Customer Profile
Industry: Consumer electronics hardware startup | Location: San Francisco, USA | Order: 8 iterations, 47 part numbers, 3-month engagement
The Challenge
“We needed a CNC partner who could keep up with our iteration speed. Protolabs quoted us $4,500 per iteration and 10-day turnaround — we’d burn runway before shipping.”
The startup needed rapid CNC-machined aluminum enclosures for a wearable device. Tight tolerances (±0.02mm), complex 5-axis geometries, and aggressive deadlines. Previous supplier took 14 days and missed spec on 3 out of 5 batches.
How QDJ Helped
- DFM Review First: Spotted 3 undercuts that would have caused tool collision — redesigned before first cut
- 5-Axis Strategy: Reduced setups from 4 to 2, cutting machining time 35%
- Parallel Iterations: Ran 2 design variants simultaneously to compress timeline
- Weekly Video Updates: WhatsApp video of parts on CMM for remote sign-off
Results
| Metric | Before QDJ | With QDJ |
|---|---|---|
| Per-iteration cost | $4,500 | $1,200 |
| Turnaround | 10-14 days | 5 days |
| Batch rejection rate | 60% | 0% |
| Iterations completed | 3 in 3 months | 8 in 3 months |
Client Verdict
“QDJ didn’t just machine our parts — they improved our design. The DFM feedback alone saved us from a $15,000 tooling mistake. We shipped on time because of them.”