Article

Procurement Guide: What to Include in an RFQ for Laser Cladding or LMD Repair

A useful RFQ for laser cladding or LMD repair should include service intent, part dimensions and weight, base material, damage or wear description, target property, tolerances, deadline, available drawings/photos, and inspection requirem...

RFQ and procurement package visual for LMD repair and laser cladding requests

In brief

The short answer.

A good fit when

When it is a good fit.

Use this page to prepare an RFQ, supplier review or documentation question.
Better input data usually matters more than a fast price based on incomplete information.
Clarify NDA terms, drawing access and acceptance requirements early.

Consider another process when

When another process may be better.

A quick price is being requested with no technical input.
Several suppliers are being compared while scope and acceptance remain undefined.
Confidentiality is only raised after sensitive files have already been shared.

Decision table

Key criteria for the process choice.

Decision table with decision point, good sign and escalation signal.
Decision point	Good sign	Escalate or avoid
Technical input	Drawings, photos, material and the target requirement are available.	The request remains too general for a sound review.
Comparability	Scope, finishing, inspection and documentation are requested consistently.	Quotes are compared on price alone.
Confidentiality	NDA and file-sharing rules are agreed early.	IP protection is raised only after sensitive files are shared.
Acceptance	Acceptance criteria and documentation needs are defined.	An order moves forward without a clear basis for acceptance.

In summary:

A useful RFQ defines the part, material, function, timing, finishing and inspection needs.
Clarify scope and acceptance criteria before comparing prices.
Agree confidentiality and secure file-transfer requirements early.

Comparable project

A related published case study.

24-Hour Inconel 718 Coating Repair for an Undersized Spindle

24-Hour Inconel 718 Coating Repair for an Undersized Spindle is a published project example for the process, material and inspection questions in Procurement Guide: What to Include in an RFQ for Laser Cladding or LMD Repair.

Open related case study

Material and quality

What needs to be reviewed alongside the process.

Material

Even in procurement, material selection should stay tied to function and substrate.
If substitution is possible, it needs a clear approval rule.

Quality

A good RFQ names inspection, documentation and the delivery condition.
Supplier reviews are stronger when deviation handling and acceptance are discussed explicitly.

Inspection and acceptance

Checklist for the enquiry and acceptance plan.

Service type and target of the job
Drawing, CAD or photos
Material or substrate assumption
Inspection and documentation package
NDA, timing and delivery terms

Who this helps

Reduce weak inquiries and help procurement send useful part data the first time.

What to evaluate

Direct checklist: what to send.
Why LMD RFQs fail when data is missing.
Minimum technical inputs.
Commercial inputs: deadline, quantity, shipping, NDA, quote format.
Acceptance criteria: dimensions, hardness, inspection, documentation.
Example RFQ table.
Supplier questions to ask.

Technical context

This topic connects to RFQ, procurement, laser cladding, LMD repair, supplier qualification for industrial LMD, DED, repair, coating, or metal AM decisions.

Information for a comparable RFQ

Send the service scope, drawings or photos, quantity, delivery target, acceptance criteria, documentation needs and confidentiality requirements.

Common project questions

Questions that often arise in similar projects.

What belongs in a good RFQ at minimum?

Service type, geometry, material, target zone, timing and acceptance criteria provide the technical basis.

How should quotes actually be compared?

Not only on a deposition price, but on scope, finishing, inspection, documentation and the assumptions underneath them.

When should NDA be raised?

As early as possible, ideally before sensitive drawings or internal information are shared.

Example RFQ packages

Four typical request packages, clearly marked as examples.

These examples are not customer cases and not quotations. They show which information makes an initial technical review faster and more reliable.

Example

Example package: LMD repair

Part goalRestore local geometry on a valuable component without defaulting too early to replacement.

Known dataPhotos of the damage zone, approximate dimensions, function, downtime pressure and any drawing already available.

Missing dataConfirm base material, check cracking, define target geometry and agree acceptance criteria.

Useful files / photosOverview photos, detail photos, drawing or CAD, material information and a marked damage zone.

Inspection expectationDimensional review, surface review and project-dependent crack or cross-section inspection.

What Exafuse can review firstWhether a local LMD route is technically more useful than replacement, welding or remanufacture.

What remains openMaterial compatibility, access, finishing, remaining service logic and release stay project-specific.

Example

Example package: laser cladding

Part goalSpecify a metallurgically bonded protective layer for a wear- or corrosion-critical zone.

Known dataSubstrate, failure mode, medium, temperature, contact type and affected surface.

Missing dataTarget layer, material family, preheating constraints, finishing route and inspection scope.

Useful files / photosPart photos, wear images, drawing, coating zone, service environment and preferred final surface.

Inspection expectationGeometry, layer appearance, crack review or metallographic context depending on part risk.

What Exafuse can review firstWhich material family and thermal route are plausible for the failure mechanism.

What remains openExact alloy, process window, post-processing and acceptance should only be fixed after technical review.

Example

Example package: large LMD build

Part goalAssess a large metal component or structural node for an LMD / DED-LB/M route.

Known dataCAD, envelope, approximate mass, function, interfaces and intended material.

Missing dataManufacturing adaptation, deposition strategy, finishing allowance, fixturing logic and validation plan.

Useful files / photos3D model, drawings, interfaces, load or function description and critical surfaces.

Inspection expectationDimensional accuracy, surfaces, post-processing and project-specific inspection or acceptance criteria.

What Exafuse can review firstWhether LMD, SLM, hybrid manufacturing or a conventional route is more robust.

What remains openNot every geometry is additive-ready; design adaptation and the inspection path must be planned together.

Example

Example package: SLM / LPBF compact part

Part goalEvaluate a compact metal part with fine detail, internal channels or powder-bed-native geometry.

Known dataCAD, material request, part size, quantity, functional surfaces and timing.

Missing dataBuild orientation, supports, heat treatment, post-processing and inspection requirements.

Useful files / photosSTEP file, drawing, critical internal geometry, tolerances and desired surfaces.

Inspection expectationDimensional review, surface review and, depending on application, density, CT or other inspection logic.

What Exafuse can review firstWhether SLM / LPBF, LMD or a hybrid route solves the task more cleanly.

What remains openCompact detail can favor SLM, but material, supports, finish and release still decide the route.

Use RFQ builder Request feasibility review

Recommended next steps

Clarify the next technical question.

Use the linked pages to assess scope, quantity and acceptance criteria for Procurement Guide: What to Include in an RFQ for Laser Cladding or LMD Repair.

Next step

Prepare a useful enquiry.

Include drawings or photos, scope, quantity and acceptance criteria.

Prepare an RFQ

Request packageBuild a request package Cost overviewReview the main cost drivers Initial assessmentClarify the next step Direct contactRequest a Teams or phone call

Technical overview

Key technical points at a glance.

CompanyExafuse / ThinkIng - Additive Technology GmbH

FocusProcurement Guide: What to Include in an RFQ for Laser Cladding or LMD Repair

Key questionWhat information should procurement include so LMD repair or laser cladding quotes are comparable?

Suitable whenUse this page to prepare an RFQ, supplier review or documentation question. / Better input data usually matters more than a fast price based on incomplete information.

Not suitable whenA quick price is being requested with no technical input. / Several suppliers are being compared while scope and acceptance remain undefined.

Required input dataDrawings or photos, scope, quantity, acceptance criteria

Related serviceFeasibility request

Related toolBuild a request package, Review the main cost drivers, Clarify the next step

Related case study24-Hour Inconel 718 Coating Repair for an Undersized Spindle

ContactFeasibility request

Project-specific limitsRFQ preparation and supplier assessment, not final commercial or technical approval without engineering assessment.

Publication details

Authorship and technical context.

Revision 1.0

Published: August 2024
Last technical review: August 2024
Page scope: Procurement and RFQ guidance

Author

Julian KrellMaterial scientist and managing director

Material selection, feasibility and project scope

Technical reviewer

Manish SharmaIndustrial AI and decision systems

Process monitoring, image processing and LMD/DED data systems

Reference basis

Exafuse tool methodology

The guidance supports procurement and enquiry preparation; acceptance and scope remain project-specific.

Next step

Prepare a useful enquiry.

Include drawings or photos, scope, quantity and acceptance criteria.

Prepare an RFQ Start RFQ builder

Procurement Guide: What to Include in an RFQ for Laser Cladding or LMD Repair

The short answer.

When it is a good fit.

When another process may be better.

Key criteria for the process choice.

A related published case study.

What needs to be reviewed alongside the process.

Material

Quality

Checklist for the enquiry and acceptance plan.

Who this helps

What to evaluate

Technical context

Information for a comparable RFQ

Questions that often arise in similar projects.

Four typical request packages, clearly marked as examples.

Example package: LMD repair

Example package: laser cladding

Example package: large LMD build

Example package: SLM / LPBF compact part

Clarify the next technical question.

Related pages and tools

Prepare a useful enquiry.

Key technical points at a glance.

Authorship and technical context.

Prepare a useful enquiry.