Resources
Notes for buyers of machined aluminium.
Short, practical reads from our engineering desk — how to call out tolerances, pick a surface treatment and get a drawing quoted — so your next RFQ lands right the first time.
Published 2026-09-24
Tolerance stack-up: every part passes, the assembly fails
Every part passes inspection yet the assembly will not go together. How to trace the tolerance chain, pick worst-case or statistical, and shorten it.
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Published 2026-09-17
Surface roughness Ra: when it is worth specifying
Which faces of a machined aluminium part deserve an Ra callout, which only add cost, and how to write it so the first article can actually be checked.
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Published 2026-09-10
Deburring aluminium parts: what the edge note means
Deburr all edges is not a specification. How to state edge condition on a machined aluminium drawing so it gets quoted, made and inspected the same way.
Read the guide →Published 2026-09-03
Choosing datums on a machined aluminium drawing
Datums are not where you measure from — they are what the part sits on. How to choose them, why the A|B|C order matters, and what a bad datum costs.
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Published 2026-08-27
Threads in aluminium: tap, form tap, or insert?
A thread tightened once at assembly and one opened for service every season are not the same feature. How to choose, and what your drawing still needs.
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Published 2026-08-20
Thin-wall aluminium parts: what the drawing must say
A bore that is round under clamps and oval once released is a fixturing problem, not a machine problem. Four notes that keep it off your parts.
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Published 2026-08-13
What to check on a first article inspection report
How to read an FAI report in the right order — datums, critical dimensions, material, finish, threads and fit — and when to send it back unsigned.
Read the guide →Published 2026-07-23
Tolerancing CNC-machined aluminium parts
Which dimensions deserve their own ± and which belong to a general tolerance — and why extruded sections and machined features differ.
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Published 2026-10-21
What to Include in a Drawing for Machined Aluminium Extrusions
Prepare the extrusion section, finished-part drawing, datums, finish, inspection and packing requirements for a machining quotation.
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Published 2026-07-23
Anodize or powder coat? Choosing a finish
Five axes to weigh — film build, appearance, exposure, fits, process order — plus why threads get masked and why heat sinks so often run black anodize.
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