Frequently Asked Questions
Tooling, tolerances, quantities, lead times and ownership, answered plainly.
These are the questions we actually get asked, with the answers we actually give. If yours is not here, ask it and it probably will be.
Common questions
Does Frontier build its own tooling?
Yes. Progressive dies, multi-slide tooling and single-hit tools are designed and built in our own tool room in Frederick, Colorado. Die work is not sent out.
Who owns the tooling once it is paid for?
You do, one hundred percent of the die set and all related tooling. We store and maintain it for the life of the part at no charge, and you can take it whenever you want.
When do I pay for the tool?
Once, when parts coming off the press are acceptable to you.
What does the tooling guarantee cover?
Setups, die maintenance, sharpening, storage and complete rebuilds, for as long as the part design does not change and the tool runs on our presses.
How many parts do I need before a progressive die makes sense?
Usually around eight thousand a year, but it is a calculation rather than a rule. Divide the extra tooling cost by the saving per part. There is a calculator on our tooling page.
What tolerances can you hold?
Plus or minus five thousandths of an inch across most stamped features with well-designed tooling. Tighter than that and machining is usually the right process, and we will tell you so.
How long does a new tool take?
Three to fourteen weeks depending on complexity and station count, then one to two weeks to a first article.
What is the largest press you have?
A 260 ton StamTech with feed and tonnage control, running .187 by 24 inch stock.
What is the thickest material you can stamp?
Our heaviest coil line handles .250 by 24 inches, but tonnage depends on thickness, perimeter and shear strength together, so a part with a lot of cut length needs thinner stock for the same press.
Do you do more than stamping?
Yes. Machining, welding including robotic welding, PEM insertion, deburring and assembly in house; plating and paint managed by us.
What certifications do you hold?
ISO 9001:2015. We are not AS9100, IATF 16949 or ISO 13485 registered, and we will tell you so on the first call if your program needs one.
Do you handle low volumes?
Yes. Presses run from 6 to 260 tons, and prototype and low-volume work is normal here. We will tell you honestly at what quantity it is worth stepping up to production tooling.
Can you hold stock and ship against a schedule?
Yes. We run inventory stocking programs so parts land when your line needs them rather than all at once.
What do you need to quote a job?
A print or a model, the material, and the annual quantity. If you only have a sample part we can work from that and will be explicit about where we are inferring rather than measuring.
Send us a print
Tell us the part, the material and the annual quantity. We will come back with a straight answer on tooling, lead time and price.
Open Monday through Friday.