Choose a felt cutting route by reviewing the drawing, material, edge requirements, quantity, and sample acceptance criteria together. Laser cutting is a route to evaluate for detailed or changing geometry; die cutting is a route to evaluate for stable repeat parts when tooling is justified. Neither is automatically the lowest-cost or best-quality option for every project.
What should be compared?
| Decision point | Laser-cut route | Die-cut route |
|---|---|---|
| Design stage | Review detailed outlines and designs that may change. | Review approved geometry for repeat production. |
| Setup questions | Confirm file scale, geometry, material, and process setup. | Confirm cutting-tool scope, layout, and approved geometry. |
| Sample checks | Check dimensions, fine features, edge appearance, and any heat effects. | Check dimensions, holes, edge quality, and backing behavior where applicable. |
| Quotation inputs | Material, thickness, geometry, quantity, edge criteria, and sample scope. | Material, thickness, geometry, quantity, tooling scope, and sample scope. |
Start with the material and critical features
Identify the felt construction, thickness, backing, and required edge appearance. Mark holes, slots, narrow sections, and dimensions that control assembly. Ask the supplier to review the complete material-and-part combination rather than choosing a process from shape alone.
Distinguish prototype needs from repeat demand
State whether the design is still being revised and provide separate sample and production quantities. If tooling is proposed, ask what drawing revision it covers and how a later change would be handled. There is no universal quantity threshold in this guide.
Compare the complete quotation
Compare sample scope, setup or tooling scope, unit price basis, inspection, packing, and delivery assumptions. A unit-price comparison is meaningful only when both routes use the same material, geometry, quantity, and acceptance criteria.
A checklist for comparing cutting quotations
| Compare | Ask each quotation to identify |
|---|---|
| Approved basis | Drawing revision, material construction, thickness, backing, quantity, and sample acceptance criteria. |
| One-time charges | Sample, setup, and tooling charges separately; what each covers, tool ownership and storage, and the cost of a drawing change. |
| Repeat-order basis | Price per usable part at the same order quantity; included backing, inspection, labeling, packing, and any recurring setup charge. |
| Delivery and validity | Currency, quotation validity, destination, freight and other included charges, and the stated delivery basis. |
When a quotation uses an Incoterms® rule, record the rule, named place or port, and edition. The ICC’s Incoterms guidance explains how these rules allocate delivery tasks, costs, and risks. Confirm the actual quoted scope before comparing totals.
What should an approval sample prove?
Check fit, dimensions, holes, edge appearance, and installation. For laser-cut felt, evaluate any heat-affected edge or discoloration that matters to the application. For backed parts, confirm the handling and assembly requirements. Approve the material and drawing revision alongside the sample.
Prepare one RFQ for both routes
Use the custom felt part RFQ template so both options are reviewed against the same drawing, material, quantities and acceptance criteria. Mark the cutting route as “for review” when it is undecided.
Which route should I request if I am unsure?
Ask for a fabrication review and explain your priorities. See laser-cut felt, die-cut felt, and custom felt fabrication. Send the drawing, use conditions, quantities, and sample criteria through the B2B project inquiry form.