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An RFQ Template a Shop Can Actually Quote
Shops quote fast and keenly against a complete request, and slowly and defensively against an incomplete one. A defensive quote has padding in it, because a shop that does not know your cosmetic standard has to assume the worst one.
Take this, change the example values, send it to whoever you like. It is not ours and it does not mention us.
KEYBOARD CASE RFQ PROJECT Project name : Contact name : Email : Country : NDA required : yes / no Ship date : (public date? yes / no) PARTS (one line per machined part) Part Qty Material and temper Finish Top case 180 6063-T5 Type II anodised Bottom case 180 6063-T5 Type II anodised Plate 180 A5052 Bead blast, raw Weight 180 Brass C360 PVD bronze BOARD Layout : 65 percent Mount style : gasket mount Size envelope : 320 x 120 x 34 mm PCB : outline attached, mounting holes on it CRITICAL DIMENSIONS (tighter than the block tolerance) Gasket shelf depth : 1.3 mm +/- 0.03 Plate pocket : fit, see drawing Screw pattern : position +/- 0.05 to datum A USB-C cutout : position +/- 0.1, generous clearance for a thick cable General tolerance : +/- 0.1 mm unless stated Dimensions apply : after finishing FINISH Blast : glass bead, 120 grit Colour target : RAL 7016 approximate, physical sample supplied Batching : top case and bottom case in the SAME anodising load Racking marks : underside only, not on any external visible face Cosmetic standard : attached, zoned QUANTITIES TO QUOTE (please price all three) 50 sets / 150 sets / 300 sets Prototype : 1 set, quoted separately, made the production way SCOPE Service level : machining and finishing / plus assembly / plus retail packing Packing : individually bagged, foam, corner drop tested Incoterm : EXW unless you quote otherwise PLEASE RETURN Unit price split into machining / finishing / packing One time tooling and fixture cost, itemised Prototype price and prototype lead time Number of setups per part, and what drives that number Production lead time AND finishing lead time, separately Expected cosmetic overage, and who pays for it Anything in the model you would change to reduce cost ATTACHED STEP file per machined part 2D drawing per machined part PCB outline Cosmetic standard
Why each block is there
Nothing in the template is decoration. Each section exists because leaving it out reliably causes a specific problem.
- One line per partA shop reading "one 65 percent gasket board" has to ask three questions before it can price anything. A list with quantities can go straight to programming.
- Material and temper6061-T6 and 6063-T5 anodise to visibly different shades from the same dye. Stating the alloy alone invites a substitution nobody flagged as a colour decision.
- Critical dimensions, listedA tight tolerance in the title block raises the price of every feature. Five callouts and a normal block tolerance costs far less and holds better.
- Before or after finishingA coating goes on both walls of a pocket. This single line prevents the most common reason a case that measures correctly will not assemble.
- Batching instructionTwo anodising loads of the same dye will not match closely enough for halves that meet in a visible seam.
- Three quantitiesIt costs the shop almost nothing and it shows you where the price curve bends, so you can set a buy target that is not a guess.
- Setups per partThe most useful question on the page. A specific answer proves somebody looked at your geometry, and it usually surfaces an expensive feature you did not intend.
- Finishing lead time, separatelyIt is the step most likely to slip and the one your machine shop controls least.
Two things to attach
A cosmetic standard so "good" is defined before anyone cuts metal, and drawings that follow the callout list. Both are on this site and both are free.