RFQ Best Practices: Technical Information to Provide for Accurate Custom Optics Quotes
RFQ Best Practices: Technical Information to Provide for Accurate Custom Optics Quotes A well-prepared Request for Quotation (RFQ) is the single most important factor in getting accurate, competitive pricing for custom optical components. When you send incomplete specifications, suppliers must make assumptions—and those assumptions often translate into longer lead times, higher costs, or components that miss your performance targets. This guide walks through the exact technical details you need to compile before contacting an optical manufacturer, helping you streamline the quoting process and avoid costly revisions. Key Takeaways Provide complete optical specifications including wavelength range, focal length, and clear aperture to eliminate guesswork Specify substrate material with refractive index requirements—this directly impacts cost and delivery time Define surface quality using standard scales like scratch-dig and surface accuracy in waves or fringes Include coating req...