A suggestion for new and old equipment owners.

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Don't know if this has been brought up before but here goes anyway.     These days digital photography is pretty easy. So I think it would be a good idea if whenever anyone gets a new(to them) piece of equipment they should pull off the covers and photograph as much of the internals as they can. Especially in the new welders with circuit boards. Closeups of boards would eliminate the common problem of "I have a burned resistor (or whatever) and I don't know the value and the manufacturer doesn't supply that info."   Even if you don't share your pics they could prove invaluable for you in the future. Also nice for reconnecting stuff when you originally thought it was going back together this afternoon and now you finally got the parts 4 months later.---Meltedmetal
Reply:Amen to that! Any time I work on equipment I take many detailed pictures during the process to avoid confusion when reassembling.Also useful in case of machinery theft. I have taken my more expensive machines apart and made small inconspicuous marks with center punch, paint marker, etc. then photographing the marks. If the machines are ever stolen, in the (admittedly unlikely) event that they are recovered, I have proof that they are mine even if the serial number has been removed.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:Been doing that on many items for years. Especially gear cases, brake systems, clutches and hydraulic systems. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Yes mine are photographed whether they are apart or new to metrailblazer 302thunderbolt ac dc machine Hobart fluxcoreAHP tig 200x 2015
Reply:i avoid taking a perfect good machine apart even taking cover off.using a digital camera photograph things before taking apart is ok. often done on large multistory machines weighing 100's of tons particularly how to take apart how to pick stuff up etc. many a machine manual will say1) take off cover A2) turn screw 53 til you see set screw B3) loosen set screw4) now remove shaft DD by sliding in direction shown.i see that all the time. without detailed instructions and or xray vision complex machines cannot be taken apart because you cannot see many details covered by other parts. on a large multi story printing press I would often pull up 3D CAD model and make items semi transparent to give xray vision ability. basically do a virtual disassembly before touching machine. I often made computer animations showing a machine disassembly on computer.unfortunately often the CAD files are often not given to a buyer of a machine. Not many cars for example do you get the CAD 3d models that were used to make it.
Reply:Originally Posted by WNY_TomBunfortunately often the CAD files are often not given to a buyer of a machine. Not many cars for example do you get the CAD 3d models that were used to make it.
Reply:Any time I fix something, I try to take a picture of it.  Same goes for when I build something!  -JessForney C5 Arc WelderLincoln Idealarc 250-250 Ac/Dc Arc WelderMiller Bobcat 225g PlusLincoln PowerMig 200Forney O/A Rig
Reply:It's not taking the picture that is the problem, it's then acquiring the knowledge on how to post/save them on forums and/or file-hosting websites that gets some people.  I like how some claim to be "old school" in everything they do, yet there they are posting away from their smartphones.  1st on WeldingWeb to have a scrolling sig! HTP Invertig 400HTP Invertig 221HTP ProPulse 300HTP ProPulse 200 x2HTP ProPulse 220MTSHTP Inverarc 200TLP HTP Microcut 875SC