How to Send an RFQ for Custom Tungsten and Carbide Parts: A Practical Checklist
What to include in a drawing-based RFQ for tungsten and carbide parts — material direction, tolerances, service condition, and inspection scope.
Why the RFQ package decides the quotation quality
For custom tungsten and carbide parts, the quotation is only as good as the information behind it. A complete RFQ lets the supplier confirm material direction, manufacturable tolerances, and inspection scope in one pass — which is the difference between a usable quotation and a round of clarifying emails.
The core checklist
Six items cover most drawing-based RFQs:
- Drawing or sketch (PDF, DWG, DXF, STEP) — or sample photos when the drawing is still evolving
- Material or grade direction, including alternates you can accept
- Critical dimensions and tolerances, marked on the drawing
- Quantity: trial lot, first production lot, and annual estimate
- Service condition: wear, heat, load, corrosion, or electrical duty
- Inspection and documentation expectations (reports, certificates, third-party inspection)
What good tolerance practice looks like
Tighten only what function requires. Sintered carbide and refractory metal parts behave differently from machined steel: some features are controlled in the press, others by post-sintering grinding. Marking the truly critical surfaces keeps cost and lead time proportionate to the application.
Trial orders and qualification
A trial lot confirms material route, geometry, and inspection alignment before volume commitment. Agree in advance what the trial must demonstrate — dimensions, hardness, density, surface condition — so both sides read the result the same way.
Summary
Send drawing, grade direction, critical tolerances, quantity, service condition, and inspection scope in the first email. That single package converts directly into a quotation you can act on.