Resources
Photo Protocol
A photo protocol for CNC support requests, showing exactly which machine views, labels, cuts and fault points to capture before asking for help.
How the Photo Protocol helps on a machine support week
Photo Protocol lists the machine views and fault points to capture before asking for CNC support. It helps owners send useful pictures of labels, cuts and problem areas so the first look at an issue starts with the right evidence.
Begin with one wide photo of the full machine, then move closer in stages. Include the material on the bed, the fitted cutter, the control box, and any alarm shown at that moment. Good support photos also show dust build-up, loose offcuts, and whether the fault happened during MDF, plastic, or light aluminium work.
Take the start-up view before plugs are moved or covers are opened. A quick set of images at first failure often shows cable routing, gantry position, and switch states that disappear after a reset. Save the same sequence with the job record if more than one person runs the machine.
Machine views to capture
The Photo Protocol gives owners a fixed order for support images so nothing important gets missed. It covers the machine from the front, both sides, the spindle area, the controller, the wiring entry points, and the exact fault location. That makes it easier to compare a broken cut, a missed step, or a limit issue against the rest of the machine state.
- Full machine view from the front
- Close photo of the fault point
- Compare with Systems, Labs, and Insights
- Controller screen or indicator lights visible
Workshop conditions that affect photos
South African workshops often deal with fine MDF dust, shared bench space, and extension leads that get moved between tools. Show the power source, cable run, and machine surroundings if the issue appears only on certain days or after rearranging the bench. Photos of clamps, spoilboard condition, and vacuum hose position can explain cut faults better than a typed description.
Coastal shops should include any visible corrosion, residue, or moisture risk near connectors and rails. Inland users should show dust build-up around limit switches, drag chains, and control boxes if motion faults come and go. During power-cut recovery, capture the machine state before restarting so position loss or interrupted cuts are documented properly.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
What to note with photos
Ask for photos of the machine, controller, wiring, and the fault point, plus timing and failed attempts so far. Keep the subject line clear and factual.
Add the file name, material type, cutter diameter, and where the fault started on the sheet or screen beside the machine. One picture of the finished bad cut next to a ruler or caliper helps show scale immediately. If the problem changed after a tool change or re-zero, photograph that second state as well.