Manufacturing guides

Name: CutLinq
Address: 3 Makram Ebeid, Nasr City, Cairo Governorate, 4450401, EG
Telephone: +201501314930

Reference pages for the decisions that happen before a part is quoted: which file to send, which grade to specify, what a machine can actually hold, and what each choice costs. Written for engineers and buyers sourcing in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

How to Request a Manufacturing Quote That Gets Answered FastWhat file, material and quantity details get a laser cutting or CNC quote back within 12 hours instead of 12 days
How to Prepare a DXF File for Laser CuttingLayers, units, closed vectors and common errors that stop a DXF from quoting cleanly, with a fix-it checklist
DXF vs STEP vs IGES: Which File for Which ProcessHow to choose the right CAD file format for laser cutting, bending, CNC machining and welded assemblies
Flat Pattern vs Finished Drawing: What to SendWhy laser cutting needs a flat DXF and bending needs the finished dimensions too
How to Choose a Steel GradeA practical decision path from mild steel to stainless and alloy grades, with a worked example
How to Choose an Aluminium AlloyA practical guide to 5052, 5754, 6061 and 7075 for sheet, extrusion and machined parts made in the Gulf and Egypt
304 vs 316 Stainless Steel: Cost, Corrosion and When It MattersWhen 1.4301 (304) is enough and when 1.4404 (316L) earns its extra cost in Gulf and Egyptian environments
Sheet Gauge to Millimetre Conversion ChartStandard gauge (Ga) to metric thickness conversion for mild steel, stainless and galvanised sheet, with the sourcing note that matters
How to Calculate the Weight of a Metal PartDensity values and a worked formula for sheet, plate, tube and machined parts
Laser vs Plasma vs Waterjet: Which to ChooseThickness range, tolerance, edge quality and cost compared across the three cutting processes with a decision guide
Minimum Hole Size and Slot Width for Laser CuttingThe material-thickness ratio that governs the smallest hole and slot a laser can cut cleanly, with a worked example
Sheet Metal Design Guide: Holes, Bend Radii and FlangesNumeric rules for hole spacing, bend radius and flange length that keep parts manufacturable
Bend Allowance and K-Factor ExplainedHow to calculate flat pattern length for sheet metal bends, with a worked example and typical K-factor values
Design for CNC Milling: Pockets, Radii and Wall ThicknessPractical rules for pocket depth, internal corner radii and minimum wall thickness that keep machining time and cost down
Design for CNC Turning: Shafts, Grooves and ThreadsPractical rules for shafts, bores, grooves and threads that keep lathe-turned parts fast and accurate
Press-In Inserts, Rivet Nuts and Threads in Sheet MetalChoosing between self-clinching PEM inserts, rivet nuts, tapped holes and welded studs for thin sheet metal
TIG vs MIG Welding: Which to SpecifySpeed, appearance, thickness range and material fit compared, with a worked example choosing between the two
Design for Welding: Joints, Access and DistortionHow joint type, torch access and heat input affect weld quality, cost and distortion, with a worked example
Weld Symbols and Weld Callouts: The BasicsReading a fillet weld symbol, sizing the weld, and what to send when a drawing has no symbols at all
Heat-Affected Zone in Laser Cutting and WeldingWhat the HAZ is, how wide it gets, and how to design and specify parts to control its effect on strength and appearance
ISO 2768 General Tolerances ExplainedHow the four ISO 2768-1 tolerance classes work, when to call one out, and when a tighter dimension needs its own tolerance
Tolerance Stack-Up in AssembliesHow individual part tolerances add up across an assembly, with a worked worst-case and statistical example
Surface Roughness (Ra) ExplainedWhat Ra measures, typical values by process, and how to specify a roughness callout that gets machined correctly the first time
Edge Quality, Burr and DeburringWhat causes burr on laser-cut and machined edges, how to specify edge quality, and which deburring method fits which part
Quality Inspection: CMM, Calipers and ReportsWhen to ask for a dimensional report, what a CMM checks that calipers cannot, and how to read the results
Anodising vs Powder CoatingHow the two aluminium finishes differ in process, durability, colour range and cost for parts made in Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia
Corrosion Protection Options for Steel PartsComparing galvanising, powder coating, plating and stainless substitution for Gulf and Egyptian conditions
What Drives CNC Machining CostMaterial, cycle time and tolerance are the three levers that set a milled or turned part's price
What Drives Laser Cutting CostMaterial, thickness, cut length and nesting are the four levers that set a laser-cut part's price
Nesting and Material Yield: How Sheet Usage Affects PriceHow parts are arranged on a sheet, and why utilisation percentage moves your unit price
Batch Size and Unit Price: Why 100 Parts Cost Less EachHow setup cost, machine time and material yield combine to drop per-part price at higher quantities
From Prototype to Series ProductionHow to move a design from a single test part to a repeatable production batch