A technical drawing is a contract.
When clients need manufacturers to build parts, the clients have to describe exactly what it is that they want built. They don’t describe it in words; this would not be practical. They describe it using a technical drawing. This drawing then becomes the contractual basis between the client and the manufacturer for the job.
The technical drawing protects you, the client, because if the parts are not built according to what your drawing specifies, you don’t have to accept them. On the other hand, if your drawings are ambiguous or incorrect, you may end up stuck with products that won’t work. The manufacturer kept its side of the contract, it followed your instructions to the letter. Your instructions, your technical drawings, were at fault.
Conversely, if your drawings are too stringent, you will be paying for work that is far more precise than you need. A good technical drafter understands what he draws and makes sure to apply the appropriate tolerances where they are needed. A drafter with a complete understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) can also use this tool to further trim production costs.
Of course, most manufacturers try to be helpful. They want to please their clients, even if the clients struggle to state clearly what they need. So if you submit a drawing package full of ambiguities or unrealistic precision requirements, you’ll probably get a phone call from the manufacturer. After some back and forth via phone and e-mail, they’ll finally understand what you wanted. But time is money. You’ve wasted your time and their time. Their time will be reflected in future quotes and invoices. And if the parts they deliver aren’t what you had in mind, you don’t have much recourse.
Many engineers see drafting as a chore. It can be tedious. And because most CAD software packages offer some kind of “auto-dimension” features for detail drawings, some companies, especially young, small companies with limited resources, see quality technical drafting as an unnecessary luxury. It’s not. Accurate and clear technical drafting is a straightforward way to save money and avoid needless waste.
Contact Bowen Technical for high-quality technical drafting services.
+1.530.826.4872 (USA) or +52.677.879.0565 (Mexico)
galen@bowentechnical.com