Factory Acceptance Tests for a Vertical Machining Center: Defining Pass or Fail

A buyer should decide before the factory acceptance test whether the machine must demonstrate its catalog reference values for X, Y and Z travel of 850 / 500 / 500 mm, rapid traverse of 36 / 36 / 36 m/min and spindle speed of 12,000 rpm, or whether those figures are only reference values to be confirmed for the supplied model. That decision shapes every check that follows.

For a request for quotation, ask the supplier to state which tests are performed, how results are recorded, and what tolerance counts as a pass. For a demonstration, consider checks such as commanded versus measured travel, spindle speed verification, and rapid traverse behavior. For an acceptance test, agree in advance on the material to be cut, steel or aluminum, the test part, and the inspection method. Ask whether a failed check triggers rework, retest, or rejection, and who witnesses the test.

Before requesting a quote, confirm with the supplier which specifications apply to the supplied model, how each pass or fail check is measured and documented, and what remedies apply if a check fails.