Aluminum Valve Body Casting RFQ: Leak Test & CMM

# Valve Body Casting RFQ Checklist: Leak Test and CMM

An aluminum valve body casting RFQ should not be priced only by casting weight. The quote depends on pressure paths, port and thread machining, sealing faces, CMM datum strategy, leak-test stage, material records, and how the buyer will approve samples.

This checklist is for procurement teams, SQE reviewers, and engineers sourcing aluminum valve body castings from China for hydraulic, pneumatic, coolant, thermal-management, or industrial flow-control systems.

1. Define the pressure and fluid path

Before asking for price, mark which passages carry fluid, which faces seal against gaskets or O-rings, and which ports are only mounting or service features. A supplier cannot judge porosity risk or leak-test scope from the outside envelope alone.

Include:

• •working pressure or test pressure
• •fluid type if relevant to corrosion or cleanliness
• •sealed cavity map or marked section view
• •leak-test method, pressure, hold time, and acceptance criterion
• •whether leak testing is required before machining, after machining, or after surface treatment

If your current supplier has leakage at a specific boss, port, or sealing face, share that as a technical risk note without exposing confidential customer data.

2. Separate cast features from machined features

Valve bodies often combine cast passages with machined ports, threaded holes, sealing lands, bores, and mounting faces. The RFQ should tell the supplier what remains as-cast and what must be machined.

Useful details:

• •critical port diameters and thread standards
• •sealing-face flatness and surface finish
• •datum surfaces for CMM inspection
• •machining allowance around ports and bores
• •burr control and cleanliness expectations
• •whether plug gauges, thread gauges, or functional gauges are required

When these items are missing, two suppliers can quote different scopes while appearing to price the same drawing.

3. Ask for the inspection record package

For a valve body casting, inspection evidence is part of the quote. Buyers should decide what records are needed before tooling starts.

Common options include:

• •material certificate and heat-treatment record
• •CMM report for datums, port positions, bores, and sealing faces
• •leak-test record with fixture stage and acceptance rule
• •X-ray or other NDT scope for high-risk wall sections
• •first article inspection report
• •PPAP or customer-specific submission if required
• •traceability format for production lots

The goal is not to ask for every record on every program. The goal is to match evidence to risk so the quote is complete and comparable.

4. Clarify process and alloy assumptions

A356, ZL114, ADC12, and other aluminum alloys do not mean the same thing in a valve body RFQ. The casting route, wall thickness, pressure requirement, heat treatment, machining exposure, and annual volume all affect the process choice.

Ask the supplier to explain:

• •why the proposed casting route fits the drawing
• •where porosity risk is highest
• •whether the alloy and temper support the required function
• •how machining will expose or avoid risky areas
• •what open questions remain before quote approval

5. Use a quote-scope table

Ask suppliers to price the same scope:

This makes quote comparison cleaner and reduces late-stage disputes.

Bohua RFQ path

Bohua can review aluminum valve body casting RFQs for leak-test planning, port and thread machining scope, CMM datum strategy, material records, and quote-scope alignment. For quote-ready projects, send the drawing package through the formal RFQ form. For product-family context, see the valve body manufacturer page, leak-tight casting hub, and quality control overview.

FAQ

Should leak testing be done before or after machining?

It depends on the failure mode. Some programs need raw-casting screening; others need post-machining leak testing because the sealing faces, ports, and threads define the final pressure boundary.

What is the most important CMM datum for valve bodies?

The best datum scheme follows the assembly function. Sealing faces, mounting pads, port axes, and critical bores usually matter more than convenient as-cast outer surfaces.

Can a supplier quote without a leak-test requirement?

It can provide a rough discussion, but a production quote for a pressure-related valve body should state leak-test assumptions clearly. Otherwise the buyer may compare incomplete prices.