When this applies
- Brackets, panels, chassis, guards and enclosures
- Quantities from one to a few hundred
- A design still being iterated
- Parts that must be finished and ready to assemble
Send a model, not just a flat pattern
A 3D model lets the fabricator apply their own bend allowances for their tooling and material. Supplying only a flat pattern developed elsewhere risks parts that are dimensionally wrong after forming, because the deductions assumed will not match theirs.
- Material, thickness and grade
- Bend radii, or permission to use shop standards
- Hardware inserts — type, size and side
- Grain direction if cosmetically relevant
What drives the price
Number of bends, number of separate forming setups, welding, hardware insertion and finishing. Simplifying a part to fewer bends and fewer setups usually saves more than shaving material.
Finishing and assembly
Powder coating, plating, silkscreen and hardware insertion are often subcontracted and can dominate lead time on small batches. State the finish requirement in the enquiry; adding it afterwards changes both price and schedule.
RFQ checklist
Include these in your request and suppliers can quote without a round of questions.
- 3D model plus drawings for critical dimensions
- Material, thickness and finish
- Hardware list with part numbers
- Quantity and any price-break quantities
- Whether parts must arrive assembly-ready