Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers for manufacturing enquiries and project planning.
Browse 36 answers across 12 categories, from drawings and quotations to process planning, inspection, confidentiality, delivery, and packaging.
Browse by category
Category 01
General
Project scope, production volumes, engineering communication, and ongoing manufacturing support.
Does Kewei support prototypes and low-volume production?
Yes. Projects can be reviewed for prototypes, engineering samples, bridge quantities, low-volume production, and repeat orders. The suitable route depends on geometry, material, quantity, finish, and validation requirements.
Can one project combine several manufacturing processes?
Yes. A project can combine machining, molding, sheet metal fabrication, casting, finishing, inspection, simple assembly, and packaging when the requirements are defined and each process is technically suitable.
How does Kewei communicate engineering questions?
Questions are tied to the drawing, model, revision, and requirement being reviewed. Clear written confirmation is preferred for material, finish, tolerance, cosmetic, inspection, assembly, and delivery decisions.
Category 02
CNC Machining
Machining processes, geometry review, materials, setups, and secondary operations.
What information is important for a CNC machining review?
Provide the 3D model, a controlled 2D drawing, material grade, quantity, finish, critical dimensions, threads, surface roughness, inspection needs, and intended delivery requirement.
Can Kewei machine both metal and engineering plastics?
Common aluminum and stainless grades, brass, copper, tool steel, and engineering plastics such as POM, nylon, and PEEK can be reviewed. Final suitability depends on the drawing and application.
Can a machined part include surface finishing and inserts?
Yes. Finishing, masking, thread protection, inserts, and simple assembly can be included in the manufacturing plan when they are identified before quotation and production release.
Category 03
Injection Molding
Plastic part DFM, mold tooling, trial stages, overmolding, and molded-part production.
Do you provide DFM feedback before mold tooling?
Yes. A molding review can cover wall transitions, draft, ribs, bosses, undercuts, gates, ejection, parting lines, cosmetic zones, material behavior, and assembly interfaces before tooling decisions are finalized.
What are T0, T1, and later mold trial stages used for?
Trial stages are used to evaluate filling, dimensions, appearance, ejection, assembly, and process stability. The exact stage naming and approval plan should be agreed for the project rather than assumed.
Can Kewei review insert molding and overmolding projects?
Yes. The review should include insert or substrate material, retention geometry, adhesion expectations, shutoffs, flash limits, sealing surfaces, loading orientation, and any pull or functional test requirements.
Category 04
Sheet Metal
Laser cutting, bending, hardware, welding, finishing, and enclosure fabrication.
Which sheet metal operations can be coordinated?
Typical projects may include laser cutting, punching, bending, welding, riveting, PEM hardware insertion, brushing, powder coating, painting, marking, and simple assembly, subject to drawing review.
Why are bend radius and relief details important?
They influence formability, cracking risk, flat-pattern development, corner condition, and dimensional repeatability. The selected material, thickness, grain direction, and tooling all affect the result.
How should hardware and welded features be specified?
Identify the hardware standard, installation side, stand-off or thread requirement, weld location, weld appearance, distortion-sensitive areas, and any surfaces that must remain clear for assembly or grounding.
Category 05
Materials
Material grades, substitutions, documentation, and application-based selection.
Can Kewei recommend a material for my part?
Kewei can compare manufacturing implications and common material characteristics, but the customer should approve the final grade against strength, temperature, chemical, regulatory, electrical, optical, and end-use requirements.
Can a requested material be substituted?
A substitution should never be assumed. Any alternative grade must be reviewed and approved against the drawing, functional requirements, documentation needs, finish compatibility, and supply condition.
Can material documentation be requested?
Documentation support can be reviewed during quotation. State the required document type, grade, specification, traceability scope, and whether the requirement applies to every shipment or only selected orders.
Category 06
Surface Finishes
Appearance, protection, masking, color, texture, and finish compatibility.
How do I choose a surface finish?
Start with the base material and required function: corrosion protection, wear, conductivity, appearance, texture, color, cleanability, or marking. Then define cosmetic zones, masking, and measurable acceptance criteria.
Will a finish change part dimensions?
Many coatings and plating processes add thickness, while preparation processes can remove or texture material. Fits, threads, sealing faces, electrical contacts, and tight dimensions should be reviewed with finish buildup and masking in mind.
Can color and gloss be matched from a reference?
Reference samples or controlled color information can support review, but material, texture, process batch, geometry, and lighting influence appearance. The acceptance method should be agreed before production.
Category 07
Quality
Drawing review, inspection planning, measurement records, and acceptance criteria.
Do you provide inspection reports?
Inspection documentation support is available when requested and agreed during quotation. The drawing should identify critical characteristics, sampling expectations, report format, and any required material or finish records.
How are critical dimensions selected for inspection?
Critical dimensions should come from function, fit, sealing, alignment, safety, assembly, and process risk. Mark them clearly on the controlled drawing instead of relying on an informal message or blanket tight tolerance.
Which inspection methods may be used?
Depending on the feature, support may include calipers, micrometers, height gauges, pin or thread gauges, optical measurement, CMM inspection, and appearance review. The method must suit the tolerance and geometry.
Category 08
Shipping
Lead-time planning, delivery information, international shipment, and tracking.
What is the normal production lead time?
Lead time depends on process, material, quantity, tooling or setup, finishing, inspection, packaging, and delivery requirements. Timing is reviewed with the quotation and order rather than presented as a fixed universal promise.
Can you arrange international delivery?
International shipment can be discussed for the project. Provide the destination, preferred delivery terms, consignee details, packaging needs, and any documentation requirements for review.
When is shipment tracking provided?
Tracking or shipment reference information can be shared after dispatch when it is available from the selected carrier or logistics arrangement.
Category 09
Quotation
Required RFQ inputs, engineer review, price factors, and quotation revisions.
Do you provide instant automatic pricing?
No. Upload your drawings and receive an engineer-reviewed quotation. This allows geometry, material, quantity, finish, inspection, packaging, and delivery requirements to be considered together.
What information is required for an accurate quotation?
Send CAD data and drawings where available, material, quantity, surface finish, tolerance priorities, project description, inspection needs, delivery destination, and requested timing.
Why might a quotation change after a drawing revision?
A revision can change material volume, machining time, tooling, setups, mold complexity, finishing, inspection, assembly, or risk. The revised file and revision level should be reviewed before price and timing are reconfirmed.
Category 10
Files and Drawings
Supported formats, 2D and 3D data, revision control, and physical samples.
Which files can I upload?
STEP, STP, STL, IGES, IGS, X_T, SLDPRT, PDF, JPG, PNG, ZIP, and RAR files can be submitted. Native or less common CAD formats can be confirmed during review.
Do I need both a 3D model and a 2D drawing?
The 3D model defines geometry, while the 2D drawing is the preferred place for tolerances, datums, threads, surface roughness, finishes, notes, and inspection requirements. Supplying both reduces ambiguity.
Can Kewei work from a physical sample?
Reverse-engineering support can be reviewed from a physical sample, but function, material, hidden geometry, allowable changes, and acceptance criteria still require confirmation. A sample alone may not define design intent.
Category 11
NDA
Confidential project review, information handling, and NDA arrangements.
Can Kewei sign an NDA before receiving detailed drawings?
Yes. NDA arrangements can be discussed before detailed project files are reviewed. Send the proposed agreement and the legal entity information required for review.
Should confidential files be sent before the NDA is agreed?
If an NDA is required, complete that process before sending confidential drawings, models, commercial information, or customer-specific project details.
Does the website publish customer projects automatically?
No. Customer names, logos, drawings, results, and commercial details should not be published without verified records and explicit publication permission.
Category 12
Packaging
Part protection, cosmetic surfaces, labeling, and project-specific packing needs.
How are cosmetic parts protected during packaging?
Packaging can be planned around visible surfaces, sharp edges, coating sensitivity, part-to-part contact, moisture, and transport risk. Identify any surfaces that require individual protection.
Can parts be labeled or separated by revision or batch?
Labeling, bagging, separation, and revision or batch identification can be reviewed when the required format and traceability scope are specified before shipment.
Can customer-specified packaging be used?
Yes, subject to review. Provide the packaging drawing, label format, material restriction, quantity per pack, protection requirement, and shipping method with the RFQ.
Need a project-specific answer?
Upload your drawings and receive an engineer-reviewed quotation.
Include the controlled files, material, quantity, finish, tolerance, inspection, packaging, and delivery requirements.