Zorapid Custom Service
The customization of precision parts follows a completely different logic from the procurement of standard industrial products. Conventional procurement means selecting from in-stock items, while customization is manufacturing from scratch.
Drawings mark the starting point. Process review, non-disclosure agreements, acceptance criteria and delivery documents require proactive confirmation by both engineers and manufacturers at every stage, instead of simply sending drawings and waiting for goods delivery.
Complete Process of Custom Parts Manufacturing
Focus on the easily overlooked yet highly critical links that greatly impact final results: drawing compliance standards, NDA management, pre-defined acceptance criteria, and complete delivery documentation.
Drawing Preparation
The quality of customization starts with drawings. Drawing quality directly determines communication costs and sample success rate.
A qualified custom drawing shall include：
Complete 2D engineering drawing:
Include full dimension markings with tolerances, geometric tolerances where necessary, general tolerance statements (e.g., “Unspecified tolerances comply with GB/T 1804-m”), surface roughness requirements (specific Ra values instead of mere symbols), clear material specifications (detailed grades such as “Aluminum Alloy 6061-T6” rather than vague terms like “aluminum alloy”), complete surface treatment requirements (process, specification and color), and technical provisions including deburring, heat treatment and inspection standards.
Supporting 3D Model:
In STEP or IGES format for factory engineers to understand the 3D structure. If there are minor discrepancies between the 3D model and 2D drawings, clearly state in the file instructions whether 2D drawings shall prevail or 3D model shall prevail to avoid ambiguity.
Key Self-Check Points Before Sending Drawings:
1：Are tolerances marked for all critical dimensions?
2：Is the datum for geometric tolerances defined on the drawing?
3：Are complete specifications provided for surface treatment (film thickness / color)?
4：Are the dimensions of mating surfaces specified for pre-treatment or post-treatment?
The cost of incomplete drawings:
Each round of repeated confirmation takes half a day to one day. After 3–4 rounds of back-and-forth communication, delivery will be delayed by 1 to 3 days. Undiscovered issues may also arise during communication, further holding up the entire project.
Process Confirmation
Links More Crucial Than Quotation
The most crucial step before placing an order is to confirm the process plan, not just the price.
Processing Route:
How many machining axes are required for this part? What manufacturing processes will be adopted? Is surface treatment necessary? Which procedures need to be outsourced?
Accuracy Assurance Measures:
Is there in-process inspection for key processes?
Yes. We have defined key procedures across all production lines and implemented standardized in-process inspections at every critical stage. Each inspection point follows documented checklists, with data recorded and traceable.
Is the full dimension verification of the first article conducted via CMM?
Our first article verification process includes 100% dimensional inspection against the customer’s 2D drawings, using calibrated CMM and measuring tools. All results are logged in a FAIR, including measurement data, equipment IDs, and inspector signatures, ensuring full compliance and traceability.
Surface treatment details
How to reserve the machining allowance for fitting dimensions of parts involving surface treatment ?
Zorapid tailors machining allowances by material and surface treatment. 0.02–0.10mm allowance reserved for plating, anodizing and passivation per coating thickness. All data documented to ensure accurate post-treatment dimensions.
The materials are as follows:
Zorapid provide full raw material certifications, including material test reports (MTRs) and certificates of compliance (CoCs), for all incoming materials. These documents confirm material composition, mechanical properties, and traceability, and are available for customer review upon request.
Zorapid maintain a structured inventory system for frequently used specified materials, with real-time stock tracking. For specialty materials, we have pre-qualified suppliers and a robust sourcing process to guarantee material availability and quality, even for low-volume or custom requirements.
Confirm these issues one by one, and delivery & quality risks will be well controlled. The more detailed the process confirmation, the fewer subsequent problems and clearer division of responsibilities for both sides.
Acceptance Standard Agreement
Dimensional acceptance, visual inspection, test report specifications and non-conforming product disposal protocols: completing these four inspection steps effectively eliminates quality risks, enabling full quality assurance from processing to final acceptance.
