LAB READY
Notes from the shop floor
Practical guidance on manufacturing processes, materials and working with Lab Ready on orthopedic parts.
How to Specify a Thread Callout Before You Send an RFQ
A thread callout with only a nominal size leaves out class of fit, engagement length and internal-vs-external. Here is what a complete one states.
Read more →What Inspection Deliverables to Request on a Medical Device Parts RFQ
An RFQ that only says "inspection required" gets the same report on every feature. Here's how to decide which deliverable a critical feature actually needs.
Read more →Prototype to Production: What Changes on the Drawing and RFQ
A prototype and a production order for the same part aren't specified the same way. Here's what changes in tolerance, material and the RFQ when a machined design moves from one stage to the other.
Read more →How to Evaluate an Orthopedic Contract Manufacturer
Picking a manufacturing partner for orthopedic parts is a supplier-qualification decision, not just a quote comparison. Here is what to ask before sending the RFQ.
Read more →One-Off vs. Small-Batch Medical Device Manufacturing: Choosing the Right Process
Quantity alone doesn't decide the manufacturing route. Here's how design stability, tooling cost and follow-on quantity separate one-off printing from batch production.
Read more →What to Include in an RFQ for Medical Device Machined and Molded Parts
The seven inputs that get a medical device machining, printing or molding RFQ quoted correctly the first time, without a round of clarifying questions.
Read more →Trial Fit and Assembly Checks Before You Sign Off a Medical Device Part
A part can pass its drawing and still not fit its mating component. Here's what an optional trial fit or assembly check confirms before shipment, and what it doesn't replace.
Read more →How to Read a Tolerance Callout Before You Send an RFQ
A tight tolerance callout does more than raise cost — it decides whether a feature is milled, ground, or cut by EDM. Here is how to read one before you send an RFQ.
Read more →ISO 13485 Explained: What It Means When You're Choosing a Prototype Manufacturer
"ISO 13485 certified" shows up on a lot of supplier websites. Here's what the certification actually covers, and why it matters for a prototype supplier, not just a production one.
Read more →Have a part ready to quote?
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