Choosing the Type of Workshop
- If you are setting up a new workshop → design from scratch, which is ideal
- If you are renovating an existing workshop → a checklist + reinforcement
- Production in a rented workshop → the building owner's consent + possible alterations
- Mobile/site production → outside the scope of this guide (a special application)
1. Site Planning
A CNC machine takes up a great deal of room — and it is not only the machine: the slab stock, the delivery area, the office and the store all have to be accounted for.
| Section | Typical Area |
|---|---|
| CNC bridge saw machine (5 axis) | 40-60 m² |
| Service clearance around the machine | +30 m² (usable on 4 sides) |
| Slab stock area (raw marble) | 40-80 m² |
| Temporary store for finished products | 20-40 m² |
| Polishing + finishing area | 20-30 m² |
| Operator + office | 15-25 m² |
| Loading ramp / forklift turning | 20-30 m² |
| MINIMUM TOTAL | 185-265 m² |
Practical Advice
Plan the machine area 20% larger than you need. As production grows, the need for an additional machine, a polishing station or a crane runway will arise. Enlarging the workshop after the installation is expensive + difficult.
2. Floor Load Bearing Capacity
CNC bridge saw machines are heavy — if the floor is inadequate, cracking, deflection and a loss of accuracy follow over time.
- 4 axis CNC bridge saw: 4-7 tonnes static load + 8-10 tonnes dynamic (during cutting)
- 5 axis CNC bridge saw: 6-10 tonnes static + 12-15 tonnes dynamic
- 5 axis waterjet: 8-12 tonnes static (18-25 tonnes including the cutting tank)
- Minimum floor: 25-30 cm of reinforced concrete, with no weakness in the ground beneath
- The industrial workshop standard: 30 cm of concrete + steel mesh reinforcement
- A high sensitivity to vibration has to be allowed for (critical for laser calibration)
Firm Advice
Have the floor capacity of your existing workshop tested (by a structural engineer). If it is inadequate, include the cost of reinforcement (pouring concrete + dowels) in the investment plan.
3. Electrical Infrastructure
- 3 phase electricity is essential — 380V / 50Hz
- Typical consumption: 20-40 kVA (CNC bridge saw) / 60-100 kVA (waterjet, including the UHP pump)
- A main fuse + a separate CNC line — not shared
- The earthing must be within limits (max 10 ohm)
- A UPS or a generator is recommended — so that the CNC is not damaged during a mains failure (a dropped head and the like)
- Phase balancing — a difference above 5% causes motor failure
- The electrical cabinet should be cooled with air conditioning (performance drops above 35°C in the summer months)
4. Water System
- Water inlet: a 1" pipeline, 2-4 bar pressure
- Flow: 30-50 L/min (CNC bridge saw cutting water) / 10-20 L/min (waterjet)
- A softening unit — mains water in Türkiye is hard, so this is mandatory for the pump
- RO (for the waterjet) — brings TDS below 50 ppm
- Water tank: 500-1000 L (as a reserve)
- Water reclamation: filtration + sediment separation (savings + the environment)
- Drainage: a 4-6" outlet pipe (with the capacity for cutting water + garnet)
- A sludge/garnet settling tank — accessible for periodic cleaning
5. Pneumatic (Air) System
- CNC bridge saw: 6-7 bar, 100-200 L/min (automatic tool changing + lubrication)
- Waterjet: 6-8 bar, 50-100 L/min (garnet feed + control valves)
- Sandblasting: 5-8 bar, 300-500 L/min (the highest air requirement)
- Choice of compressor: a screw type (for continuous use); a piston type is enough for short spells
- Tank capacity: at least 200 L (it absorbs pressure fluctuations)
- Water trap + oil filter + cooler (3 stage air treatment)
6. Ventilation & Dust Management
- Dry cutting of marble/granite releases silicosis dust — an extraction system is a must
- Waterjet / wet CNC cutting: little dust, but there is vapour — ventilation is essential
- Sandblasting: an ENCLOSED CABINET + an extraction system is a legal requirement
- Dust collection: a bag-filtered centrifugal unit (5-10 m³/s flow)
- Air change rate: at least 4-6 times an hour (according to the workshop volume)
- Air conditioning/fans in the summer months — critical for operator efficiency
- A carbon monoxide detector (a by-product of forklifts + heaters)
7. Crane & Handling
- Slab handling: an overhead crane is recommended
- Crane capacity: 2-5 tonnes (for marble slabs + machine components)
- Forklift capacity: 2.5-3.5 tonnes, 4-5 m lift height
- A-frame slab racks (upright storage, saving space)
- A loading ramp — for lorry / truck access
- Outdoor open area: at least 100 m² (lorry turning + unloading slabs)
8. Operator & Office Area
- A CAD/CAM computer desk — a quiet, air-conditioned room
- A back-up computer (in case a CAM file is lost)
- Slab stock records + customer management — ERP/office software
- An operator rest area — a legal requirement
- A changing room + lockable locker (for PPE equipment)
- WC + shower — a clean exit from a stone dust environment
- A fire extinguisher + first aid cabinet (a legal requirement)
Preparation Timetable
| Step | Duration | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure audit of the existing workshop | 1 week | Structural + electrical engineer |
| Identifying the shortcomings + planning | 1-2 weeks | Workshop owner + the USEL technical team |
| Floor reinforcement (if required) | 2-4 weeks | Construction company |
| Electrical infrastructure installation | 1-2 weeks | Electrical contractor |
| Water + drainage system | 1-2 weeks | Plumbing contractor |
| Pneumatics + ventilation | 1 week | Industrial installation company |
| Machine delivery + installation | 1-2 weeks | USEL installation team |
| Commissioning + operator training | 2-3 weeks | USEL Academy |
| TOTAL | 8-16 weeks | — |
Legal & Administrative Preparations
- Workplace opening and operating licence — from the municipality
- Environmental permit — from the Provincial Directorate of Environment and Urbanisation in Türkiye (waste + emissions)
- Appointment of an occupational health and safety specialist (for facilities with 10+ employees)
- Risk assessment report — to be updated annually
- PPE procurement (under the PPE Regulation in Türkiye)
- Fire safety report + extinguisher checks
- Industrial waste declaration (annual)
- KOSGEB / TÜBİTAK registration (for state support applications in Türkiye)
Audit List for an Existing Workshop
Before moving to a new machine, check your existing workshop against these criteria:
- ☐ A reinforced concrete floor at least 25 cm thick
- ☐ 3 phase electricity + at least 30 kVA of capacity
- ☐ A 1" water inlet + 4-6" drainage
- ☐ A softening unit is in place (if not, you will be installing one)
- ☐ Adequate air compressor capacity
- ☐ Crane + forklift access
- ☐ Ventilation + extraction system
- ☐ Operator PPE + office area
- ☐ Fire safety + first aid
- ☐ Legal permits complete