Is the part to be heat treated? If so, is there a hardness requirement? Are there mechanical testing requirements?
What lot quantities of investment castings would you like us to quote? Is this a one time job or a recurring job?
Base on the customer’s demand, if there is no idea, we might request the minimum quantity for each furnace capacity.
We need as much information about the part as possible. This is a new part? If it is an existing job, how is it currently being made? If it is currently being investment cast why are you looking for new foundry? Is to get better quality, delivery or price?
If this is an existing part, does investment casting tooling currently exist for part. If so any tooling rework or modification will be at customer's expense.
We need drawings of 2D and 3D or samples. The more information we receive the fewer questions we will have to ask before we can quote. Ideally we would like to have:
3D CAD files. We would prefer SolidWorks files. If these are not available then this is the desired order.
1. SolidWorks format
2. STEP format
3. X_T format
4. IGES format
5. STL format
2D drawings. We need these for tolerances. We do make many rapid prototype parts without 2D drawings. But if tolerances are important 2D drawings are a necessity. Note if you only send us a 2D drawing and the dimensions and or tolerances are not legible we will not be able to quote.
Samples if available. This is not a necessity, unless that is all you have, but they can be very helpful during our quoting process
Unless critical dimensions are called out on 2D drawings we will need to know what dimensions are critical and what are not critical.