01
Incoming material
Every bar lot arrives with a mill test certificate. We check the heat number against the delivery note, confirm the Grade 5 chemistry, and hold the certificate in the lot file before the bar goes to a machine.
QUALITY & DOCUMENTATION
What we measure, and what you get in writing.
Every acceptance criterion on this page is one we can test and document: chemistry, thread class, tensile, surface finish, coating and corrosion. What we cannot document, we do not claim.
- EN 10204 3.1
- MATERIAL TEST CERTIFICATE
- 6g
- THREAD CLASS, GO / NO-GO GAUGED
- Ra 0.2–0.4 µm
- ROLLED FLANK FINISH
- 950–1050 MPa
- CATALOG GRADE 5 TENSILE RANGE
- 720 h
- NEUTRAL SALT SPRAY REFERENCE
- 1,000,000
- ALTERNATING LOAD CYCLE REFERENCE
Catalog references, not a universal guarantee for every geometry or finish. Test method, load, frequency, failure criteria, corrosion conditions and reporting laboratory are agreed for the project; actual results are reported per lot.
THE INSPECTION ROUTE
Four gates between bar stock and your dock.
Inspection is not a final step here. Each gate releases the lot to the next one, and each gate leaves a record.
02
In-process
First-off parts are checked against the drawing before a run continues. Critical mating faces follow the agreed drawing tolerance; turned blanks are sized to the rolling dimension, not to a cut-thread size.
03
Thread and surface
Threads are gauged to 6g with go / no-go rings, profiles are verified by optical scanning, and flank finish is checked against the agreed Ra requirement. Rolled threads are checked for root condition.
04
Final and pre-shipment
Specified tensile, torque-to-failure and corrosion results are reviewed against the agreed acceptance criteria, coating appearance is matched to the approved sample, and the lot is packed with its agreed documentation set.
BEFORE THE FIRST ORDER
Four checks you can run before you commit.
Agree the scope, timing and cost at RFQ stage so you can judge the parts and the paperwork together.
01
Trial lot, documented
A small lot run on production settings lets you assess real parts alongside the document set agreed for your bulk order.
Ask for: a trial lot with the 3.1 material certificate, dimensional report, thread gauge result and Ra record.
02
A laboratory you nominate
Nominate the laboratory and the test standard. We confirm sample preparation, the matching heat certificate, cost and lead time before the trial lot ships.
Ask for: samples and their heat certificate for your preferred laboratory.
03
A live walk-through
See the machines, the gauges and the inspection bench through a video walk-through or a scheduled visit.
Ask for: a 20-minute video call through the shop floor, or a date to visit.
04
Batch isolation
A shipment lot number links the parts to the heat and inspection file, allowing the affected batch to be identified if a result needs investigation.
Ask for: the lot number on the carton, and the inspection file behind it.
Ask for any of these before you place a first order. If the results do not match what this page says, walk away.
YOUR DOCUMENT SET
What ships with the parts.
Agree the document set at quotation stage, not after the goods are packed. We confirm the documents available for your part in writing.
| Document | Standard | On request | Project-specific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material test certificate, EN 10204 3.1 | — | ✓ | — |
| Chemical composition (Al, V, Fe, O, N, H) | — | ✓ | — |
| Mechanical properties (tensile, yield, hardness) | — | ✓ | — |
| Dimensional inspection report | — | ✓ | — |
| Thread gauge report (6g go / no-go) | — | ✓ | — |
| Surface roughness record (Ra) | — | ✓ | — |
| Coating thickness and adhesion — scope by agreement | — | — | ✓ |
| Salt spray result — duration and conditions by agreement | — | ✓ | — |
| Certificate of conformity | ✓ | — | — |
Documents are issued per lot. Ask for the set you need at RFQ stage and we will confirm it in writing. Project-specific tests require agreement on feasibility, method, cost and lead time.
READ THE EVIDENCE
How to read an EN 10204 3.1 certificate.
Five things are worth checking before you file a material certificate.
- 01 · Who signed it
- Check the material manufacturer and the authorised inspection representative. A 3.1 material certificate and a separate third-party laboratory report are different documents; specify the document type you need in the RFQ.
- 02 · Heat number, not order number
- The certificate is tied to a heat of material. Check that its heat number matches the lot records and the marking on the parts or packaging.
- 03 · Actual values vs specification limits
- Look for measured values alongside the applicable specification limits. A certificate that only restates a specification does not show the measured chemistry of the supplied heat.
- 04 · Test condition
- Read tensile results alongside the material condition, specimen details and test temperature. The sample shown records 950 and 942 MPa for annealed bar; it is a record of that material heat, not a guarantee for every finished fastener.
- 05 · Material is not finished-part performance
- A 3.1 certificate describes the metal. Thread class, surface finish, coating thickness and torque performance need their own agreed inspection or test records.
TESTING & RECORDS
Equipment, samples and results belong together.
Confirm the sample, test method and acceptance requirement before commissioning a report.
A report applies to the samples tested.
The supplied SGS excerpt shows Brinell hardness and bend-test results on page 2 of 4. It does not establish a salt-spray result, fatigue result or approval for all products. Ask for the full report and the sample identification relevant to your project.
LOT TRACEABILITY
Heat to carton, in four links.
If a part needs investigation, its material and inspection records must be identifiable.
01
Goods-in
Heat number recorded at goods-in and held against the lot.
02
Machining
Lot number issued when the bar is released to machining.
03
Inspection
Inspection records filed against the lot, not only the order.
04
Packing
Carton and packing list carry the lot number and agreed document set.
Ask for the lot number on any shipment and we can pull its records.
COATING & APPEARANCE
Colour is a specification, not a preference.
DLC black, TiN gold, rainbow, burnt blue and anodised finishes are matched against an approved physical sample. Production colour is checked against that sample, rather than a photograph on a screen.
Where coating thickness or adhesion records are required, agree the method, sampling and acceptance criteria before production.
Keep the approved sample as the reference.
Record the approved finish and sample reference in the order. For a re-order, match to the original approved sample.
CLEAR SCOPE
What we do not claim.
Customer references
We do not publish customer names or programme approvals without permission. Every customer reference we give is one the customer has agreed to.
Defined acceptance
We do not claim zero defects. We agree acceptance criteria, record inspection and confirm the handling of nonconforming lots in the order terms.
Order-specific quotations
Lead times and MOQ depend on material, coating batch and quantity. Both are confirmed in writing with the quotation.
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU ORDER
Parts, tests and paperwork.
Do you provide a material certificate with every order?
On request, yes — an EN 10204 3.1 certificate covering the heat used for your lot. Tell us at RFQ stage whether it must accompany the shipment or be sent by email.
Is a 3.1 certificate the same as a third-party inspection report?
No. The material manufacturer’s 3.1 certificate and a report from an independent laboratory are different documents. Specify the document type, laboratory and test scope in the RFQ; feasibility, cost and lead time are confirmed in writing.
How do I qualify you as a supplier?
Start with a trial lot on production settings and judge the parts and paperwork together. You can nominate a laboratory for independent testing or arrange a video walk-through of the machines and inspection bench.
Which thread class do you inspect to?
6g is our standard for external metric threads, checked with go / no-go gauges. Send any different thread class, pitch or gauge requirement with the drawing so it can be confirmed before quoting.
How do I specify the inspection scope?
List the critical dimensions, sampling plan, test method and report format in the RFQ. We confirm which requirements can be met and include the agreed scope in the quotation.
How do you verify coating colour between batches?
Against an approved physical sample rather than a photograph. Include any thickness, adhesion and reporting requirements when you request the quotation.
A part failed in service. What can you trace?
The lot records connect the heat number, production lot, inspection records and applicable coating batch. Provide the lot number on the carton so the file can be retrieved.
Send us your acceptance criteria. We will answer in writing.
Thread class, material certificate type, inspection scope, coating spec, report format. If we cannot meet a requirement, you will hear that before you place an order.
