Resources

What you need before asking for a quote

Before you send anything, gather five things: the quantity, the material, the tolerance, the finish and the file. Quantity can be a range, but a first-batch number and an annual volume let us quote the band that actually matters. Material comes from our list — aluminium 2024, 5052, 6061 and 7075; stainless steel 301, 303, 304, 304L, 316, 316L, 410, 416 and 17-4PH; carbon and alloy steel 1045, 1215, 4140, D2 and O1; brass, copper and bronze; titanium; and engineering plastics. Tolerance is ±0.01 mm on precision features, with ISO 2768-m as the general tolerance unless your drawing states otherwise. Finish is whether the part is machined, anodised, passivated or plated. The file is a drawing or 3D model in STEP, IGES, DWG, DXF or PDF. With those five things, a quote lands within 24 hours with DFM feedback. If the part replaces an existing item, include the old drawing or a photo of the worn sample too; both help us match fit and finish when the print is incomplete. The how-to-order guide walks through the same checklist in detail.

How to read a drawing pack

A drawing pack is the full set of files that defines the part, and the quickest way to avoid a costly misread is to check it before you send it. Confirm the title block names the part and revision, the material is called out, and every feature has either its own tolerance or falls under ISO 2768-m. Check the thread callouts — metric with pitch, or UNC and UNF for inch sizes — and the surface finish notes. Look for the datums, because a dimension means nothing without the reference it is taken from. If a bore, a thread or a finish is left undefined, the quote has to assume one, and a conservative assumption is usually a tighter one than you need. Keep the revision under control as well: quote and order from the same revision, and re-send the file whenever a dimension changes, so the part we cut is the part on your latest print. Our drawing requirements page lists what we accept and how to annotate it, and the DFM guide shows which design choices change the price.

The reference tables we publish

Once the order is running, these references answer the questions that come up mid-project. Thread standards covers UNC, UNF, BSP, NPT and metric series; metric fasteners covers DIN 912, 933 and 934; inch fasteners covers UNC and UNF parts; DIN standard parts and ANSI & ASTM parts cover the common DIN references and the A307, A325 and A193 grades. Use them together rather than in isolation: pick the thread standard, confirm the fastener against its DIN or ASTM reference, and check any unfamiliar term in the glossary, and the drawing stops being a source of surprises. Everything on this page is free to read and links out to the fuller guide for each topic, so a spec question can usually be resolved without a back-and-forth. The FAQ answers the questions buyers ask most about quotes, tolerances and lead times.

How to get a fast quote

The fastest path is a complete drawing sent through the request-a-quote page. We reply within 24 hours with a price and DFM feedback, so you can adjust the design before committing. Samples can be ordered from a single piece and ship in five to ten days; production runs twenty-five to thirty-five days after you approve the sample, from a minimum order of 50 pieces. Every order ships with a material certificate (MTR) and pre-shipment photos. Whatever the page you start from, the facts stay the same: samples from a single piece, production from 50 pieces, and quotes within 24 hours with DFM feedback. If you are not sure which reference applies to your part, send the drawing and your question and we will point you to the right page and quote the part in the same reply.

The complete guide, by topic

The site holds over 300 pages. This is the index: nine buckets, the same order a buyer works through them. Start at the top if you are planning a part, start anywhere if you are checking a specific question.

1. Choosing the process

Which route makes the part, and why the geometry decides it before price does. CNC machining · CNC turning · CNC milling · 5-axis machining · Swiss screw machining · Automatic screw machining · EDM · Turning vs milling · 3D printing vs CNC

2. Materials

What each grade does, and which one the drawing should call out. Materials index · Aluminium parts · Stainless steel parts · Brass and copper · Steel 1215 · 17-4 PH vs 304 · 12L14 vs 1215 · Neoprene injection

3. Tolerance, drawing and DFM

The part of the drawing that decides both how it is made and what it costs. Tolerance chart · DFM guide · Drawing requirements · Screw tolerance · Metric to inch conversion · Thread standards · Threaded hole depth · Types of thread taps

4. Cost and quantity

Why the per-part price moves with volume, and which line dominates at your quantity. CNC machining cost · Bulk order pricing · Small batch custom screws · Custom screw size range

5. Surface finishes

What each finish does to corrosion, wear and the price. Surface finishes index · Anodizing · Black oxide · Electropolishing · Chrome plating · Heat treatment · Alodine conversion coating

6. Fasteners and standard parts

The part families that make up most orders, and the standards behind them. Custom screws · Custom washers · Custom nuts · Custom bolts · Custom pins · Custom rivets · Custom fasteners · Metric fasteners · Inch fasteners · DIN standard parts · ANSI and ASTM parts

7. Industries

Ten sectors, and the processes and materials they actually share. Industries index · Aerospace · Automotive · Medical · Defense and military · Oil and gas · Electronics · Hydraulic and pneumatic · Marine · Agriculture

8. Ordering and documentation

What to send, what comes back, and what ships with the parts. How to order · CNC prototyping · Equipment list · FAQ · Glossary

9. Where to start

If you only have a drawing and a quantity, this is the shortest path to a number. Request a quote · Capabilities overview · How to order · Cost drivers