Your drawing says “Free of burrs” — and suddenly, suppliers start rejecting it or delaying quotes. What should’ve been a simple surface note turns into three extra days of silence or inflated pricing.
“Free of burrs” causes rejections because it has no measurable definition. Most shops see it as unlimited manual rework risk — extra inspection, polishing, or edge cleanup with no end point. Without defined radius or break size, they protect themselves by rejecting or padding the quote.
Learn how capable suppliers define burr-free specs, avoid over-polishing, and how Okdor resolves rejected parts with 24-hour burr-free re-quotes.
Table of Contents
Why “Free of Burrs” Adds 3–5 Days to Your Quote Turnaround?
“Free of burrs” slows quoting by 3–5 days because suppliers must translate a vague surface note into measurable work before estimating.
Without a defined edge radius or break size, every shop must pause to decide how much manual finishing, inspection, and rework time to include. That uncertainty pushes your RFQ into review queues instead of the estimator’s workflow.
In a typical shop, drawings with undefined finish notes circulate among machining, quality, and production engineers for sign-off. Each department assesses burr-risk on fine holes, intersecting pockets, or cosmetic edges. Until someone writes a measurable condition, no one can confirm cycle time or cost.
We’ve seen simple aluminum parts sit four business days while suppliers verify what “burr-free” means.
When expectations are clarified—“edges broken 0.2 mm max,” “no raised burrs visible > 0.05 mm”—quotes move immediately. Predictable scope removes hesitation, and the RFQ returns in hours instead of days.
Sourcing Action: Define burr-free limits the same way you define tolerances. Even a one-line edge note keeps your project out of review limbo and shortens quote turnaround by several days.
Why Shops See “Free of Burrs” as Unlimited Rework Risk?
Suppliers see “free of burrs” as unlimited rework because it demands perfection with no measurable finish standard.
When there’s no inspection method or limit, any remaining burr—real or subjective—can trigger rework, extra labor, or dispute. For shops managing tight margins, that means uncontrolled hours and financial exposure.
Many job shops have learned this the hard way: parts returned twice for microscopic edge fibers, inspectors rejecting under 10× magnification. After a few of those, estimators automatically pad future quotes or decline entirely. A three-hour deburring task can quietly become a full-day loss if the phrase “free of burrs” stands alone.
We counter that risk by confirming acceptance conditions—visual class, magnification, or allowable edge witness—before machining. Once compliance has a definition, finishing time, inspection scope, and cost stabilize. It’s no longer “work until the customer agrees,” it’s “meet the defined spec.”
Sourcing Action: Clarify how “burr-free” will be verified—edge radius, magnification, or surface feel standard. Defined acceptance turns open-ended risk into predictable cost and keeps capable suppliers engaged instead of defensive.
Why Some Vendors Inflate Prices Instead of Asking What You Mean?
Suppliers inflate quotes when they see “free of burrs” because clarifying its meaning costs them more time than padding the price.
Under deadline, most estimators would rather protect their margin than risk a 24-hour email chain defining “clean edges.” It’s easier to double the deburring allowance than pause every RFQ in their queue.
Inside small and medium shops, the quoting engineer handles up to 30 files a day. When a note like “free of burrs” appears, the estimator must check with quality and finishing teams, losing hours of throughput. That’s why vague edge notes quietly turn into 25–40 % higher quotes—without a single machining change.
We avoid that cycle by confirming edge-finish scope upfront: break size, inspection magnification, or ISO 13715 visual class. Once measurable, the quote normalizes within hours instead of days.
Factor | Typical Job Shop | Defined-Spec Workflow |
Quote Turnaround | 3–5 days | ≤ 24 h |
Cost Variance | ± 40 % | ± 10 % |
Deburring Method | Manual / uncertain | Defined 0.2 mm edge break |
Sourcing Action: If quote gaps between vendors look excessive, check whether “free of burrs” is the cause. Clarify it, then re-quote—you’ll often cut cost by a third and keep your build slot on schedule.
Quote delayed over unclear edge notes?
Upload your drawing for a 24-hour manufacturability check — see exactly how “burr-free” can be made measurable.
Why “Free of Burrs” Can Double Your Deburring Costs Without Warning?
That phrase doubles finishing cost because it shifts predictable tool-based deburring to unlimited manual labor.
Automated machines remove measurable burrs; “free of burrs” implies hand inspection until perfection. Every sharp edge, blind hole, or pocket adds minutes of bench work that quickly multiplies across small batches.
Manual polishing can consume more time than machining. A six-part aluminum housing that should cost $900 can exceed $1,700 once labor hours pile up. Beyond cost, this backlog ties up operators and delays the next production slot—so your project loses both money and queue priority.
Our workflow controls this by converting vague notes into quantitative targets: break edges 0.1–0.2 mm, no raised burrs > 0.05 mm visible at 1× magnification. That fits automated cycles, limits touch time, and holds cost steady.
Parameter | Undefined Spec | Quantified Edge Note |
Labor / Part | 45 – 60 min | 10 – 15 min |
Lead-Time Impact | + 3 days | None |
Dimensional Risk | Medium | Low |
Sourcing Action: When quotes seem inflated, ask how deburring was estimated. If manual polishing is assumed, replace “free of burrs” with a measurable edge note—cutting finishing cost and avoiding schedule creep.
When “Free of Burrs” Turns Into Over-Polishing and Dimensional Loss?
Over-polishing happens because “free of burrs” gives operators no measurable stop point.
In pursuit of perfection, edges are blended until geometry changes. A ± 0.02 mm bore tolerance can vanish after a few seconds of extra buffing, turning precision parts into scrap.
We’ve seen tolerance failures traced back to this phrase alone. Operators kept polishing a gear hub until chamfers rounded beyond fit spec; the part “looked” perfect but no longer mated with its assembly. That’s how cosmetic instructions turn into mechanical defects and missed validation runs.
Our finishing workflow defines measurable boundaries—edge radius, surface class per ISO 13715, or “no burrs visible > 0.05 mm at 1×.” It ensures burr removal without dimensional erosion, keeping assemblies within print spec and prototype deadlines intact.
Control Factor | Undefined “Burr-Free” | Defined Edge Spec |
Material Loss | 0.05 – 0.10 mm | < 0.02 mm |
Scrap Risk | High | Minimal |
Inspection Rework | Frequent | Rare |
Sourcing Action: If your parts arrive undersized or delayed after re-polishing, replace “free of burrs” with a quantified edge-finish callout. It protects fit, maintains ISO 2768 limits, and prevents supplier-side overwork from derailing your build schedule.
What It Means When a Supplier Pushes Back on Your Burr Spec?
Supplier pushback on “free of burrs” usually signals technical awareness, not unwillingness.
When a vendor questions that note, they’re protecting tolerances and timelines—not rejecting your job. Shops that understand edge risk know over-polishing can distort geometry and stall production.
Most rejections start when that caution is ignored. Inside the shop, production engineers debate how to meet an undefined standard without scrapping parts. Clarifying scope early avoids the tug-of-war between “clean edge” and “within spec.” We routinely hold ±0.02 mm edges under ISO 13715 visual class without dimensional loss, but only after measurable intent is confirmed.
Delays from unclarified burr notes can snowball fast—two days of back-and-forth often means a missed validation build or test window. Engaging during pushback turns that stall into alignment.
Sourcing Action: Treat supplier hesitation as insight, not resistance. Use it to define edge criteria, lock tolerances, and keep your prototype on schedule. If a vendor can’t explain why they’re pushing back, that’s the time to test another supplier.
How to Specify Edge Breaks That Prevent Rejections and Overwork?
Edge breaks prevent rejections only when they’re defined by measurable size—not appearance.
“Break all sharp edges” sounds simple but leaves machinists guessing and inspectors disagreeing. Shops quote faster and finish consistently when radius or chamfer values are clear before machining begins.
We follow ISO 13715 notation for edge-condition control: 0.2 mm ± 0.05 mm breaks or “no burrs > 0.05 mm at 1× visual check.” That precision tells operators where to stop and lets QC verify compliance without endless polishing. In contrast, visual-only notes create feedback loops, re-inspection, and cumulative time loss.
Every unresolved edge call delays quoting, increases cost, and can derail production timing. Quantified edge breaks move parts from subjective finishing to controlled processes, protecting both price and schedule.
Sourcing Action: Add numeric edge-break or burr-height limits to every drawing revision. If your supplier hesitates, ask whether they can measure to ISO 13715 tolerance levels. If not, consider a vendor equipped to do so—your deadlines will thank you.
Should You Clarify the Edge Requirement—or Find a Shop That Gets It?
Clarify first—then switch if the shop can’t quantify or verify the requirement.
Most “they don’t get it” cases trace back to unclear drawings, not incompetence. Skilled vendors ask early for edge definitions; risky ones stay silent and guess. That’s how clean-edge intent becomes missed builds.
We’ve seen customers replace suppliers only to face the same issue again because the ambiguity followed the file. Once edge radius, burr height, or visual criteria are clarified, 80 % of quote delays disappear and parts flow through production without dispute. When shops resist quantifying specs or refuse cosmetic control entirely, that’s when a switch becomes strategic.
A capable shop defines edge geometry before cutting and validates with documented inspection—keeping both cost and launch timing predictable.
Sourcing Action: Start by defining your “burr-free” criteria with the current vendor; if they can’t measure or document it, move to one that can. The right partner proves capability before cutting, ensuring your next quote moves forward—not sideways.
How Capable Suppliers Handle “Free of Burrs” Without Guesswork?
Capable suppliers remove guesswork from “free of burrs” by defining, measuring, and validating edge quality before machining starts.
They don’t treat it as a cosmetic wish — they translate it into measurable geometry, inspection rules, and process checkpoints that protect both finish and tolerance.
Before quoting, experienced vendors confirm whether “burr-free” applies to all edges or just functional ones. They document measurable acceptance — for example, no raised burrs above 0.05 mm under 1× magnification or edges broken 0.2 ± 0.05 mm per ISO 13715. During production, automated deburring and controlled brushing replace manual polishing, ensuring uniform edges without dimensional loss. Inspection teams use CMM or optical comparators to verify edge profile and surface integrity.
This process eliminates the slowest and most subjective part of finishing: interpretation. It’s why capable shops quote faster, deliver more predictable results, and rarely need “second-chance” rework cycles. Our internal workflow, for instance, closes the loop from RFQ to defined edge spec within 24 hours — ensuring quoting speed and spec certainty coexist.
Sourcing Action: When evaluating suppliers, ask how they define and verify “burr-free.” If the answer includes measurable limits, automated deburring, and documented inspection, you’re talking to a capable partner. If not, your quote is still based on guesswork.
Conclusion
Supplier rejections over “free of burrs” usually come from undefined edge specs, not poor machining. We resolve that uncertainty with measurable definitions and verified finishing control. Upload your rejected drawing today — we’ll review your burr-free requirement, clarify manufacturability, and return a revised quote within 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Undefined finishing often adds 3–5 days to quoting while engineers review risk and labor. Clarifying the edge spec before submission keeps the RFQ in the estimator’s queue instead of waiting for sign-offs—one of the fastest ways to recover quoting speed.
They translate “burr-free” into measurable geometry—edge breaks, radii, or inspection magnification per ISO 13715. Automated deburring and optical checks replace hand polishing. This prevents tolerance drift and produces repeatable edge quality without inflating cost or lead time.
Ask how they verify it. A competent shop references ISO 13715 or ISO 2768, uses automated deburring, and measures edge profile under magnification. If they rely only on “visual check,” expect inconsistency. Reliable vendors document acceptance before machining starts.
Define the requirement and send the drawing for review. Upload your rejected or delayed file today—we’ll confirm edge-finish feasibility, recommend measurable limits, and return a transparent quote within 24 hours.
Often. Over-polishing can remove 0.05–0.10 mm of material and distort fit. A defined 0.2 mm edge break or ≤ 0.05 mm burr height limit keeps geometry safe while achieving a clean edge. The goal is controlled finishing, not endless polishing.
Because it’s undefined. Most shops see that phrase as unlimited manual work with no finish tolerance. They can’t quote predictable time or verify compliance, so they reject it. Replace it with measurable notes—edge break 0.2 ± 0.05 mm or burr ≤ 0.05 mm—to make it manufacturable instantly.
