by Chris Anjel | Sep 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Inserts and heat-set hardware show up on a surprising number of RFQs — threaded brass inserts for 3D printed enclosures, press-fit dowel pins for CNC fixtures, helical inserts for soft aluminum, even captive nuts for sheet metal assemblies. They’re small line items...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Custom manufacturing rarely moves in a straight line from RFQ to purchase order. Customers change quantities, swap materials, request design tweaks, or adjust tolerances — sometimes all within the same conversation. Each revision cycle burns estimator time, delays the...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
If you run a 3D printing service bureau or a sheet metal shop, you already know that nesting and build layout aren’t just preprocessing steps — they’re where margin lives or dies. A tight nest on a laser cutter can save 15 percent on material. A smart...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
You nailed the machine time. The material cost is locked in. The geometry checks out. Then the job ships and you realize the margin evaporated in bead blasting, thread tapping, CMM inspection, and the two hours your tech spent assembling hardware the customer forgot...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Non-recurring engineering charges are where digital manufacturing quotes go sideways. Quote them too high and the customer walks. Quote them too low and you’re subsidizing their project with your shop’s time. The problem isn’t the number — it’s...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 9, 2026 | Uncategorized
Every shop gets them: RFQs with a STEP file but no material callout, a 2D drawing missing tolerances, or a quantity field left blank. Incomplete RFQs are the norm, not the exception. The shops that win the work aren’t the ones waiting for perfect data —...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 4, 2026 | Uncategorized
Every digital manufacturer knows the cycle: an RFQ lands in your inbox, you open the file, spot missing specs or geometry issues, fire off a clarification email, wait a day or two for a reply, then repeat. Multiply that by dozens of quotes a week and the time lost...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 4, 2026 | Uncategorized
Every hour a quote sits in your queue is an hour your competitor has to win the job. For digital manufacturers — whether you run a 3D printing service, CNC shop, or sheet metal operation — quote speed directly impacts win rates and revenue. Yet many shops still spend...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 4, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops start quoting by weight. It’s simple: take the part volume, multiply by material density, add a markup, and send the number. For early-stage 3D printing bureaus running one or two machines, that works fine. But as soon as you add processes, materials, or...
by Chris Anjel | Sep 4, 2026 | Uncategorized
You quoted the job, won the order, shipped the parts — and still lost money. Sound familiar? The culprit is usually a gap between what you think a part costs and what it actually costs to produce. Most shops track material and direct machine time well. Where the...
