12 Questions to Ask Before Ordering a CNC Machine from China

Ordering a CNC machine from China is straightforward if you ask the right questions early and painful if you do not. After years of quoting export machines, we can tell you that most disputes come from gaps nobody clarified before the deposit. Here are the twelve questions that matter, roughly in the order you should ask them.

1. Can you send the full specification sheet for this exact model? Travels, table size, spindle taper and speed, ATC capacity, machine weight and required power should all be in writing. Brochure headlines hide the details that decide whether the machine fits your parts and your floor. If a supplier will not send one, move on.
2. Which controller is fitted, and who services it in my country? FANUC, Siemens and GSK controllers all have different support networks. Make sure your operators can handle the interface and that local service exists for whichever controller you choose.
3. What inspection evidence comes with the machine? Ask for the laser interferometry report and ballbar test results for your serial number, not a sample report. At VITOP, for example, every machine is laser-verified before shipment.
4. How is the machine packed for sea freight? You want vacuum wrapping with desiccant, secure bolting to the crate base and wrapped guideways. Machines bound for tropical ASEAN ports face weeks of humidity, so weak packing shows up later as rusted ways and electrical faults.
5. What Incoterms does the price use, and what exactly is included? EXW, FOB and CIF are very different numbers. Confirm who pays freight, marine insurance and export clearance, and get the quoted freight in writing.
6. What is the lead time, and what are the milestones? Ask when production starts, when the machine passes inspection, and when it ships. A builder who cannot give milestones is usually juggling too many orders.
7. Do you install and commission at my site, and what does that cost? Commissioning, test cutting and alignment at your floor should be quoted explicitly, including engineer flights, accommodation and visa time.
8. Is operator and maintenance training included? Clarify the number of training days, the location and whether your maintenance staff learn daily servicing, not just operation.
9. What is the warranty, and which parts and conditions are excluded? Twelve months is typical. Confirm warranty handling for overseas buyers: who pays shipping on a failed part, and what the response time is.
10. Does the machine match my country's power supply? Thailand runs 380V/50Hz like China, but Indonesia and others differ on single-phase standards. Confirm the electrical configuration and whether a voltage stabilizer is recommended for your region, which it usually is where supply fluctuates.
11. What import paperwork will you provide? Ask about the HS code, the certificate of origin and, for ASEAN buyers, Form E under ACFTA, which can cut duty to 0-5 percent in Vietnam. Form E must be issued by the supplier through CCPIT before or at shipment, and no retroactive claims are accepted. For Indonesia, ask early about SNI certification, which takes months.
12. Can I verify you before paying a deposit? A video call walk-through of the factory, customer references in your region, or a third-party audit by SGS or BV costing roughly US$500 to 1,500 are all reasonable requests. A confident manufacturer welcomes them, because the audit usually confirms what the salesperson promised.

None of these questions offend a serious supplier. If a salesperson resists them, treats them as a delay tactic, or answers with vague reassurances instead of documents, treat that as your answer. Export buyers who skip this step usually pay for it later, in customs delays, missing manuals or parts that take weeks to arrive.

Send the questions to two or three suppliers, compare the written replies side by side, and the right partner becomes obvious quickly. The supplier with the longest, most specific answers is rarely the cheapest quote, and almost always the safest one to wire a deposit to.

Talk to VITOP Machinery

Planning a machine purchase or need help matching a model to your parts? Send your drawings or questions to vitopmachinery@163.com, or message us directly on WhatsApp: +86 183 1908 0212. You can also browse all machines at www.vitopmachinery.com. We reply within one business day.