The critical questions you need to ask when sourcing a precision stamped components
- Ask themquestions about the cost drivers of your component.
- Estimate your annual order quantity as accurate as possible, as this drives some of the tooling decisions and affectscost, this is critical as lower quantity leads to simplified tooling that require more labor and increases piece price in order to keep tooling cost lower. While higher quantities will be processed in a progressive die, which is capable of running parts automated to save operation cost.
- Sometime, execute an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) helps you to limit the share of your part. It alsoallow the engineering department to make suggestions to reduce cost and ensure the parts
- If you have special requirement likeround corners on certain edges, chamfers, radius etc, make sure they are properly indicated on your drawing and make sure they can achieve all the requests. Most important, ensure the key dimensions for inspections are stated on the print.
- Generally, it’s better to consider prototypes prior to production release to ensure the part fit and satisfied function. It aims to reducethe possibility of tooling changes and extra costs. Fit checks are easily achieved and even easily be executed by using 3D printing. Functional validation requires parts made through the same process , material and assembly.
