Confidentiality Policy for CNC Drawings & Project Files
CNC drawing confidentiality policy is an important part of how Forrest Precision Engineering protects customer drawings, CAD files, 3D models, technical specifications, and project documents. We understand that these materials may contain sensitive design details, proprietary product information, and early-stage engineering concepts.
When you submit files through our website, email, or quotation form, your project information is handled with care and used only for quotation, engineering review, manufacturability assessment, production feasibility evaluation, and related project communication. This policy explains how submitted materials are handled, who may review them, and how customer information is protected throughout the quotation and manufacturing process.
1. Information Covered by This Policy
This policy applies to technical and commercial information submitted to Forrest Precision Engineering for CNC machining, prototyping, custom part manufacturing, or project evaluation. This may include, but is not limited to:
- 2D drawings, engineering drawings, and technical prints
- 3D CAD files, STEP files, STL files, IGES files, or similar models
- Material requirements, tolerance requirements, surface finish specifications, and inspection notes
- Assembly drawings, part references, production instructions, and design details
- Project descriptions, intended applications, estimated quantities, and quotation requirements
- Company name, contact details, shipping information, and business communication records
We recognize that these materials may represent proprietary product designs, early-stage prototypes, internal engineering concepts, or commercially sensitive manufacturing information.
2. How Submitted Files Are Used
Files and project details submitted to Forrest Precision Engineering are used only for legitimate project-related purposes. These purposes may include reviewing your drawings, understanding the geometry and functional requirements of your part, evaluating manufacturability, preparing a quotation, estimating lead time, checking material availability, and planning machining or inspection requirements.
Your files may also be reviewed to identify potential manufacturing risks, such as tight tolerance areas, thin walls, complex internal features, surface finish limitations, thread requirements, or geometry that may require special tooling or process adjustment.
We do not use customer drawings, CAD models, or project documents for unrelated commercial purposes. Submitted files are not sold, published, distributed, or used for marketing without written permission from the customer.
3. Internal Access Control
Access to submitted project files is limited to team members who need the information to support quotation, engineering evaluation, production planning, machining, quality control, or customer communication. This may include quotation staff, engineers, CNC programmers, production coordinators, machinists, and inspection personnel directly involved in the project.
We do not make customer files generally available to unrelated parties. Project information is handled on a need-to-know basis to support accurate evaluation and responsible manufacturing.
4. Confidential Handling of Drawings and CAD Files
Customer drawings and CAD files are treated as confidential project materials. We understand that even a single drawing may contain important design logic, product structure, dimensional strategy, tolerance control, or assembly information.
When reviewing submitted files, our purpose is to understand whether the part can be manufactured accurately and efficiently. We may examine material selection, machining access, fixture requirements, toolpath feasibility, tolerance stack-up, surface finish expectations, and inspection methods. This review is performed only to support your quotation or production request.
We do not reproduce, disclose, or share customer drawings outside the project workflow unless it is necessary to complete the requested service or unless the customer has given permission.
5. Third-Party Service Providers
In some cases, a project may require limited coordination with external service providers, such as material suppliers, finishing suppliers, heat treatment providers, coating providers, logistics partners, or inspection-related services. When this is necessary, only the information required to complete the specific service is shared.
For example, a surface finishing provider may need to know material type, finish requirement, and part quantity, but may not need access to the full commercial background of the project. We aim to limit shared information to what is reasonably necessary for the service being performed.
We do not intentionally provide customer project files to unrelated third parties for independent use, resale, publication, or unrelated business purposes.
6. No Public Display Without Permission
We do not publicly display customer drawings, CAD models, prototypes, finished parts, company names, or project details without permission. Case studies, website images, portfolio references, or promotional examples will only be used when appropriate authorization has been received or when the content does not reveal confidential customer information.
If a customer allows us to use a project as a case study, we may still remove or simplify sensitive details, including exact dimensions, proprietary design features, customer identity, application details, or production quantities.
7. NDA Requests
If your project requires a formal Non-Disclosure Agreement before file review, please contact us before submitting confidential drawings or sensitive technical documents. We are open to reviewing reasonable NDA requirements for qualified projects.
A formal NDA may be appropriate when the project involves new product development, patent-sensitive designs, proprietary assemblies, confidential industrial applications, or commercially sensitive prototype work.
Please note that this confidentiality policy is intended to explain our standard handling of submitted project materials. It does not replace a separately signed NDA where a formal agreement is required by the customer.
8. File Storage and Retention
Submitted files may be retained for quotation records, project reference, production support, repeat order processing, quality review, or customer service. Retaining files can help us respond more efficiently if you request a revised quotation, repeat production, design adjustment, or future manufacturing support.
If you want us to delete specific project files after quotation review or after project completion, you may contact us with your request. We will make reasonable efforts to remove or restrict access to the relevant files where legally and operationally practical.
Some limited records may need to be retained for administrative, accounting, quality control, compliance, or dispute-resolution purposes.
9. Communication Privacy
Emails, quotation requests, contact form submissions, and project discussions are treated as business communication related to your inquiry or order. We use this information to respond to your request, clarify technical details, provide pricing, confirm production requirements, arrange shipping, and support after-sales communication where applicable.
We do not sell customer contact information. We do not use project communication for unrelated marketing without appropriate consent.
10. Customer Responsibility When Submitting Files
Before submitting drawings, CAD files, or technical documents, please make sure you have the right to share those materials with us for quotation or manufacturing review. If the files belong to your employer, client, partner, or another organization, you should confirm that you are authorized to submit them.
If your project contains highly sensitive information, patented designs, export-controlled content, defense-related parts, or regulated technical data, please contact us before submission so we can determine whether the project is suitable for review.
11. Security Limitations
We take reasonable steps to handle submitted files responsibly and restrict access to relevant personnel. However, no online file submission, email system, website form, or digital communication method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
For highly confidential projects, customers may request additional handling arrangements before sending files. This may include prior NDA review, limited file sharing, simplified drawings, redacted documents, or alternative communication methods.
12. Updates to This Policy
We may update this confidentiality policy from time to time to reflect changes in our business process, website structure, file handling procedures, or customer support practices. The latest version published on this page will apply to future file submissions and project inquiries.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about how your drawings, CAD files, or project details will be handled, please contact us before submitting sensitive materials. We will be happy to clarify our confidentiality approach or discuss NDA requirements for your project.
For quotation or confidentiality-related questions, please contact Forrest Precision Engineering through our contact form. You may also include your project details, drawings, or confidentiality requirements when submitting your inquiry.