My shop does a pretty large variety of work for various companies around the globe, and I feel like for the most part the bulk of the models and prints that we see are somewhere within a ballpark of what most in manufacturing might consider "normal". I mean, a good chunk of min and max dimensions, some companies model at one end of the tolerance or the other, dimensions corresponding, etc. Those types of things that you get used to seeing and working with based on who the customer is.
There's one company that isn't in the ballpark though - prints are full of -/-, +/+ (think -.03/-.06, not -0./-.03), with the model not being to the high or the low, but actually made out of that tolerance band. This is every part that comes across my desk, and I'd say it represents about 80% of the dimensioned features on the parts...so it's not insignificant by any stretch. I can't say with any certainty where the customer is headquartered, but based on hints I've gathered over time I'd led to believe it's somewhere in Asia.
I'm just curious if anyone has any insight or experience with this? Is it geographical? I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that it's somehow easier or makes things more functional to do it this way. Is there a reason for it that I'm missing or is it done strictly to be a pain in the ass?
There's one company that isn't in the ballpark though - prints are full of -/-, +/+ (think -.03/-.06, not -0./-.03), with the model not being to the high or the low, but actually made out of that tolerance band. This is every part that comes across my desk, and I'd say it represents about 80% of the dimensioned features on the parts...so it's not insignificant by any stretch. I can't say with any certainty where the customer is headquartered, but based on hints I've gathered over time I'd led to believe it's somewhere in Asia.
I'm just curious if anyone has any insight or experience with this? Is it geographical? I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that it's somehow easier or makes things more functional to do it this way. Is there a reason for it that I'm missing or is it done strictly to be a pain in the ass?