Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
The Manufacturing Handoff
Once you have a final list of prospective manufacturers, you need to get price quotes with
lead time information included. This will involve sending all of your design files, doc-
umentation, data sheets, and any prototypes to the prospective manufacturers. The more
detailed the documentation, the better. See
Chapter 14
for details of the documentation
process. In general, you'll need to send all of your CAD files in the format agreed upon
between you and the manufacturer. You will get more predictable results if you do the file
conversion into a format that the factory can use, rather than relying on the factory to con-
vert files for you. This gives you the opportunity to verify that the converted file contains
the correct information. If you are sending mechanical CAD files, you need to make sure
every part is properly dimensioned and tolerances are included. It's easy to create CAD
parts that fit perfectly together in the virtual world, but once they become tangible objects
in the real world, proper tolerances can mean the difference between a perfect fit and a
ruined product. If you don't know how to establish tolerances for a part, work with your
prospective manufacturers to understand what is possible. Sometimes they can help you
set tolerances within the range that they can achieve in production. Your drawings need
to include materials selection and material finishes, lest the manufacturer select materials
and finishes for you. Your files should also include part numbers, quantities, part function,
revision information, and assembly information. Make sure this information is also cross-
referenced in your bill of materials.
Here is a sample RFQ.
