Send the same drawing to three die-cut suppliers and the quotes can come back three times apart. The gap is rarely greed. It is missing information, and each supplier fills the gap with a different assumption: a cheaper tape grade, a wider tolerance, a steel rule die where an etched die was needed, a visual check where you expected a dimensional report. You think you are pricing one part. You are pricing three.
We quote from customer drawings every day and the pattern holds. RFQs that return a tight, comparable number answered seven questions before we asked. The ones that stall said "double-sided adhesive, 2 mm thick, 10,000 pcs" and nothing else.
A die-cut quote prices six things: shape, material grade, tolerance band, tool, quantity, inspection level. Supply all six and the number is firm.
Why die-cut quotes vary so much
Five variables move the price more than anything in the drawing.
Material grade. "Double-sided tape" covers 0.05 mm PET-backed acrylic and 0.4 mm acrylic foam, and material cost per square meter can differ fivefold. If the RFQ says only "foam", the supplier quotes the cheapest foam that cuts cleanly, and the price looks excellent until the first compression test. We cut tape, foam, insulation, EMI gaskets, protective film, mesh, thermal pads and laminates, and material is where most of the gap between quotes lives.
Tolerance. Our standard die-cutting tolerance is ±0.15 mm, with minimum features down to 1.0 mm depending on material and process. Ask for ±0.05 mm on a 0.8 mm feature in soft foam and the quote rises — and the supplier who missed the note fails at first article. Mark the two or three dimensions that matter.
Tooling concept. Steel rule, etched die and laser sit at different points on cost, tolerance and tool life. Which one gets quoted changes the tooling line and unit price, and two suppliers can both be right, 40 percent apart.
Quantity. Tooling is fixed, parts are variable. At 500 pieces the die dominates the total. At 50,000 it is noise. A quote without a quantity is an average of scenarios nobody asked for.
Inspection. Visual check, AQL sampling and 100 percent dimensional inspection are three cost structures. We inspect 100 percent before shipment and can supply dimensional reports and material documentation on request; if incoming inspection needs a report per lot, say so in the RFQ.
What to send with your RFQ
Seven items turn an RFQ into a quote. None takes long.
- Drawing. DXF, PDF or STEP, or a dimensioned sketch. DXF is best: we cut the die from the geometry.
- Critical tolerances. Mark the functional dimensions. Unmarked dimensions default to general tolerance.
- Material or performance target. Grade and thickness is ideal; otherwise give substrate, temperature, load and life.
- Quantities. Sample count and annual volume are different numbers; add the release schedule if you order monthly.
- Environment. Temperature range, chemicals, UV exposure, humidity.
- Assembly. Manual or pick-and-place, gasket compression, surface energy of the mating part.
- Inspection and packaging. What you check on incoming, which reports you need, how parts must arrive.
| Item | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing file | Die is cut from geometry; redrawing adds error | DXF at 1:1 in mm, closed polylines |
| Critical tolerances | Sets tooling route and inspection cost | ±0.10 mm on the 12 mm slot |
| Material grade | Fixes material cost and cutting process | 0.15 mm acrylic foam tape, LSE adhesive; PORON 4701-40 |
| Quantities | Drives tooling amortisation | 50 samples, 20,000 pcs/year, 5,000 monthly |
| Environment | Narrows material choice before pricing | -20 to +85 °C, IPA wipe-down, outdoor UV |
| Assembly method | Determines adhesive, liner and tab design | Manual placement, 3 mm tab, 30 percent compression |
| Inspection and packaging | Quality and packing add labour cost | Report per lot; 500 pcs per roll |
Our double-sided adhesive tape die-cuts and die-cut foam seals and pads pages list thickness ranges and adhesive options — the vocabulary we need from you.
How tooling and sampling affect the quote
Tooling is where buyers get surprised, and where the biggest legitimate difference sits.
Steel rule die. A blade bent to the profile in a laser-cut board. Lowest tooling cost, fast to build, good for foam and tape laminates at roughly ±0.15 to ±0.3 mm. Blade wear limits life on abrasive stock.
Etched die. The edge is chemically milled into a steel plate. Higher tooling cost and longer build, but tighter geometry on thin film and the route for features better than ±0.1 mm.
Laser cutting. No tooling, so it wins on prototypes and low volume. Unit cost is higher, and some films and foams get a heat-affected edge — a problem on seals and optical parts.
Three rules apply. Tooling is a one-time charge, quoted as its own line. Repeat orders on the same drawing carry no tooling charge. Sample lead time — 3 to 5 business days by complexity — sits next to the tooling fee. Samples are charged, freight at the buyer's cost.
Five things that slow a quote down
Each costs a day or two and an email round.
- A drawing with no tolerances. We have to ask which dimensions are functional. Circle them.
- "Double-sided tape" as the material spec. Without a grade we can only offer options, and options wait for you.
- No quantity, or only "a sample first". The die concept depends on annual volume, not sample count.
- "Give me your best price." There is no best price without a spec. We price the trade-offs and you choose.
- No named contact with authority. With a generic mailbox and no drawing owner, every question costs two days.
What a good quote looks like
A usable quote is a document you check line by line. A ROTADIE quote carries six elements; expect the same from anyone you compare us against.
| Element | What it should contain |
|---|---|
| Material construction | Carrier, adhesive on each side, liner, thickness in mm, grade |
| Unit price by quantity | At least three break points, quantity basis stated |
| Tooling cost | Separate line, die type named, one-time, waived on repeat |
| Sampling plan | Lead time in business days, sample charge, freight terms |
| Inspection plan | What is checked, 100 percent or sampled, documents shipped |
| Validity | Expiry date, and what the price is indexed to |
A quote without tooling or a validity date is an estimate. Ask before you compare totals.
FAQ
How fast can I get a quote?
Within 24 hours for a complete RFQ: drawing, tolerances, material or performance target, quantities, inspection needs. If something is missing you get the questions back the same day, and the clock starts when they are answered. Multi-layer parts with several material options can take a day longer.
Do I need a perfect drawing?
No. A dimensioned PDF sketch or a marked-up photo with thickness, material and quantity is enough to quote. DXF or STEP is better because we build the die from the geometry. If a feature falls below 1.0 mm or the tolerance is beyond the material, engineering flags it in the DFM note before you commit.
Is tooling charged again on repeat orders?
No. Tooling is quoted once as a separate line, and repeat orders against the same drawing carry no tooling charge. If the drawing changes, we quote the die modification before starting.
Can you sign an NDA?
Yes. Send yours with the RFQ, or ask for ours; we sign before any drawing is shared. Drawings are used only to quote and manufacture your parts.
Send the drawing to our RFQ page with the seven items above. You will get a firm unit price, material recommendation, tooling figure and sample lead time within 24 hours; design problems come back in the same reply, before the order.
Further reading
