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Material and surface treatment selection
A grade that machines more easily may corrode sooner, and that trade-off belongs to the buyer rather than the supplier.
Material substitution is the quiet way a part goes wrong. A free-machining grade cuts faster, holds tolerance better and costs less, and may have materially worse corrosion resistance than the grade on the drawing. The customer finds out in the field.
We quote the grade on your drawing. Where we think an alternative is better, or where the specified grade will be difficult, we propose it explicitly and explain the trade-off rather than substituting quietly and shipping.
Surface treatment is chosen for the service environment, not for appearance. Zinc plating, passivation, black oxide and anodising all look like finishing operations on a drawing and behave like engineering decisions in service.
Specifications
| We quote | The grade on your drawing |
|---|---|
| If we propose an alternative | We say so and explain the trade-off |
| Surface treatment | Chosen for service environment, not appearance |
Related Products
Choosing between turning, cold forging and stamping
Geometry and quantity decide the process, and quoting a part on the wrong one can double its price.
DIN and ISO standard parts, and when a special is cheaper
A standard part is cheaper until the standard does not fit, at which point a special is cheaper than an assembly designed around a compromise.
What a drawing needs to carry for a firm quote
Material grade, quantity, critical features, finish and any standard reference, plus a sample where one exists.
Have a drawing ready
Send the drawing with the material, the quantity and the finish you need. You will get a price, a process and a lead time, and a free sample before volume production.