Everyone hates receiving items and finding that they aren’t to the quality that was expected. Rectifying these problems; or having to re-make the parts, can lead to missed lead times and unhappy customers so, at Chartway, we try to avoid this from the very beginning of the process.
What we do:
Drawing Checks
When we receive a new RFQ for an item; our trusted quality control team check over the drawing to ensure the tolerances on the drawing are achievable, and that we have the necessary gauges and equipment to be able to check the component once manufactured.
At this stage; if we notice that anything is missing from the drawing or looks out of the ordinary, we will get in touch to confirm the dimensions with you before we begin manufacture. The last thing any trusted CNC machinist should do, is guess the dimensions!
Gauges
We have relationships with trusted gauge suppliers who provide us with calibrated gauges to measure all required aspects of your components. We can even get bespoke gauges manufactured for any special threads or dimensions listed on the drawing.
Things you can do:
Product designers can be amazing at thinking up the ideas and ensuring an item would fit the intended purpose; but they aren’t expected to also be experts in CNC machining.
This means that sometimes there can be missing elements on the drawing; or design features that aren’t necessarily required.
We have put together a quick checklist which you can use to ensure the drawings have all the information required for manufacture:
Is the material grade listed on the drawing?
The material specification is a key requirement on the drawing and should always be included; but we do find it is often missed.
If any alternative grades can also be accepted; these should also be included on the drawing. Some grades may be cheaper than others, but offer the same quality, so we could also save you money!
Are the tolerances clear?
General tolerances are usually included on the drawing border – do these apply to all dimensions; or do some require tighter tolerances for critical features?
For example, you may have a bespoke pin where the tolerance on the shaft is vital to mate with another part; but the head can have relaxed tolerances as it’s not vital.
Do you require a specific finish?
We understand that sometimes parts are required to have a certain aesthetic quality to suit the end use. Any finishes need to be clearly displayed on the drawing.
For example, if the component is at a high-end price point, your end customer won’t expect scratches or machining marks all over the product; so you could add a note for “no machining marks or visible imperfections accepted”.
Let’s talk about it:
We find that having effective communication throughout the quoting, manufacture and delivery of your components is the key solution; and many problems can be prevented or resolved by talking them through.
By checking the drawing up-front, we can communicate any issues with the drawing before manufacture begins. We can also speak to your product designers and suggest any changes to tolerances or dimensions we could offer to bring down costs.
This way, the only communication you should need to receive off us during manufacture are progress updates to confirm the status of your delivery; or to advise on any unexpected issues such as machine breakdowns, material delivery delays etc.