Pre-shipment inspection confirms what leaves the supplier. Site commissioning confirms whether the delivered machine, air leg, drill steel, bit, hoses, lubrication, water supply and actual jobsite conditions work together. These are different gates. A machine can pass a visual shipment check and still fail commissioning because the site connection, supply or interface is wrong.
Commissioning should produce a controlled baseline, not just a video of the drill running. Verify identity and interfaces first, make the system safe, check air/oil/water delivery, then record operation under a described drilling condition. Do not begin by adjusting internal parts or increasing pressure.
Commissioning stages
| Stage | Main question | Required evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Receipt | Did the correct items arrive undamaged? | Packing list, labels, photos, quantity and damage record |
| Identity | Is every component the approved model/revision? | Nameplate, markings, controlled catalogue/drawing reference |
| Interface | Do drill, leg, steel, bit, hose and water fittings match? | Interface checklist and fit verification |
| Safe installation | Can the system be connected, isolated and restrained correctly? | As-built layout and site sign-off |
| Supply | Does working air, oil and water reach the tool? | Dynamic readings and delivery checks |
| Function | Do impact, rotation, feed and flushing respond correctly? | No-load/controlled functional record |
| Loaded baseline | Does the complete system drill stably in a stated condition? | Hole/setup record, pressure, observations and acceptance decision |
Step 1: receive and quarantine before assembly
Compare the shipment with the purchase order and packing list. Record carton or crate condition, corrosion protection, missing items and visible damage before moving parts into service. Keep any dropped, bent, cracked, heavily corroded or unidentified item in a controlled hold area.
Photograph the rock drill, air leg, nameplates, hose connections, shank/chuck, drill steel markings, bit socket or thread, and spare kit labels. Do not discard packaging or identification until the count and condition are accepted.
The pneumatic rock drill pre-shipment checklist is the upstream record. Commissioning should reconcile against it rather than repeat it as if the factory and site were the same environment.
Step 2: verify the exact system identity
Freeze the drill model, revision if applicable, compatible air-leg model/suffix, shank interface, drill-steel geometry, bit interface, inlet and water connections. Similar appearance or the ability to insert one part into another is not proof of compatibility.
For YT-series identification, use markings and controlled dimensions with the YT model identification guide. For drill-steel matching, use the H22×108 compatibility guide where applicable. Record any unresolved identity as pending; do not “prove” it by forcing a fit.
Step 3: inspect the tool and drilling interfaces
With all energy isolated, inspect the chuck/bushing, retainer, shank, steel straightness, taper/thread, bit, flushing path, controls, air-leg attachment and fasteners. Remove transport protection according to the manual. Confirm that moving parts and controls are free within their intended range.
Reject or hold a steel with cracks, obvious bend, damaged shank, mushrooming, overheated surface or incompatible interface. A damaged steel can produce a false machine complaint and exposes the operator to additional risk.
Step 4: build and approve the air connection
The site layout should identify compressor, treatment, isolation, header/branch, hose ID and length, couplings, line oiler, restraints and the tool inlet. Confirm pressure ratings, flow direction and positive locking. Replace damaged hose or fittings rather than improvising a repair.
Use the air-hose sizing guide to verify ID and restriction risk. Use the hose-restraint guide for connection and restraint checks. Keep people clear while the system is charged under the approved procedure.
Step 5: establish lubrication before a functional run
Confirm the approved oil, clean fill, correct line-oiler orientation and permitted location. Verify that the oil path is not blocked and that delivery follows the model procedure. Do not run a newly delivered pneumatic drill dry to “see whether it starts.”
Use the pneumatic rock drill lubrication guide for the external check. If the shipping preservative or storage condition requires a defined preparation step, follow the manufacturer's instruction instead of flushing the tool with an unapproved fluid.
Step 6: verify the water-flushing arrangement
Record source, hose, fitting, filter, pressure/flow basis and discharge behavior. Confirm that water travels through the intended path without external leakage or backflow. The test should comply with the site's dust-control method and the exact tool instructions.
Water availability is not only a production issue. If wet drilling is part of the exposure control, commissioning cannot be accepted by operating dry for convenience. If the supply is weak or unstable, isolate whether the restriction is upstream, in the hose/fitting or inside the tool before changing machine settings.
Step 7: perform a controlled functional check
Follow the model and site procedure for the permitted test sequence. Observe throttle response, percussion, rotation, air-leg movement, flushing, leakage, abnormal sound and temperature trend. Keep the drill steel controlled and never run the tool in a way prohibited by the manufacturer.
If air passes but impact does not start, stop and use the air-but-no-impact guide. If rotation is absent or intermittent, use the no-rotation guide. Commissioning is not the time to drill through a symptom.
Step 8: record dynamic supply under representative load
Measure pressure at an approved point near the tool while the drill operates in a representative condition. Record compressor state, other active users, hose path, tool model, bit/steel, rock description, hole angle and reading location. Static pressure at the compressor is not a substitute.
Also record oil delivery, water behavior, impact and rotation stability, air-leg feed response, abnormal leakage, temperature trend and visible condition after the run. If a production-rate figure is recorded, keep hole, rock and setup context; do not treat one uncontrolled hole as a universal performance guarantee.
Acceptance decision
Use four dispositions:
- Accepted: identity, interfaces, safe installation, supply and loaded behavior meet the controlled criteria.
- Conditionally accepted: a defined minor item remains, with owner and deadline, but safe intended use is not compromised.
- Hold: evidence, identity or a required supply/interface is missing; do not release for normal production.
- Rejected: damage, incompatibility or functional failure violates the agreed acceptance rule.
Create a signed record with serial/nameplate photos, configuration, instruments, readings, observations, defects, corrective actions and the final disposition. This becomes the comparison baseline for maintenance and warranty claims.
RFQ and commissioning support inputs
Send the exact drill and air-leg identity, purchase reference, shank/steel/bit interfaces, compressor and hose layout, lubricator, water arrangement, site altitude, test readings, rock/hole condition, photos and the unresolved symptom. Review the Pneumatic Rock Drills collection, then request a technical review.
FAQ
Is a pre-shipment inspection enough?
No. It verifies the shipment before dispatch. Site commissioning verifies the delivered system with the actual air, water, steel, bit, installation and operating condition.
Can commissioning pass if the drill runs in open air?
A permitted functional check can confirm basic response, but it does not establish loaded delivery, feed, flushing or drilling behavior. Use a representative controlled condition for the final baseline.
When should a commissioning test stop?
Stop for unsafe connections, unknown identity, incompatible parts, abnormal leakage, no lubrication, uncontrolled hose movement, abnormal sound/heat, failed rotation/impact or any condition outside the site and manufacturer procedure.