# PPAP, CMM, and Leak-Test Record Pack for Pressure-Tight RFQs
Pressure-tight aluminum casting RFQs often fail at the record-package level before they fail at the price level. A supplier may quote the casting and machining correctly, but the buyer later discovers that CMM reports, leak-test records, material certificates, traceability, and PPAP-style documents were not included in the same scope.
For pump housings, valve bodies, coolant manifolds, hydraulic components, and EV thermal housings, the RFQ should define the approval record pack before tooling or samples are released.
What this record pack is for
The purpose is simple:
- •make suppliers quote the same inspection scope
- •reduce sample-approval surprises
- •define which records must ship with first articles
- •separate production inspection from one-time launch evidence
- •prevent price comparison from hiding quality-document gaps
This guide does not replace the buyer's drawing, customer standard, or PPAP manual. It helps the buyer turn quality expectations into RFQ line items.
Record pack matrix
| Record type | What the buyer should define | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing and revision | Current 2D drawing, 3D model, revision level, critical notes | Prevents quoting against stale geometry |
| Material record | Alloy, heat treatment if required, certificate scope | Confirms material route and traceability assumptions |
| CMM report | Datums, critical dimensions, sample quantity, report format | Makes sealing faces, bores, ports, and mounting interfaces comparable |
| Leak-test record | Medium, pressure, hold time, acceptance limit, test stage | Prevents unclear pressure-tight acceptance criteria |
| Machining record | Machined features, fixture datum, inspection stage | Connects casting risk to final sealing performance |
| Surface and cleanliness | Finish, burr control, cleaning, packaging condition | Reduces assembly and contamination risk |
| Traceability | Lot, heat, batch, cavity, or shipment trace method | Supports containment if a defect is found |
| PPAP or FAI scope | Submission level, forms, samples, timing | Aligns supplier approval with buyer requirements |
CMM scope for pressure-tight castings
CMM should be tied to the function of the part. For pressure-tight housings, the most important dimensions are often not the overall casting envelope. They are the features that create sealing, alignment, or assembly performance.
Typical CMM focus areas:
- •O-ring grooves
- •machined sealing faces
- •port locations
- •threaded hole positions
- •bearing seats
- •bore concentricity
- •mounting faces
- •gasket lands
- •datum relationships after machining
The RFQ should state whether the CMM report is required for raw casting, machined part, first article, pilot lot, or production sampling.
Leak-test record scope
Leak testing needs more than the phrase "leak test required." The RFQ should define the test in enough detail for a supplier to price fixtures, time, retesting, and documentation.
Useful fields:
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- •Test medium, such as air, water, oil, or customer-defined method.
- •Test pressure or vacuum condition.
- •Hold time.
- •Acceptance limit.
- •Test stage: before machining, after machining, after impregnation, after cleaning, or before shipment.
- •Sampling level.
- •Fixture responsibility.
- •Whether failed parts may be reworked, impregnated, retested, or scrapped.
If the buyer does not yet know the final leak-test method, the RFQ should ask the supplier to quote assumptions separately instead of burying them in the unit price.
PPAP and FAI scope
Not every casting project needs the same PPAP or first-article package. The RFQ should state what is required by the buyer's industry, customer, drawing, and approval process.
Possible launch records:
- •dimensional report
- •material certificate
- •heat-treatment record if applicable
- •process flow or control-plan-style summary
- •sample identification
- •leak-test records
- •surface finish record when specified
- •packaging approval
- •corrective-action plan for any sample deviation
Avoid asking every supplier for a generic "full PPAP" without defining the expected level and deliverables. It creates inconsistent quotes and often delays sample approval.
Questions to ask suppliers before award
Use these questions in the RFQ:
- •Which CMM dimensions are included in the quoted first-article report?
- •Which leak-test method and fixture assumptions are included?
- •Are leak-test records per part, per lot, or by sample?
- •Are material certificates lot-specific or generic?
- •Does the quote include PPAP or FAI documentation preparation?
- •How are drawing revisions controlled after quote?
- •What traceability is available from casting lot to shipment?
- •If impregnation is used, how is it recorded and retested?
- •Which quality records are excluded from the quoted price?
- •Who approves deviations during sample launch?
Quote-comparison warning signs
Be careful when a quote:
- •says "inspection included" but lists no records
- •quotes leak testing without pressure or acceptance criteria
- •omits CMM datum assumptions
- •separates machining from final inspection
- •treats PPAP as a later commercial add-on
- •gives a very low tooling or sample price without record scope
- •promises approval timing before reviewing drawing and customer standards
These gaps do not always mean the supplier is weak. They may mean the RFQ is incomplete. The buyer should close the gaps before comparing price.
Bohua RFQ path
Bohua can review pressure-tight aluminum casting RFQs for CMM datum scope, leak-test record expectations, material documentation, and PPAP or FAI-style launch requirements. For drawing-ready projects, send the package through the formal RFQ form. Related buyer routes include Quality Control, Leak-Tight Aluminum Casting, PPAP Level 3 for Aluminum Castings, CMM Inspection Requirements, and RFQ Landing Page.
FAQ
Should every pressure-tight casting RFQ require full PPAP?
Not always. The RFQ should define the submission level and record scope required by the buyer's project, customer, and industry. A vague full-PPAP request can create inconsistent quotes.
Is leak testing enough without CMM?
Usually not for machined housings. Leak testing checks pressure-tight behavior, while CMM confirms the geometry that supports sealing, assembly, and repeatability.
Should leak testing happen before or after machining?
That depends on the part. Some risks are visible before machining, while others appear only after ports, bores, grooves, and sealing faces are cut. The RFQ should define the required stage or ask suppliers to quote both assumptions.
What is the best way to reduce approval delays?
Send the drawing revision, inspection expectations, leak-test method, sample quantity, and required record pack before suppliers quote tooling and samples.
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