# OEM Aluminum Casting Quote Checklist: What Buyers Should Send Before Asking for Price
Many buyers ask for an aluminum casting quote too early. They send one photo, a rough weight guess, and a message that says “please offer best price.�?That usually creates a slow, inaccurate loop: the supplier asks basic questions, the buyer answers in fragments, and the real quote arrives days later.
If you want a faster and more reliable quotation from a China supplier, treat the RFQ like a sourcing package rather than a casual inquiry. The goal is not just to get any price. The goal is to get a quote that already reflects tooling logic, machining scope, alloy fit, and delivery risk. Before you contact a supplier, review Bohua’s gravity casting process, the A356 material page, and sample products such as the pump housing page. Then send a complete RFQ package from day one.
1. Drawing files come first
The most important RFQ input is the actual part definition. A serious supplier needs at least one of the following:
- •2D PDF drawing with dimensions and tolerances
- •3D STEP / IGS / Parasolid file
- •Marked sample photos only if no formal drawing exists yet
If the part includes sealing areas, bearing seats, threaded ports, or machined datums, highlight those on the drawing. For products such as hydraulic valve body castings, the difference between a general quote and a usable quote often depends on whether the supplier understands which bores and faces actually control assembly.
2. Tell the supplier what function the part serves
A supplier can quote geometry without understanding the real application, but that is how mismatches start. State whether the part is:
- •a pressure-bearing housing
- •a structural bracket or housing
- •a thermal component
- •a cosmetic enclosure
- •a non-critical support part
This matters because the right route for a simple enclosure is not the same as the right route for a pump body. If the part works like a fluid housing, say so clearly. If it behaves like a gearbox shell or motor-support housing, say that too. Process choice often changes after that discussion.
3. Specify alloy expectations instead of leaving them implied
Do not assume the supplier knows whether you want A356, ZL114, ADC12, or an equivalent house grade. Buyers should say one of three things clearly:
- •exact alloy already fixed on drawing
- •target alloy family but equivalent suggestions welcome
- •no alloy fixed yet; request supplier recommendation based on function
If you are still comparing materials, include links or notes to your preferred baseline, such as A356 for structural gravity castings. That helps the supplier answer with engineering logic instead of defaulting to the cheapest route.
4. Annual volume changes the tooling answer
A quote without annual demand is only half a quote. Suppliers need to know whether the job is:
- •prototype only
- •pilot batch
- •2,000 pieces per year
- •20,000 pieces per year
- •expandable multi-year production
Tooling structure, process selection, and unit pricing all move with volume. A supplier may quote gravity casting for a medium-volume structural housing, but recommend a different route if the same part scales far beyond the original demand.
5. Define machining scope up front
Many price gaps in casting RFQs come from hidden machining assumptions. Buyers should list:
- •surfaces to be machined
- •holes to drill or tap
- •bearing or seal features
- •flatness or concentricity targets
- •whether datum fixtures already exist
For example, a supplier quoting a structural gearbox housing needs to know whether only outside faces are cleaned up or whether bearing bores, cover surfaces, and mounting datums must all be finished in one fixture strategy.
6. Call out leak, pressure, or thermal requirements
These requirements immediately change how a supplier should review feasibility. Include any target such as:
- •pressure test value and medium
- •leak-rate limit
- •thermal conductivity concern
- •salt spray or corrosion expectation
- •heat treatment requirement
If you do not know the exact test method yet, say what the part must survive in service. That is still better than silence.
7. Clarify quality documents and launch expectations
Different buyers expect very different support packages. Before quotation, state whether you will require:
- •dimensional report
- •material certificate
- •PPAP-style sample submission
- •X-ray or pressure-test records
- •CMM report
- •first-article approval
A supplier can price low by assuming almost no documentation. That quote may not be wrong, but it may be useless for your launch process.
8. Ask the commercial questions early
The RFQ should also cover the commercial side:
- •Incoterm target
- •destination country
- •packaging expectation
- •tooling ownership
- •sample timing
- •production lead time target
These details affect the real landed cost. A “good�?unit price without packaging logic, export assumptions, or timing commitment is often just a partial answer.
Recommended RFQ package buyers can copy
A practical first RFQ email should include:
- •drawing files
- •annual volume
- •alloy requirement or open request for recommendation
- •machining scope
- •quality documents needed
- •leak / pressure / thermal notes
- •target sample timing
- •destination country and shipment mode if known
That one package usually saves several email rounds and produces a more honest quote.
What a strong supplier should give back
A useful quotation should not only show price. It should also show:
- •suggested process route
- •recommended alloy
- •tooling cost and lead time
- •sample timeline
- •assumptions behind machining and inspection
- •any risk flags or DFM concerns
If the supplier only sends one number with no assumptions, that is not really a sourcing answer. It is just a placeholder.
Final takeaway
The fastest way to get a better quote is simple: send better inputs. Buyers who provide drawings, volume, alloy intent, machining scope, and quality expectations get clearer pricing and fewer surprises after tooling starts.
If you want Bohua to review a new casting RFQ, send your drawing package through the contact page. We can help evaluate process fit, recommend alloy direction, and quote the part based on real manufacturing assumptions rather than guesswork.