Resource
Shipping samples with kerf reports helps you check fit, finish, and machine accuracy before a full production run. Here we explain how proof pieces and measurement data can save time and rework in South African workshops.
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Shipping samples refers to sending you a set of cut parts, your proof pieces, together with a kerf report. The kerf report records the machine, toolpath, and actual cut widths achieved on the same material and settings used for your job. This resource is most relevant for Gauteng, Durban, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and any workshop where tolerances, material batch variation, or mixed machines are in play. By testing fit and accuracy before final production, you reduce the risk of costly errors.
This approach suits managers, technicians, and machinists who need to check joint fits, slot tolerances, or assembly order on complex jobs. If your team works with new material batches, changes suppliers, or runs CNC profiles with tight specs (for example, shopfitting or instrument making), a shipped sample with kerf data gives clarity upfront. However, if you only run high-tolerance, low-variation work, or cut simple rectangles, this process might add unnecessary steps.
Once we have your drawing and project specs, we start the shipping sample process. Our Germiston team cuts a sample set of your parts, capturing all spindle speeds, feed rates, and tooling details, and records actual kerf measurements. We package the cut pieces with their matching paperwork, then arrange delivery by your chosen courier, The Courier Guy, DSV, or your own runner. Since factors like Highveld dust, humidity swings, and occasional power cuts can affect the results, your samples and kerf report will show exactly how your job performs under those real workshop conditions.
You try the proof pieces in your own assembly. If something needs adjusting, you feed that back before greenlighting mass cutting. Most weeks, teams in Johannesburg, Gqeberha, and Polokwane use this process to spot issues early, especially if exporting assemblies or building for tough municipal or SABS specs.
A shopfitter in Centurion emails a set of DXF files for a custom aluminium display system. They need every slot to fit laser-cut brackets, and the batch will ship to the coast where humidity can swell materials. After confirming the job details, we cut a sample section, note the kerf for all toolpaths, and send both the physical proof and a kerf report. The shopfitter receives the pack, tries the fit with their bracket, and finds one slot is 0.2 mm too tight on their side.
They reply through our contact form with test photos and the required tweak. We update the nest and settings before starting the main production batch. This saves a week of potential scrap and rework.
To keep the sample process efficient for both your team and our bench, gather the following before emailing us at our contact form. The more specific you are up front, the clearer your test results will be (and the fewer back-and-forths with our team).
Files must be production-ready. Check file hygiene for CNC by reviewing our DXF hygiene guide and nest checklist.
Most samples that fall short do so because of missing or unclear information. Overlapping toolpaths, mixed units in files, or last-minute material swaps are common causes for errors. If your material comes from a supplier prone to thin or bent stock, mention it up front, as this affects both measurement and fit.
Expect that samples are batch-specific. A kerf log from a 10 mm MDF cut during humid Durban months may not translate perfectly to 16 mm birch ply on the Highveld. Review our kerf log template to track settings and match future production. If electrical supply or municipal paperwork delays could impact your timeline, note this in your first mail.
