten questions.
| Question | Confirmed | Needs work | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is the exact machine identity and configuration documented? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Will the machine fit through every door, turn, and aisle? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Is the floor or foundation suitable for the loaded machine? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Does the facility have the required voltage, phase, frequency, and capacity? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Are transformer or phase-conversion needs resolved? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Are compressed air, coolant, mist, exhaust, water, and drainage requirements known? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Is the freight, permit, unloading, and rigging scope written? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Are installation, leveling, startup, and acceptance responsibilities assigned? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Are tooling, workholding, inspection, software, and programs ready? | ☐ | ☐ | |
| Are operators, maintenance staff, service support, and safety procedures ready? | ☐ | ☐ |
If any answer is unknown, the machine may still be a good purchase. The unknown simply belongs in the plan and budget before it becomes a surprise.
1. Identify the exact machine
Record information from the nameplate, control, option list, maintenance records, and seller documentation.
- Manufacturer:
- Model:
- Serial number:
- Year of manufacture:
- Control manufacturer and generation:
- Spindle configuration:
- Axis travels:
- Table, chuck, or work-envelope dimensions:
- Tool capacity and taper:
- Included options:
- Included accessories:
- Included tooling and workholding:
- Current location:
- Operating status:
Evidence to retain
- ☐ Nameplate photograph
- ☐ Control power-on photograph
- ☐ Serial number photograph
- ☐ Option sheet or build sheet
- ☐ Maintenance and service history
- ☐ Video of operation when available
- ☐ Alarm screen or diagnostic information
- ☐ Written list of everything included and excluded
Start with the MBB machine buying guide and machine identity and options guide.
2. Map the physical route
The machine footprint is not the same as the move-in envelope.
Measure:
- Machine width, depth, height, and shipping weight
- Crate, pallet, skid, or shipping-brace dimensions
- Door width and height
- Dock height and capacity
- Overhead clearance
- Aisle width
- Turning radius
- Floor transitions, ramps, pits, and drains
- Crane, gantry, forklift, or toe-jack access
- Final service-clearance area
Route notes
- Tightest width:
- Tightest height:
- Sharpest turn:
- Floor obstacle:
- Required temporary removal:
- Final maintenance clearance:
Use the footprint, layout, and access guide before the rigger arrives.
3. Confirm the floor and foundation
Do not assume an industrial floor is automatically suitable for every machine.
Confirm with the machine documentation and qualified professionals:
- Loaded machine weight and center of gravity
- Number and location of leveling points
- Point loads and vibration considerations
- Slab thickness and reinforcement information when available
- Anchor requirements
- Isolation-pad or foundation requirements
- Pit, trench, drainage, or coolant-containment needs
- Clearance for doors, guards, conveyors, and maintenance panels
Decision record
- Documentation reviewed by:
- Foundation or floor work required:
- Work completed by:
- Completion date:
- Open issue:
Read the foundation and floor-loading guide.
4. Verify electrical readiness
Capture the machine nameplate. Do not estimate facility compatibility from horsepower alone.
Record:
- Required voltage:
- Phase:
- Frequency:
- Full-load current or rated current:
- Recommended disconnect or protective-device information:
- Transformer requirement:
- Phase-converter requirement:
- Facility service voltage:
- Available capacity:
- Disconnect location:
- Conductor path and length:
Electrical design, installation, and verification belong to qualified professionals and applicable codes. MBB provides planning references, not electrical engineering services.
Use the machine electrical reference, nameplate-data guide, and facility-power planning guide.
5. Confirm supporting utilities
| Utility | Requirement | Existing capacity | Work required | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compressed air | ||||
| Coolant | ||||
| Mist collection | ||||
| Exhaust | ||||
| Process water | ||||
| Drainage | ||||
| Chiller | ||||
| Hydraulic support | ||||
| Chip handling | ||||
| Network connection |
Read the air, coolant, mist, and utilities guide.
6. Define freight and rigging in writing
The quote should identify more than a total price.
Confirm:
- Pickup location and access conditions
- Seller's loading responsibility
- Blocking, bracing, wrapping, and weather protection
- Carrier and trailer type
- Oversize or overweight permit responsibility
- Route restrictions and appointment requirements
- Cargo, rigging, and liability insurance documentation
- Delivery location and site conditions
- Unloading equipment and lift plan
- Placement, leveling, anchoring, and cleanup
- Damage documentation and claim process
- Cancellation, delay, standby, and change-order terms
Required contacts
- Seller contact:
- Carrier contact:
- Rigger contact:
- Insurance contact:
- Facility contact:
- Delivery appointment:
Use the freight, permit, and rigging guide and machine rigging directory.
7. Define installation and acceptance
Write down who performs each task.
| Task | Responsible party | Date | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unload and place | |||
| Level and anchor | |||
| Electrical connection | |||
| Air and utility connection | |||
| Fluid fill and preparation | |||
| OEM or technician startup | |||
| Geometry or calibration check | |||
| Safety verification | |||
| Test cut or run-off | |||
| Acceptance signoff |
Define the acceptance test before delivery. The buyer and seller should know what condition, performance, documentation, and included items complete the transaction.
Read the installation, commissioning, and acceptance guide.
8. Prepare production support
- ☐ Toolholders and retention knobs
- ☐ Cutting tools and inserts
- ☐ Chucks, jaws, vises, fixtures, and workholding
- ☐ Probes, setters, and calibration artifacts
- ☐ Inspection equipment
- ☐ CAM postprocessor
- ☐ Program-transfer method
- ☐ Networking and backups
- ☐ Coolant and filtration supplies
- ☐ Lubricants and maintenance consumables
- ☐ Critical spare parts
- ☐ Service contacts
- ☐ Operator training
- ☐ Maintenance training
- ☐ Safety procedures
Use the tooling, workholding, and inspection guide.
9. Calculate the installed decision
| Cost category | Estimate | Confirmed quote | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machine purchase | |||
| Taxes and transaction costs | |||
| Inspection | |||
| Freight | |||
| Permits and escorts | |||
| Rigging | |||
| Foundation or floor work | |||
| Electrical work | |||
| Utilities and extraction | |||
| Tooling and workholding | |||
| Software and postprocessor | |||
| Installation and calibration | |||
| Training | |||
| Initial maintenance and spares | |||
| Contingency | |||
| Total installed estimate |
The purchase price is one line in the decision. Use the total installed cost guide.
Final readiness decision
- ☐ Ready to schedule pickup
- ☐ Ready after listed actions are completed
- ☐ Hold shipment pending information
- ☐ Re-evaluate the purchase
Open actions:
Decision owner:
Target completion date:
Independent-use notice
The Machine Blue Book is an independent educational and reference resource. It is not the seller, broker, lender, carrier, rigger, engineer, electrician, inspector, attorney, insurer, or OEM for equipment described or linked through the site. Verify machine availability, condition, specifications, requirements, pricing, contracts, licensing, insurance, and site suitability directly with the responsible parties and qualified professionals.
Continue your research: themachinebluebook.com