What is the lead time for customized gears?
For customized gears, the first sample lead time is typically 15–30 days. After sample confirmation, the lead time for bulk orders is usually within 30–45 days. Lead time is commonly understood as the time from order initiation/confirmation through production and shipment readiness (and it can vary by process route and release steps).
What this timeline includes
The sample phase usually covers DFM/process planning + tooling/cutters/fixtures (if needed) + machining + heat treatment (if required) + sample inspection + customer approval. Bulk lead time starts after the sample is confirmed, because key dimensions and quality criteria are locked at that point.
What the final lead time depends on
• Tooling / fixtures / cutters: whether new tooling is required and how complex it is
• Process route: grinding, specific heat treatment, and gear metrology add steps and queue time
• Inspection/document package: FAI/full dimensional report, gear profile & lead charts, PPAP (if required)
• Order volume & schedule slot: batch size and bottleneck capacity (heat treat / grinding / gear inspection)
How we keep customized orders on schedule
1. Lock drawing revision & critical characteristics before starting
2. Release a milestone plan (tooling → sample → approval → bulk) with owners
3. Reserve capacity on critical processes (heat treat, grinding, gear inspection)
4. Run sample inspection/FAI before moving to bulk
5. Bulk runs under QA release to keep shipment timing stable
Quick reference table
| Stage | Typical lead time |
| First sample | 15–30 days From confirmed specs (drawing/sample + requirements) |
First sample | 30–45 days Starts after sample confirmation |