FAQ
Contract inspection — common questions
Blunt answers for shops sending parts to Taunton, MA. Prefer email or phone? Contact.
How do I ship parts for inspection?
After intake we provide a ship-to address or arrange local drop-off (Taunton / SE Massachusetts). Include the print (PDF), STEP if available, packing list, and any NDA. We confirm receipt before work starts.
What is typical lead time?
Estimate only: many first-article jobs land in about 3–7 business days after parts and a clear print are in hand. Rush is scoped against current bench load — never a blanket promise.
What tolerances can you inspect?
We work to the print with a Mitutoyo toolmaker’s microscope and thread/plug gages. CMM inspection is coming soon. Geometry, datums, and feature type decide what’s practical. Outside our reach? We tell you before you ship. See CMM inspection in Massachusetts for drop-off and shipping. Buying gages for your own floor? Browse used micrometers, indicators and thread gages at usedgages.com.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes. Mutual NDAs are routine for job shops and suppliers. Send yours with the print, or request ours first.
What does the report include?
Shop-readable PDF: results vs callouts, pass/fail or OOT flags, setup notes when useful, photos when they help. Format can align to your customer packet when scoped up front (see AS9102 Forms 1–3 explained). Report format is one of the biggest cost drivers; see what a first article inspection costs and why.
Do you claim aerospace or medical certifications?
No invented certifications. We provide measurement / pre-check reports for suppliers who need clear, documented numbers. Our gages are not calibrated by an accredited lab. Your QMS, customer requirements and final sign-off stay yours. If your customer requires accredited calibration or a certified FAI, we can help you route it to an accredited lab.
Is CMM inspection priced per hour or per part?
Many labs bill CMM time by the hour, and the hours split into two kinds. One-time work: ballooning the drawing, writing the program, and working out how to hold the part so its datums can be reached. Repeat work: loading, running and reporting each piece. Once a program and fixture exist for a part number and revision, repeat runs reuse them, so the first piece costs the most and later pieces cost less. When you compare quotes, ask each lab which hours are one-time and which repeat per piece.
Where we stand: our CMM is not in service yet, so we don't offer CMM time today. Inspection with a toolmaker’s microscope and thread/plug gages is quoted per job after we see the print and part count. We don't publish hourly rates. More on what drives the hours: what a first article inspection costs and why.