RFQ CONTROL / CNC MACHINING INSIGHTS
Most drawing-related production errors do not come from a complex feature. They come from a mismatch: one file is updated, another is not, or the manufacturing team cannot tell which version is released. Simple revision control makes the RFQ easier to review and protects both sides of an international order.
Use one visible revision identifier
Put the revision in the PDF drawing title block and in the model filename. The same identifier should appear in the RFQ or purchase-order reference. Avoid filenames such as “final,” “final2,” or “latest,” which do not establish which document controls the build.
For dimensioning conventions inside a released drawing, the ASME Y14.5 overview is a useful primary reference. Revision control complements the drawing; it does not replace the need for complete dimensions and notes.
Keep the 3D model and PDF aligned
Send both when available. The 3D model supports geometry review, while the PDF drawing records material, finish, dimensions, threads and other requirements. Before release, confirm that the model corresponds to the same revision as the PDF. Our guide to CAD files for a CNC RFQ explains the role of each file.
| When something changes | Best practice |
|---|---|
| Dimension or geometry update | Issue a new revision and identify the affected feature or view. |
| Material or finish update | Update the controlled drawing or named specification, not only an email. |
| Quantity change only | Reference the drawing revision already approved and clarify the commercial update. |
| Clarifying note | Record it in a controlled document if it changes the manufacturing requirement. |
| Superseded files | Remove them from the released RFQ package or clearly label them as reference only. |
Flag changed features for a faster review
A short revision note saves time when it tells the review team what actually changed: a bore diameter, a thread depth, a finish callout, a mounting pattern or a material. The purpose is not to provide a long engineering history; it is to direct attention to the parts of the design that may affect quote, machining or inspection.
Do not use email as the only change record
Email can explain the context, but the controlled drawing or named specification should carry the final requirement. If the design changes after quotation, send the updated files together and ask for a review of the impact before the order is released. This is especially important for finish, critical interfaces and material changes.
Link revision control to inspection
Inspection requirements should reference the released revision. If a changed feature is critical to fit or function, identify the verification expectation in the same package. See what to include in CNC inspection requirements for a practical review framework.
Make the release unambiguous
Clear revision control gives the manufacturing review a single source of truth. ExactMach coordinates drawing-defined CNC milling, CNC turning, prototypes and custom parts around Shenzhen and Dongguan for international orders, with drawing-based inspection and finishing support where required.