Relocating a CNC machine: a step-by-step guide to protecting accuracy

Updated 6 November 2026 · By the Heavy Equipment Movers team

Short answer: To relocate a CNC machine safely, back up programs and parameters, involve the manufacturer or a service engineer early, fit transport brackets or locks, drain coolant, and have the machine isolated by an electrician. Move it level using its approved lifting or jacking points, then relevel it, reconnect services and check geometry and accuracy, often with a ballbar test, before production restarts. Under PUWER, it should be inspected before being put back into use.

Why CNC machines need extra care

CNC machining centres, lathes and routers combine heavy castings with precision ballscrews, linear guides, spindles and electronics. They are set up to tight tolerances and depend on the machine bed sitting flat and true. Twisting the base, a shock load in transit or setting it down unevenly can upset alignment. Software, parameters and offsets are equally valuable and can be lost if batteries fail while the machine is unpowered.

Warranties and service contracts can also be affected. Some manufacturers require their own engineers, or approved movers, to relocate machines still under warranty, or require a recommissioning visit before cover continues. Check the terms before you book anything, as missing this step can be expensive if a fault appears later.

Before the move

Contact the manufacturer or dealer about relocation and any warranty conditions
Back up part programs, machine parameters, PLC data, tool tables and offsets
Check the backup batteries that hold the control memory and encoder positions
Record current accuracy, for example with a recent ballbar or geometry report
Move axes to the transport position stated in the manual
Fit transport brackets and locks, and secure doors, tool changer and chip conveyor
Drain coolant and, where the manufacturer advises, lubricating or hydraulic oil
Have the electrician isolate and disconnect the supply and label the cables

During the move

The machine should be lifted or jacked only at the points the manufacturer specifies, using equipment rated well above its weight. Many machining centres are designed to be lifted with specific lifting bars or eyebolts, and some must not be lifted by the slings around the column or head. On skates, the machine should be raised evenly and kept level. On the vehicle it should be blocked and chained or strapped at the designated points, without strap pressure on covers or guides.

Keep the chip conveyor, coolant tank, swarf bins and any bar feeder or robot cell together and labelled, as these ancillaries are easily separated from the main machine during a busy move. Take photos of cable routes and connections before disconnection so reconnection is quicker and nothing is missed.

Foundations and the new position

Check the new floor before the machine arrives. Larger or high-precision machines may need a specific foundation or slab thickness, set out in the installation drawings. Cracks, joints and slab edges under a machine can cause it to move out of level over time. Mark the footprint, allow clearance for doors, maintenance panels, chip removal and access, and make sure power, air and extraction are positioned to suit.

Some heavy or precise machines are designed to sit on an isolated foundation that separates them from vibration from presses, traffic or other plant. If the original installation had one, ask the manufacturer whether the new position needs the same, and leave enough time for concrete to cure before the machine is set down.

Recommissioning checklist

Set the machine down on its levelling pads and remove transport brackets
Level the machine to the manufacturer's specification with a precision level
Reconnect power, checking phase rotation, and reconnect air and coolant
Refill fluids and check lubrication before running the axes
Restore and verify programs and parameters if needed
Home the axes and check for alarms
Carry out geometry and accuracy checks, such as a ballbar test
Recheck the level after a few weeks, as new floors and machines can settle

Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), where the safety of equipment depends on installation conditions, it must be inspected after installation and before being put into service, including after it has been reassembled at a new location. Keep a record of the inspection with your equipment records.

Do not skip the accuracy check because the machine seems to run normally. Small changes in level or alignment may not show until parts start failing inspection, which wastes material and time. A short check straight after the move gives you a known baseline and evidence of the machine's condition if there is any later dispute about damage.

Typical timeline

Stage	Typical time
Preparation, backup and isolation	Half a day to a day per machine
Move within the same building	A few hours
Move to a new local site	One day for most single machines
Levelling and reconnection	Half a day to a day
Accuracy checks and first-off parts	Half a day to two days

These are rough guides. Large or multi-pallet machines, or those requiring manufacturer engineers, can take considerably longer, so book service engineers early.