When troubleshooting a machine, your first step should be to?

In troubleshooting a machine, the initial step should ideally be to read the equipment record. The equipment record provides critical historical information about the machine's operational history, previous issues, repairs made, and any recurring problems. This background can help in evaluating the current malfunction effectively. Understanding past errors can direct your approach and make the troubleshooting process more efficient by narrowing down potential causes that have been identified previously.

Consulting the user manual can also be beneficial but often comes after understanding the machine's history, as the manual typically provides guidelines and troubleshooting steps based on standard operational protocols. Checking for obvious signs of damage and testing all electrical components are essential steps, but they should come after gathering information from the equipment record to understand the context of the issue.