Sampling is where a manufacturer's real speed shows. Here is how a typical custom silicone project runs at Rubbrother.
Day 0 — RFQ review. You send a drawing (2D with tolerances, or 3D STEP), expected quantity and operating conditions. We return an AI-assisted quote within 24 hours, including material recommendation and mold classification.
Day 1-2 — DFM feedback. Before any steel is cut: draft angles, wall uniformity, parting line position, tolerance feasibility. This 30-minute engineering review routinely saves a week of rework.
Day 2-7 — tooling. Mold making in-house; simple compression tools finish in 5-7 working days. Complex inserts or multi-cavity tools take longer — quoted upfront.
Day 8-11 — first articles. Molding, trimming, 100% visual and dimensional inspection. You receive parts plus a report: dimensions vs drawing, hardness, weight.
Day 12+ — revision loop. One round of dimensional adjustment is standard; further rounds depend on geometry. Mold and sampling fees are refundable when your bulk order reaches the agreed amount — the policy exists so you can iterate without pressure.
Practical tip: specify the gaging method for critical dimensions on the drawing. Half of all out-of-tolerance disputes are actually measurement-method mismatches.