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How working with FixturFab works
This section walks through a custom fixture order from the moment it is placed to delivery. It covers what you send us, what you approve, what we do in between, and how the choices on your order change the path. It applies to Dev, Dev Pro and Production fixtures and to cartridge-only orders.
Fixtures in weeks, not months: Dev and Dev Pro fixtures ship 4 weeks after kickoff, and Production fixtures ship 8 weeks after kickoff. See Timeline and invoicing for reorders, expedite and payment milestones.
The process at a glance
The chart shows every phase, and every choice on your order that changes the path. Gold boxes are things you do. Blue hexagons are approvals you give, either from the email we send or from your order page in Studio. Diamonds are choices you already made when you configured your fixture in Studio: they set your path, nothing is decided again during the project. Times are in business days. Click any box to jump to the page for that phase.
You do thisYou approve thisFixturFab does thisSet by your fixture configuration
* Best-case times for FixturFab's steps. They are what we work to, but a step can take longer because of sourcing issues, new parts, or the complexity of your fixture.
† Your response times. Your schedule assumes you approve each review, or send what we ask for, within this time. If a response takes longer, or a review needs changes, the phases after it start later. We reschedule the remaining phases and send you an updated delivery date as each phase completes.
Choices on your order that change the path
| Choice | Where you make it | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Fixture tier (Dev, Dev Pro, Production) | Studio, Cartridge and Fixture steps | Lead time and invoicing. Dev and Dev Pro ship 4 weeks after kickoff; Production ships 8 weeks after kickoff and is invoiced in three milestones. |
| Signal interface | Studio, Test Hardware step | Which interface design path you follow and which approvals you give. Bare receptacles skip interface design. |
| Feedthrough plate | Studio, Fixture step | Adds interface design if you would otherwise skip it. You supply connector and pinout requirements. |
| Fixture or cartridge only | Studio, Fixture step | With No fixture we design and build the cartridge only, for a base you already own. The phases and approvals are the same. |
| Expedited timeline | Studio, Details step | Earlier kickoff and a shorter schedule for a fee. See Expedite. |
| Reorder of an existing design | Studio | No design NRE and a shorter lead time. |
Your approvals
Approvals work the same way. We email you a review link, and the same review is listed on your order page in Studio. You choose Approve or Request changes. Requesting changes needs a note, and you can attach files. When we have made the changes, we send the review to you again.
| Approval | Phase | When you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Fixture Configuration Review (DUT report and orientation) | Kickoff, sent with the kickoff email | Every order |
| Wiring report | Interface design | Wired receptacles; sent by email for your reply |
| TPCB Review: schematic, then layout | Interface design | Auto TPCB |
| Design Review: approval to build | Design review | Every order |
| QA Review: approval to ship | QA | Every order |
Two rules that keep the schedule
- Reviews gate the schedule. Each phase takes a set time from kickoff, and the next phase starts only when you approve the review before it. Your ship date assumes each review, and each input we ask for, comes back within 1 business day. One held longer moves the ship date by the same amount. We send you an updated delivery date as each phase completes. See How your ship date is set.
- Changes pause the clock. If you change the scope mid-project, we pause the schedule while we work out the impact. See Changes and revisions.
Following your order
Your order page in Studio shows the current stage: Kickoff, Interface design, Fixture design, Design review, Manufacturing, QA and Shipping. Interface design is hidden on orders that skip it. Every approval, message and file for the order lives on that page. Your project lead is named in the kickoff email, and you can reach them there or through the chat in Studio.