Frequently Asked Questions
Before Placing Your Order
Can Xtmade make design drawings for me?
While we do not provide a standalone product design service, we do offer Design for Manufacturing reviews on all approved orders. This means that we work with our clients to help them optimize their 2D and 3D drawings in order to improve manufacturability, resolve design conflicts and lower production costs. Read how to prepare your CAD drawings for manufacturing.
What type of design files does Xtmade accept for quoting?
In order to provide an accurate and timely quote, we only accept 3D CAD files in STL, STEP or IGES format. 2D drawings with reference dimensions must be in PDF format. We must receive complete manufacturing information as part of this technical documentation. Informal communication via SMS, Skype, email, etc., will not be considered as admissible for manufacturing purposes.
How long does a quotation take?
In most cases, we respond within a couple of days of receiving an RFQ. If the quote is delayed, we will notify you as soon as possible.
Can I use my own material for production?
Yes, customer-supplied material is fine so long as it fits with our machine capabilities.
Can I use my own master model for making duplicate copies for vacuum casting or CNC machining?
Yes, master models are used to create silicone molds for vacuum casting and can be made from any rigid solid that can withstand heat up to 100° C. Models used for CNC machining will be 3D scanned to create a CAD/CAM program for production.
How do I know my design will be kept confidential?
We of course will sign and adhere to any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement. We also have a strict policy within our factory that no photographs are ever allowed of a customer’s product without express permission. Ultimately we rely on our reputation of working with hundreds of thousands of unique designs over many years and never allowing any proprietary information to be disclosed to a third party.
How does Xtmade compare to other suppliers on price?
Although direct comparisons are difficult, Xtmade’s prices will be typically 25-45% less for plastic injection mold tools and CNC machined / turned parts when compared to suppliers in North America and Europe.
As compared to Chinese suppliers, we choose to not to compete on price but to offer the highest levels of quality, rapid response and professional results.
Are lead times in working days or calendar days?
Lead times are quoted in calendar days. As per our Terms and Conditions, quoted lead times commence only after completion and confirmation of design for manufacturing review and the beginning of actual production.
How quickly can I get my parts?
Quality parts can be made in as little as two weeks if you provide us with complete 2D and 3D CAD models. More complex parts requiring or other special features will take longer. Request a quote to get more accurate lead times based on your project.
As for shipping, most of our shipments are via air freight, which can take a few days from China to Europe or North America.
Making Your Parts
What tolerances can Xtmade achieve?
There is not a given set of tolerances that fits all processes and materials. In every case, the final tolerances on your part will depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to:
- Part size
- Design geometry
- The number, type and size of features
- Material(s)
- Surface finish
- Manufacturing process
Once your order is confirmed, we will review your design and provide a Design for Manufacturing review, indicating any areas that may require modification in order to improve manufacturability. It’s helpful if you can specify which areas in your design have critical tolerances that must be met and which can be slightly modified if needed to reduce production time and cost. Here are some general tolerance guidelines:
- General tolerances for CNC machining in metal and plastic
- Plastic injection molding tolerances
- Reference charts for CNC metals and plastic injection molding materials
- General tolerance for metal 3D printing is +/- 0.5mm
- Shrinkage rate of +/- 0.15% is to be expected for vacuum casting
- All manufacturing and technical specifications need to be clearly specified in the 2D drawings in order to be followed.
How does Xtmade ensure the quality of my parts?
- Once your order is confirmed, we will perform a full Design for Manufacturing (DFM) review to point out any issues that our engineers feel may affect the quality of your parts.
- All incoming materials are inspected and verified with a suite of testing equipment.
- Final inspection reports before shipment.
- We have the ability to share inspection data with you in real-time so we can work together to address any quality issues you may have during production.
What type of surface finishes does Xtmade provide?
We offer a wide variety of finishing services to achieve almost any look and feel on your parts. We offer treatments for metal, texturing for plastic injection mold tools, painting for metal and plastic, and many more. You can also learn how to specify the surface texture you want in this blog.
Can Xtmade passivate my parts?
Passivation is a treatment that changes the surface chemistry of some kinds of metals. We offer passivation for corrosion protection, durability, cosmetics and more.
Can Xtmade provide optical quality on my plastic parts?
Yes. We offer a special vapor polishing service to achieve high transparency for your clear plastic parts.
Finishing Your Order
Does Xtmade insure delivered goods?
No, we do not insure deliveries. However, you are free to use your own insurance.
How much import duty will I need to pay for my goods?
There is no single answer to this question but a few rules apply. For customers in Australia, new CHAFTA regulations allow for a progressive roll-out of duty-free import into Australia. Import duties vary widely between countries, and are dependent on the type of good being imported. Most countries in the world conform to the international Harmonized System (HS) codes that categorize virtually all commercial trade goods.
What are Xtmade’s shipping terms?
Our standard terms are Ex Works (EXW) for rapid prototyping and regular production orders. This means the customer is responsible for shipping, customs clearance and all other associated fees once the goods have left our premises.
For express shipments, we use Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU), which means that the client is responsible for paying import duty when the goods arrive to your destination.
Does Xtmade provide export molds?
Yes. However, we must explain that our tooling is manufactured to be compliant with our Modular Unit Dies (MUD). This means they are a uniform base size, so the customer must be prepared to receive tools in that size to fit into their own machines.
What if I am not completely satisfied with the parts I receive?
We guarantee our materials and workmanship based on the terms of the initial order and the information provided by you. Any disputes based on a subjective determination shall be brought to the attention of management who will act in good faith to provide you with complete satisfaction. Our continuing business relies on earning your confidence in our ability to meet and exceed any reasonable expectations.
Can my company get credit with Xtmade?
Rapid prototyping customers must pay in advance for the first three orders, after which we will consider giving 30 days credit. Except in very special cases, all tooling orders require a 50% deposit in advance. Typically the balance must be paid after T1 approval of samples.
How do I pay Xtmade?
Xtmade accepts multiple payment methods:
Bank to bank wire transfer. Xtmade has accounts in Hong Kong and Zhongshan, China.
Xtmade can send you a PayPal invoice, and you can pay with your PayPal account or credit card.
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