Before turning on the milling machines and lathes, what range should they be in?

• A. High
• B. Low
• C. Medium
• D. Neutral

Answer: (A)

Choosing the high range before turning on the machines sets the drive in the faster belt/pulley band that most setups use for a ready-to-test startup. This lets you quickly verify that the spindle spins freely, without binding or unusual noise, and confirms the belt is correctly engaged before you proceed with actual cutting. Starting in a lower range can conceal issues or complicate a future speed change, and moving belts while powered is unsafe. Neutral would prevent any motion, and the other ranges aren’t the standard starting state for a safe, initial check in many shop procedures.