Control the product drawing
Issue a dimensioned cross-section with a drawing number and revision. Identify tolerances, important fit surfaces, cosmetic faces and the measurement methods needed for acceptance. State whether the supplier may propose changes and who can approve them. Include a model if available, but name which document governs when the model and drawing disagree. For a die (mould) intended for several product variants, define those variants explicitly. A photograph or unmarked sample is useful context but cannot resolve tolerance and revision questions on its own.
Supply material and process context
Identify the resin system and reinforcement proposal, including rovings, mats, fabrics and surface layers where planned. Tell the supplier which choices are fixed and which require development. Explain whether the tool will run on an existing machine or a new line in the same order. If the supplier is asked to develop the material arrangement, quote that work and its deliverables separately. Do not ask for a universal tooling guarantee across unspecified materials. A trial result only has meaning when the actual material and process conditions are recorded.
Define the machine interfaces
Send the relevant mounting, heating and available-space drawings for the intended machine. Ask the toolmaker to confirm compatibility before releasing manufacture. Include preforming equipment, entry guides and internal tooling in the interface review where relevant. Identify who supplies heating components, temperature sensors, mounting hardware and handling provisions. A die can match the profile drawing while still requiring unplanned changes to fit the line. Resolve those interfaces through approved drawings rather than leaving the commissioning technician to adapt the tool on arrival.
Agree the approval gates and supplied package
Request a written sequence for design review, drawing approval, manufacture, trial and final inspection. Identify the items shipped with the die, including any mandrels, preformers, dedicated fixtures and replacement components ordered. Ask for the proposed material and surface-treatment specification and the evidence supplied for it. Avoid adding catalog hardness or coating values to your purchase order without tool-specific confirmation. Keep the accepted specification attached to the order, and require written approval for changes that affect interfaces, material selection or the agreed inspection plan.
Specify what counts as a successful trial
Agree the trial machine, materials, sample identification and measurement plan before production. Define which product dimensions and surface conditions will be inspected and who retains the samples. If the tool is delivered without a production trial, state that limitation and define the later acceptance process on the buyer line. Include the route for correcting a nonconforming tool and the responsibility for repeat trials. Record the warranty party, warranty terms and exclusions in the quotation; do not assume that an unqualified service-life claim covers every operating condition or maintenance practice.
| RFQ attachment | Required contents | Approval owner |
|---|---|---|
| Product drawing | Revision, dimensions, tolerances and critical faces | Buyer engineering |
| Material brief | Resin and reinforcement, fixed and open choices | Buyer process team |
| Machine interfaces | Mounting, heating and space drawings | Buyer and toolmaker |
| Supply list | Die, cores, guides and fixtures | Purchasing |
| Trial plan | Materials, samples, inspection and correction route | Buyer and manufacturer |
Record your requirements and unresolved items in the downloadable procurement worksheets
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