Start with the machine and head details that matter
Before booking an alignment visit, gather the machine model, gantry travel size, cutting head type, and the age of the current optics set. The technician needs to know whether the issue sits in the head, the lens stack, the ceramic ring, the capacitive sensing, or the gas path, because each fault leaves different marks on the cut edge.
Keep the serial number close, along with the last time the head was serviced or stripped on the bench. If the machine has already taken a crash, say so plainly, because a light bump and a hard strike do not lead to the same checks.
- Machine make and model
- Head type and lens configuration
- Serial number or unit code
- Last service date, if known
- Any crash, nozzle strike, or head contact
Describe the cutting fault in plain shop language
A useful booking starts with what the operator sees at the machine. Notes about burr on the underside, rough corners, taper, burn marks, dross build-up, or a beam that does not pierce cleanly give the field technician a proper starting point.
It also helps to say whether the fault shows on all thicknesses or only on one job. Thin mild steel, stainless sheet and aluminium often show different symptoms when the focus setting drifts or the nozzle is no longer centred over the beam path.
- Material type and sheet thickness
- Cut quality fault observed at the edge
- Say if the problem affects every job or only one range
- Current nozzle size and whether it is single or double layer
- Any visible spatter, smoke marks, or unstable pierce points
Tell us what was already checked on the machine
Alignment work is easier when the earlier checks are listed clearly. If the operator already inspected the nozzle, cleaned the protective window, swapped the ceramic ring, or checked the gas pressure, that detail avoids repeated steps on site.
For some machines the fault sits in the focus setting, while on others the problem starts with a dirty protective window or a lens that has been exposed to fine dust. A short record of what was touched, cleaned, or replaced helps the technician decide whether the head needs a bench service after the visit.
- Nozzle inspection or change already done
- Protective window condition and any marks seen
- Lens cleaning already carried out
- Gas pressure and gas type used on the job
- Any alarm from the capacitive height sensing system
Prepare the workshop and the machine access path
On-site alignment works best when the machine can be reached without clutter. Clear offcuts, loose tooling, pallets, and cleaning materials from the cutting area so the head, gantry and service panels are open. If the machine sits in a packed corner, say that before the visit so the team knows what access gear to bring.
It also helps to have a clean bench close by for nozzles, lenses, ceramic rings and removed parts. Coastal humidity, dust, and oily air can leave a film on optics, so a dry working space makes inspection much easier and keeps cleaned parts from picking up dirt straight away.
- Open access to the cutting head and service panels
- Clear floor space around the machine and control cabinet
- Dry bench or tray for optics and small parts
- Safe access for tools, gauges, and alignment equipment
- Lighting good enough to inspect lens surfaces and nozzle tips
What to record about focus, sensing, and gas flow
Many head faults look similar until the focus position, sensor behaviour, and gas flow are checked together. If the cut gets worse at higher speed, or if pierce points move from sheet to sheet, that detail may point to a focus shift, a nozzle issue, or unstable sensing height.
Notes about the gas path are useful too. A blocked line, dirty seal, or weak flow at the head can leave soot, edge roughness, and inconsistent pierces, even when the optics are still usable. If the issue started after a new set of consumables was fitted, mention that clearly.
- Current focus setting used on the machine
- Any height sensing alarms or unstable readings
- Gas type, pressure, and cut assist notes
- When the problem first showed up
- Any change after fitting fresh consumables
Use a short job note so the technician arrives informed
A short job note is often enough to move the visit in the right direction. Write down what the machine is doing, what material is being cut, and what the operator noticed before the cut quality shifted. Keep it practical, not polished. A few honest details are better than a tidy note that leaves out the fault.
That note should also name the person on site who knows the machine, the area of the workshop where it stands, and whether spare head preparation may be needed after inspection. If you have parts already on hand, list them so the technician knows whether the job is a clean alignment, a replacement job, or a deeper rebuild.
- Workshop contact person on the day
- Exact machine location inside the premises
- Parts already kept on site
- Whether a spare head may be needed
- Any safety rules that apply in your shop
A final checklist before the visit
Before the technician travels out, check that the machine can be opened safely, the head can be reached, and the fault notes are ready in one place. If the machine has more than one cutting head or several nozzle sizes in use, mark that on the job card so the alignment work stays organised.
For sheet-metal shops in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Rustenburg, the East Rand, Durban and Cape Town, the same preparation still cuts down time on site. The visit usually runs more smoothly when the machine history, the fault signs, and the parts trail are all written down clearly.
- Fault description written and readable
- Machine details and serial number ready
- Consumables on hand and sorted by type
- Access to the machine and head is clear
- our contact form has the correct job details
