CNC machining.
Your questions answered.

Send your drawings or CAD files with the part number, revision, material, quantity and required finish. Highlight critical dimensions, inspection requirements and your target delivery date. For several parts, a parts list helps us keep each requirement matched to the correct drawing.

Yes. Custom one-offs and small runs are part of our CNC service. Send the drawings and quantity for review. Material availability, setup requirements and the part geometry determine the price and lead time.

Yes. A trial order can help you assess the parts, communication and delivery process before placing further orders. We can review one or two selected part numbers and agree the sample quantity, acceptance requirements and cost. Custom samples are not automatically free.

Material sourcing, machine choice, setups and the manufacturing route all affect cost. Compare quotations against the same material grade, quantity, tolerances, finish, inspection scope and shipping requirements. A lower price is only directly comparable when the supplied scope is the same.

Yes. Please make the drawing units clear and keep the CAD model and drawing consistent. If the units or dimensions appear to conflict, we will ask you to confirm them before production rather than assume a conversion.

Identify the critical features, datum references and applicable drawing standard, including its edition. GD&T describes geometric requirements such as form, orientation and position, not just a size tolerance. We review the requirements and the inspection approach before agreeing the manufacturing scope.

Include the insert type, manufacturer or part number, internal thread, quantity and installation locations on the drawing. State whether the inserts must be supplied and installed. An insert callout is not the same as a directly tapped hole, so these details need to be confirmed in the quotation.

Identify each version with a clear part number, drawing or model and quantity. If a drawing describes a mirrored pair, confirm whether you need both versions. This avoids treating two different parts as a single item.

Please request a Type 3.1 certificate at the quotation stage. Availability depends on the material grade, stock source and order. We will confirm whether the required certificate can be supplied before you place the order; it is not available for every material or grade.

A heat number identifies a metal melting batch and is normally recorded in the material documentation. If heat-level traceability is required, tell us before ordering. We will confirm what supporting records and identification can be maintained for the selected material and your parts.

We will explain the available documentation before production. Depending on your requirements, we can discuss material composition testing or a sample for your own evaluation. These alternatives do not automatically replace a Type 3.1 certificate and must be accepted by you in advance.

No material substitution should be assumed. If the specified grade is difficult to source, we will propose an alternative for your review before production. Similar grade names do not guarantee identical composition, properties or certification, so your approval is required.

QT means quenched and tempered. Please specify the grade, required condition and any hardness or mechanical-property requirements together. We will review these requirements when confirming the material and manufacturing route.

It depends on the material, geometry and dimensional requirements. If stress relief or another thermal process is required, include it in the drawing or enquiry. We will review where it belongs in the manufacturing sequence and confirm the scope; it is not automatically included for every part.

We review the drawing before committing to the order. Achievable tolerances depend on the material, feature geometry and manufacturing route. If a requirement needs clarification or cannot be met as specified, it should be resolved with you before production. We do not apply one blanket tolerance to every part.

Plastic dimensions can change with temperature and material stress. For POM parts with close tolerances, tell us the critical features and the intended measurement or operating conditions. We will review the achievable tolerance and inspection conditions for the actual part rather than apply a universal allowance.

Yes, subject to the agreed inspection scope. Request the report during quotation and identify the dimensions, quantities and any customer template you need. We will confirm the checks and records to be supplied with the order. A full report is not automatically included for every part.

Please request the certificate before ordering and share your template or required wording, if applicable. We will confirm the document and the requirements it covers. A C of C is separate from a material test certificate and a dimensional inspection report.

Contact your CK representative with the part number, drawing revision, affected quantity, photographs and measurement details. We will review the issue against the agreed requirements and discuss the next steps. Please contact us before modifying or returning the parts so the evidence and proposed solution can be reviewed.

Not necessarily. Appearance describes how a surface looks, while a roughness value such as Ra is a measurable requirement. Specify the required value, units and applicable surfaces on the drawing, alongside any cosmetic reference. A photograph alone does not define a roughness acceptance limit.

Conventional aluminium anodising is not a suitable finish for SAE 4140 steel. If the drawing pairs a steel grade with an anodising callout, we will ask you to clarify the requirement. The appropriate alternative finish must be selected for the material and application, not substituted automatically.

These terms usually describe an undyed anodised finish on aluminium. The alloy and preparation affect the final appearance; it should not be assumed to be a white coating. Specify the anodising type, thickness and sealing requirements, and provide an appearance reference if the colour is important.

Pavonado commonly refers to bluing or black oxide treatment on steel. It is not the same process as phosphating. If either term appears on a drawing, please include the applicable specification, substrate and any sealing or protection requirements so we can confirm the intended finish.

Sometimes, but it needs review. Stripping and re-anodising can change dimensions and affect critical fits. We need to assess the alloy, existing coating, remaining tolerance and required finish before proposing rework. Repeated re-anodising should not be treated as a guaranteed solution.

Provide the exact text or artwork, its size, position and orientation. If you supply a DXF for filled lettering or a logo, the outlines need to be complete and closed. Please also identify the marking surfaces on the part drawing so the requirement can be reviewed before production.

We confirm the part numbers and drawing revisions, quantities, materials, finishes, lead time and payment terms. We also need the delivery address, recipient, postcode, telephone number and agreed shipping arrangement. Please confirm the order in writing; sending a purchase order alone may not resolve every outstanding detail.

Payment terms are confirmed in the quotation and pro forma invoice before production. New projects generally require advance payment or an agreed deposit and balance arrangement. The exact terms depend on the order and the cooperation history, so please raise any procurement requirements at the enquiry stage.

Credit terms may be reviewed as the business relationship develops and are subject to approval and a written agreement. They are not automatic after a fixed number of orders. Any agreed credit period must clearly state when it starts, such as dispatch or receipt, to avoid misunderstandings.

Tell us the date you need the parts and whether it is a dispatch date or an arrival date. We will review the production requirements and shipping arrangement before agreeing a schedule. Your CK contact can coordinate the milestones and updates agreed for the order; any issue affecting the schedule needs to be discussed.

Please tell us if you want to use your own carrier account. We still need the complete delivery and contact details. The carrier service, account arrangement and shipping responsibilities should be confirmed before dispatch.

Large, heavy, thin-walled or irregular parts may need more protection than a standard carton. We review the packaging against the part geometry, weight and shipping method. If a custom crate or special protection is needed, its cost and additional shipping weight should be confirmed before dispatch.

Yes. Carriers may charge extra for oversized or heavy packages, and packaging itself adds weight. Charges depend on the packed dimensions, weight, service and current carrier rules. We will confirm the applicable shipping costs for your order rather than use a fixed historical surcharge.