before shipping
accuracy
on every metal order
inspection & reports
What Is Quality Assurance in CNC Machining?
Machine to Spec
Parts are CNC machined to your drawing tolerances using calibrated equipment and verified toolpaths.
CMM Inspect
Every critical dimension is measured on our CMM. Actual values are compared to nominal specs.
Document & Ship
Inspection reports, material certs, and conformance documents ship with your parts.
Built-In Quality on Every Order
Most shops charge extra for inspection. We include it as standard — because shipping uninspected parts is not an option.
CMM on Every Order
Every order gets CMM inspection before shipping. We measure critical dimensions and compare actual values to your drawing tolerances. No exceptions, no extra charge.
NIST-Traceable Equipment
Our CMM and gauges are calibrated to NIST-traceable standards. Measurement accuracy to ±0.0001". Your quality team can trust the numbers.
Full Documentation
Dimensional inspection reports, material certs with heat lot traceability, first article reports, and certificates of conformance. Everything ships with your parts.
Industry-Specific Compliance
We support aerospace, defense, medical, and automotive documentation requirements. AS9100-style records, FAI reports, and MIL-STD-ready paperwork available.
Quality Assurance Services
From first article inspection to surface roughness testing — every measurement documented and traceable.
CMM Inspection
Full 3D coordinate measurement of critical dimensions, hole positions, angles, and geometric features. Every measurement compared to your drawing tolerances.
±0.0001" accuracyFirst Article Inspection (FAI)
Complete measurement of the first part from every production run. Detailed report with actual vs. nominal values for every ballooned dimension. You approve before we continue.
Full balloon reportGD&T Verification
Flatness, parallelism, perpendicularity, position, runout, concentricity, and true position. If your drawing calls it out, we measure and report it.
All GD&T calloutsMaterial Certifications
Every metal order ships with a mill cert proving alloy, heat lot, and chemical composition. Full traceability from raw stock to finished part.
Heat lot traceabilitySurface Roughness Testing
Profilometer measurement of surface finish (Ra values). Verify mating surfaces, sealing faces, and cosmetic requirements meet your spec.
Ra measurementCertificate of Conformance
Formal documentation stating that parts conform to purchase order specifications. Supports receiving inspection and quality system requirements.
Ships with every order
First Article Inspection — Aerospace Bracket — 7075-T6
Machined and inspected for an aerospace customer requiring full FAI documentation. Every critical dimension verified on our CMM before shipping.
on first submission
verified on CMM
with shipment
after machining
- Dimensional inspection report (CMM data included)
- Material certification & heat lot traceability
- First article inspection report per AS9102
- Certificate of Conformance per purchase order
Inspection. Traceability. Compliance.
Quality assurance is not optional at RivCut. Here is what you get on every order.
CMM Inspection
We measure before we ship. No exceptions.
- 3D coordinate measurement
- GD&T verification
- ±0.0001" measurement accuracy
- Documented results on every order
Material Traceability
Every alloy traced from mill to your door.
- Mill certs with heat lot numbers
- Chemical composition verification
- NIST-traceable calibration records
- Raw stock to finished part tracking
Documentation Compliance
Paperwork your quality team actually needs.
- First article inspection reports
- Certificate of Conformance
- AS9102 & MIL-STD-ready records
- Custom formats on request
From CAD File to Inspected Parts
Three steps. Full documentation. No surprises at receiving.
Get an Instant Quote
Send your STEP or IGES file. Select material, quantity, and finish. We review for manufacturability and respond fast.
We Machine & Inspect
Your parts run on our CNC mills and lathes. Every order gets CMM inspection. We verify every critical dimension before anything ships.
Ship with Full Docs
Parts ship with dimensional inspection reports, material certs, and all required documentation. Everything your quality team needs for receiving.
Why Palo Alto, CA Companies Choose RivCut
Palo Alto (978K metro) is known for Silicon Hills tech boom. Local industries include semiconductor, EV, robotics, defense. RivCut machines parts for teams across TX from our Union City, CA facility — with standard shipping in 2–3 business days.
All parts are CNC machined in-house at our Bay Area shop. We never broker or outsource. Learn about RivCut →
Questions About Quality Assurance
CNC Machining Materials Available in Palo Alto
Aluminum 6061 and 7075. Stainless 304, 316, and 17-4 PH. Ti-6Al-4V titanium. PEEK, Delrin, and Nylon 6/6. Every grade ships from our shop with a full mill cert.
| Aluminum | |
|---|---|
| 6061-T6 | 40 ksi yield, machinability ~190 |
| 7075-T6 | 73 ksi yield, aerospace structural |
| 2024-T3 | Fatigue resistant, airframe skins |
| 5052 | Marine-grade, formable |
| Steel | |
| 1018 | Low carbon, weldable |
| 4140 | Pre-hard 28–32 HRC, high strength |
| 4340 | Quenched & tempered, ultra-high strength |
| A36 | 36 ksi yield, structural |
| Stainless Steel | |
| 303 | Free-machining, sulfur-bearing |
| 304 | Austenitic, weldable, general purpose |
| 316 | Mo-bearing, marine and chemical grade |
| 17-4 PH | H900, ~190 ksi UTS |
| Titanium | |
| Grade 2 | CP titanium, weldable, biocompatible |
| Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5) | 120 ksi yield, aerospace and medical |
| Brass & Copper | |
| C360 Brass | 100% machinability rating |
| C110 Copper | ~100% IACS conductivity |
| C101 Copper | Oxygen-free, ~101% IACS |
| Engineering Plastics | |
| Delrin (Acetal) | Low friction, dimensionally stable |
| PEEK | 250°C service temp, chemical resistant |
| Nylon 6/6 | Wear resistant, ~12 ksi tensile |
| UHMW | Impact resistant, low friction |
| Polycarbonate | Transparent, ~9 ksi tensile |
| PTFE (Teflon) | 260°C, chemically inert |
Don’t see your grade? Ask us — we machine 50+ alloys and polymers.
RivCut vs CNC Marketplaces vs Local Machine Shops
Why engineers in Palo Alto pick RivCut over marketplaces and local machine shops. Marketplaces are fast but route your job to the lowest bidder. Local shops are trustworthy but slow on quotes and often won’t take small jobs. RivCut combines instant online quoting with the accountability of a real, in-house USA shop.
| What You Get | RivCut Best | CNC Marketplace | Local Machine Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who cuts the part | Our machinists in Union City, CA | Unknown 3rd party shop | Local machinist, varies by shop |
| Country of origin | 100% USA, never outsourced | Often shipped overseas | USA, local only |
| Instant online quote | Yes — AI-priced in seconds | Yes | No — email or phone quote |
| Talk to the machinist | Yes, direct line | No, support agent only | Yes, in person |
| Free DFM review | Yes, on every order | Sometimes, paid add-on | Sometimes, informal |
| Tightest tolerance | ±0.0002 inches | ±0.005 inches typical | Varies by shop |
| Fastest lead time | 3 business days | 5–10 business days | 2–4 weeks typical |
| Minimum order | None — one part is fine | Often 5+ pieces | Often $500+ minimum |
| CMM inspection | Every order | Paid upgrade | Sometimes, manual only |
RivCut is a precision CNC machining and machine shop serving Palo Alto and the greater Bay Area. We run CNC milling, CNC milling machine, milling machine, CNC turning, CNC lathe, metal lathe, CNC metal lathe, and lathe machine capacity in our Union City facility for fast prototyping, rapid prototyping, production machining, aerospace machining, and machining aerospace components. Searching for machine shops near me or a machine shop near Palo Alto? Upload a STEP file for an instant prototype quote — we deliver CNC machine milling machine and lathe parts in as few as 3 business days.
What Engineers Say About
Working With RivCut
Real reviews from real engineers. Every project matters — including yours in Palo Alto.
We went through two shops before finding RivCut. Night and day difference. Parts come in right. Communication is clear. They held ±0.002" on a titanium bracket that two other shops couldn’t get right.
Aerospace PartsThey caught a tolerance issue in our drawing before production started. That saved us a full revision cycle and three weeks of delays. You don’t find that kind of attention to detail at most shops.
Medical DeviceWe needed fast turnaround on 5-axis parts for a new enclosure. RivCut delivered in 6 days. Quality was excellent. These guys move fast without cutting corners.
PrototypingThe DFM Checklist Engineers Use Before Sending CAD to a CNC Shop
14 checks for wall thickness, internal radii, tool reach, hole depth-to-diameter ratios, and tolerance stack. Catch issues before they cost you a revision cycle.
- ✓ 14-point pre-flight checklist
- ✓ Aluminum, steel & titanium-specific rules
- ✓ Printable PDF, no signup wall
Quality Assurance Near Palo Alto
How Palo Alto's Top Industries Use Quality Assurance
Palo Alto's economy drives specific machining demand. Here's what we see from local teams.
Upload Your CAD File
Every order ships with CMM inspection, material certs, and full documentation — included at no extra charge.
No minimums · Single prototypes to production runs · Inspection included · Ships anywhere in the US