What we need to quote accurately
The more of this you have at the first contact, the closer the first quotation will be to the final one. If you only have part of it, send what you have and we will ask for the rest.
- The operation: drilling, milling, turning, boring, tapping or grooving
- The workpiece material, its hardness and its condition
- The machine interface: BT, HSK, CAT, VDI, or the holder you already use
- Cutting diameter, cutting depth and any reach limitation
- Whether coolant is used, and whether it is through-tool or flood
- Quantity now and the expected annual usage if it repeats
- For custom tooling: a drawing, or the sample tool if no drawing exists
Catalogue and custom enquiries follow different routes
| Enquiry type | What we do | What you receive | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalogue item | Check stock and confirm coating | Price and lead time | Same or next working day |
| Custom to drawing | Review feasibility, confirm geometry and substrate | Quotation with a drawing for approval | 1-2 working days |
| Reverse engineered | Measure the sample, agree which dimensions are nominal | Drawing for approval, then quotation | 2-3 working days |
| OEM / ODM programme | Engineering review and geometry discussion | Proposal, then drawing and trial batch | 3-5 working days to proposal |
Confidentiality
Send your NDA with the drawing or ask for ours. Drawings and samples are used only to manufacture your tools: we do not show them to other customers, and we do not market a customer's geometry under our own name.
For OEM programmes a signed NDA before any drawing is exchanged is a standard step, not something to negotiate.
Trials and first orders
Trial quantities are normal and are the sensible way to start. For catalogue geometries we ship the quantity you ask for with no minimum. For custom tooling we can produce a small first batch for cutting trials, confirm the parameters with you, and freeze the geometry only after the trial.
That sequence costs a little more than ordering a full batch immediately, and it is considerably cheaper than discovering a geometry problem after the production run.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly will I get a quote?
Catalogue items are usually quoted the same or the next working day, since the only variables are quantity and coating. Custom geometry and OEM enquiries take one to two working days because the drawing has to be reviewed and confirmed first.
Can I send a drawing or a photo of a tool by WhatsApp?
Yes. Send the drawing or a clear photo and we will confirm whether it is legible enough to quote from, or ask for the dimension that is missing. For a sample tool, sending the physical part is the most accurate route.
Do you charge for quoting or for drawing review?
No. Drawing review, feasibility assessment and geometry recommendations are free, including the questions we return with the quotation. Development work for an ODM geometry is quoted separately because it includes a trial batch.
Is there a minimum order for a first order?
There is no minimum on catalogue items. Custom geometry and OEM tooling start at fifty pieces per geometry, but a smaller trial batch can be produced first so the geometry is validated before the production run.
What if I do not have a drawing?
Send the sample tool and we will measure it, produce a drawing for your approval and manufacture to the approved revision. Where the original is worn we will agree which dimensions should be restored to nominal and which should follow the worn condition.