
How to Specify Tolerances for Holes, Shafts, Threads, Bearing Seats, Press Fits, and Seals — A Buyer’s Guide
If your RFQ says “Ø25 mm” and nothing else, you haven’t specified a part. You’ve specified a target that a machine shop will hit somewhere

If your RFQ says “Ø25 mm” and nothing else, you haven’t specified a part. You’ve specified a target that a machine shop will hit somewhere

If you buy CNC parts internationally, you’ve seen this pattern: the First Article Inspection (FAI) report comes back clean, you release the PO for 5,000

If you buy CNC machined hardware for a living, you’ve seen this scenario: the supplier sends back an inspection report with a beautiful Ra 0.4

If you’ve ever gotten three quotes for the same CNC bracket and three completely different inspection reports back, this article is for you. The gap

If you buy CNC parts from suppliers in China, Vietnam, Eastern Europe, or Mexico, you’ve seen this drawing before: a part with 40 dimensions, and

If you’ve sourced precision hardware components for more than a year, you’ve seen this line in a supplier’s capability deck: “CNC machining accuracy ±0.001mm.” It

Steel demand globally is basically flat. Titanium is up. Aluminum alloys are up double digits. If you’re sourcing metal parts and just watching “steel prices”

If you buy metal parts internationally, you already know the pattern: the drawing says “harden to 60 Rockwell,” the supplier ships a batch, and three