The machine is ready for production. First-article is still sitting in a queue. That’s not a quality problem yet — it’s a capacity problem with a deadline attached.
Here’s a clean handoff so contract inspection (or your own bench) doesn’t bounce the pack.
What to send
- Print — correct revision, clearly marked
- Ballooned drawing — if you have it; if not, say so up front
- CAD (if allowed) — STEP/native as your customer permits
- Material certs / heat lot — when the print or PO requires it
- Quantity + due date — real dates, not “ASAP”
- Special callouts — GD&T stack-ups, surface finish, CMM vs manual, customer format (AS9102, etc.)
What “done” looks like
Agree before the job starts: report format, bubble map, measured vs nominal, out-of-tol disposition path, and whether partial FAI is acceptable.
Keep in-house vs contract
| Keep in-house when… | Contract when… |
|---|---|
| Bench is free and fixtures exist | CMM is the bottleneck |
| Operator already knows the part family | New customer format / AS9102 pack |
| Simple attributes | Tight GD&T + schedule risk |
Next step
Inspection backlog, first-article pack, or “we need CMM capacity this week” — start at aiinspectiontools.com or call or text me and I’ll route it. If the real problem is machining capacity, not inspection, get quotes through cncquotesfast.com.
Call or text 508-343-1219 · Taunton, MA
FAQ
Turnaround? Depends on queue and complexity — send the pack for a real date, not a guess.
AS9100 / customer-approved lab? Ask up front; don’t assume.
Partial FAI? Often yes if the customer allows — get it in writing.
Call or text 508-343-1219 · Taunton, MA