Capacity and Lead Time
Stock items, standard production and custom grinds run on different clocks. Here is what to expect from each.
Lead time is the question that decides whether a quote is useful. It depends less on the size of the order than on whether the tool already exists in the grinding programme or has to be engineered first.
Typical lead times
| Order type | Typical lead time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Samples and first articles | 7–15 working days | Ground from blank stock where the geometry is standard |
| Standard catalog items | 15–25 working days | Depends on quantity and current production load |
| Custom geometry (new drawing) | 10–20 working days | After drawing approval; sample first, then volume |
| Repeat custom orders | 15–25 working days | Programme already on file — no re-engineering |
What affects the date
- Whether the geometry already exists on our machines, or has to be programmed and proven.
- Coating schedule — coating runs are batched, so a tool that misses a cycle waits for the next one.
- Quantity — but less than most people expect. Setup is a small part of the total on a five-axis grinder.
- Documentation — if certificates or batch marking are required, plan the extra days in.
Tell us the date you need it. If a lead time does not work for your schedule, say so at the quotation stage. It is far easier to plan around a deadline than to recover from a missed one.