Quality Inspection Service: Free Instant Quote & Fast Turnaround

Quality standards & services, for startups & enterprises.

Our quality standards & options for all our manufacturing services.

Custom parts delivered same day.

"We just received the parts today and they fit snugly in our assembly and the results are outstanding. I really appreciate the additional design input from you and both original and offset dimensions were able to pass our tests. I am looking forward to working with Ponoko again in the future."

Our quality services

Quality inspection capabilities

Ponoko and our network facilities utilize state-of-the-art equipment for inspections tailored to your needs:

Quality documentation

Our quality documentation includes:

Quality certifications

Our partners are certified under internationally recognized standards, including:

Custom parts delivered same day.

Our manufacturing standards

Laser cutting standards

CO2 laser cutting

Edge to edge cut tolerances
The cut tolerance depends on the material and specific thickness. Refer to this chart for specific material tolerances. Thicker materials may have a tolerance deviation on the bottom face due to the tapered/conical profile of the laser’s beam.

Material thickness tolerances
Independent of cutting tolerances. Rely on the raw stock material’s tolerance range from the manufacturer. See individual material pages for specific tolerance.

Edge angle tolerance
Laser cut edges are not perfectly square to the top surface due to inherent tapering in laser cutting. Edge angle tolerance is +/- 2 degrees.

Edge condition of parts
Sheet materials will have vertical striations on the edge. Acrylics & plastics will have a laser-polished/melted edge, while non-plastics will have a carbonized edge. A small bump may be present where the cutting profile begins and ends.

Material flatness
Cannot be guaranteed, as it depends on raw stock material. Material flatness may affect cut quality and angle.

Fine, intricate, or dense geometry
May result in tolerances outside the normal range due to heat buildup and a larger heat-affected zone.

Small holes
Will not be perfectly round. Reaming is recommended if precision is needed.

Textured sheets (e.g., matte acrylic)
Only one side has a textured finish unless explicitly stated otherwise. The textured side faces up during processing.

Grain-oriented materials
Orientation of material with grain is at Ponoko's discretion, typically running along the x-axis (horizontally across the customer design as viewed onscreen).

Protective paper on materials
Materials will be delivered with protective paper unless finishing services are selected.

Fiber laser cutting

Material thickness tolerances
Independent of cutting tolerances. Rely on the raw stock material’s tolerance range from the manufacturer. Refer to individual material pages for specific tolerance.

Material flatness
Ponoko cannot guarantee flatness for sheet cut materials except for those labeled as “precision ground.”

Edge condition of parts
Parts cut from sheet materials will have vertical striations rather than smooth, polished edges.

Lead-in/lead-out or micro-joints
May show small bumps, divots, or different edge conditions where the cutting profile begins and ends, or where micro-joints are used to secure parts during cutting.

Holes (0.100” or smaller)
May be slightly larger on the top face than standard tolerances due to the cutter piercing the material near the hole's cut line.

Fine, intricate, or dense geometry
May result in tolerances outside the normal range due to heat buildup and a larger heat-affected zone.

Pre-finished or textured sheets
Sheets such as brushed or polished stock may have only one side with the cosmetic finish.

Protective film on parts
Parts may be shipped with protective film still applied to prevent damage to cosmetic finishes.

Halo discoloration near cut edges
Some materials may show a small halo discoloration from vaporized material overspray near the cut edges.

Surface condition
As-cut parts may have minor imperfections, scratches, and burrs on sheet metal edges resulting from the cutting process.

Sheet metal fabrication standards

Fiber laser cutting and bending

Quality control at Ponoko

As a manufacturer, it is imperative that the parts being produced meet the strict quality standards that customers demand. From precision engineering to high-end medical equipment, the importance of quality in manufactured parts cannot be understated. However, the process of quality inspection is not only time-consuming but also incredibly challenging, especially for those with limited experience in the field.

This is where our quality inspection services come in. With over a decade of experience in manufacturing, we have an in-depth understanding of the various quality standards that customers require. By leveraging our extensive knowledge, customers can take advantage of our quality control services to eliminate errors and identify potential issues before they manifest.

Our ability to identify challenges before they become major problems is a result of our precision record of over 99.7% across 2 million+ parts. This record not only demonstrates our capability to produce high-quality parts but also our ability to monitor and control our manufacturing output. By utilizing our quality inspection services, customers can have complete confidence in the quality of their parts, knowing that they have been produced to the highest standards.

In addition to the quality of our parts, our services also provide customers with the opportunity to reduce costs associated with quality inspection. By outsourcing quality inspection to a third-party service provider, manufacturers can eliminate the need for in-house quality control teams, thereby reducing labor and training costs. Furthermore, our ability to produce high-quality parts in large quantities also helps to reduce the overall cost of production, making us an ideal choice for those looking to scale their manufacturing operations.

Need something else? Check out our other services.