FAQ
Straight answers
Billing, file handoffs, NDAs, retainers, and how we plug into your shop: straight answers for fabrication and OEM teams evaluating mechanical engineering support in Cookeville and the Upper Cumberland.
- How fast can you start?
- DFM audits clock in within 48 hours of file intake and scope confirmation. Larger production packages depend on queue depth. We'll quote a realistic start date on the kickoff call.
- Do you sign NDAs?
- Yes. Most clients send their standard mutual NDA; we execute before moving CAD. If you need vendor-specific paperwork, send it with your first email.
- What file formats do you prefer?
- Native CAD when possible (STEP, SLDPRT/SLDASM, IPT/IAM, or Parasolid) plus released PDF drawings and the BOM you quote from. If you only have PDFs, say so. We'll scope feasibility up front.
- How is this different from hiring?
- A junior mechanical engineer in Cookeville and the broader Upper Cumberland market often lands at ~$6,500/month loaded. Our retainers run $1,500–$3,500/month with predictable deliverables, no recruiting cycle, no benefits stack.
- What if we only need help occasionally?
- Start with the audit or a single production-ready project. There's no retainer required to begin. Scale up only when the inbound work justifies it.
- Will you talk to our fabricator directly?
- When you want us to. We can route RFIs and revisions through your team, or interface with the shop if that keeps the release cleaner.
- What does the audit guarantee cover?
- If we can't identify at least one concrete improvement to cost or lead time, the audit is free. It's deliberately narrow. We're betting on finding value in almost every package.
- What industries do you work with?
- Sheet-metal and weldment fabricators, job shops, OEM hardware teams, and startups moving from prototype to production. Most programs involve laser-cut, formed, welded, or machined assemblies, not consumer electronics alone.
- Do you work outside Cookeville?
- Yes. We're based in Cookeville, Tennessee, and serve the Upper Cumberland, Middle Tennessee, and remote clients who need shop-floor-native mechanical engineering. Most work is file-based; site visits are arranged when they add value.
- What does a production-ready package include?
- Typically: 3D models, fabrication drawings, flat patterns or CAM-ready exports, a structured BOM, and revision-controlled release notes. Scope is confirmed on the kickoff call so you know exactly what lands in your inbox.
Still unsure?
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If your question is program-specific, the fastest path is a 30-minute call, no obligation, no slide deck.
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Deep dive the 48-hour audit: scope, deliverables, and guarantee.