How to Order Custom Cut Neoprene Parts (Cut to Size Guide)

You've designed the perfect gasket, pad, or seal for your product. You know the exact shape and dimensions you need. But now you're faced with a challenge: how do you transform a large sheet of neoprene into dozens or even thousands of identical, precision-cut parts? Have you ever spent hours tracing and cutting parts with a utility knife, only to end up with inconsistent results, jagged edges, and a pile of expensive wasted material?

There is a better way. Professional cutting services take the guesswork and manual labor out of fabrication, delivering perfect parts every time. But how do you order custom cut neoprene? What information does a manufacturer need? Which cutting technology is right for your project? This is your simple, step-by-step guide to ordering custom cut neoprene to your exact specifications. As a manufacturer at https://neoprenecustom.com that specializes in turning designs into reality, we want to make the process as seamless as possible.

Before we can cut your part, we need to know what to cut it from. The more detailed your material specification, the more accurate your quote will be. Can you answer these questions?

• Grade: Is this a demanding industrial application requiring 100% CR neoprene, or a general-purpose indoor part where a cost-effective SBR/CR blend is sufficient?

• Thickness: What is the exact thickness in millimeters (e.g., 3.0mm)? What is the acceptable tolerance (e.g., +/- 0.2mm)?

• Hardness (Durometer): How soft or firm does the part need to be (e.g., 60 Shore A)?

• Lamination: Does it need fabric on one side, both sides, or no sides (e.g., "Black Nylon Jersey, Both Sides")?

• Adhesive Backing: Do you need a "peel-and-stick" part? If so, will it be used indoors (rubber-based adhesive) or outdoors/at high temperatures (acrylic adhesive)?

Pro-Tip: If you're unsure about any of these, don't worry! This is where we can help. Simply describe your application to us (e.g., "It's an outdoor, waterproof gasket for a marine electronics enclosure"), and our experts can recommend the perfect material specification for you.

This is the most critical piece of information you can provide. To cut your part perfectly, we need to know its exact shape and dimensions. The best way to provide this is with a digital drawing.

• The Gold Standard: A CAD File. A 2D vector file is the fastest and most accurate way to get a quote and move to production. We can work with most common formats:

  • .DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) - The most universal and preferred format.

  • .DWG (AutoCAD Drawing)

  • .AI (Adobe Illustrator)

  • .EPS (Encapsulated PostScript)

  • .PDF (Vector-based)

• What if I don't have a CAD file? No problem! We can also work from:

  • A detailed technical drawing or sketch with all dimensions clearly labeled.

  • A physical sample of an existing part that we can measure and digitize for you.

Crucial Information to Include on Your Drawing:

• Overall dimensions (length, width, diameter).

• The diameter and location of any holes.

• The radius of any curved corners.

• The required dimensional tolerance (e.g., "+/- 0.5mm").

Based on your design's complexity and your required quantity, we will use one of two primary cutting technologies. Understanding the difference can help you optimize your project.

• Die Cutting: Best for Volume and Speed

  • How it works: We create a custom steel rule die (a "cookie cutter" of your part). A hydraulic press then stamps out your parts from the neoprene sheet with incredible speed and perfect consistency.

  • Choose this if:

    • You need a medium to high quantity of parts (typically 100+ pieces).

    • Your parts need to be perfectly identical.

    • You are looking for the lowest cost per part for production runs.

  • Consideration: There is a one-time setup cost to create the die.

• CNC Knife Cutting: Best for Prototypes and Complexity

  • How it works: A computer-controlled knife cuts your part directly from the neoprene sheet based on your CAD file.

  • Choose this if:

    • You only need a few parts for a prototype or a small batch run.

    • Your design is extremely intricate, with sharp internal corners or complex curves.

    • You want to avoid any initial tooling costs.

  • Consideration: The cost per part is higher than die cutting, making it less economical for large volumes.

This is essential for accurate pricing. Please provide:

• Prototype / Initial Order Quantity: The number of parts you need for this specific order.

• Estimated Annual Usage (EAU): If this is for a production product, giving us an estimate of your yearly needs allows us to provide our best possible volume pricing and plan our material supply for you.

Ready to get a quote? Simply send an email to kevin@neoprenecustom.com with the following information:

• Subject: RFQ for Custom Cut Neoprene Parts

• Attached: Your CAD file, drawing, or a photo of your sample.

• In the email, please list:

  1. Material: 100% CR Neoprene, 3mm thick (+/- 0.2mm), 60A Durometer, Black Nylon both sides.

  2. Quantity: 500 pieces for initial order, EAU approx. 2,000 pieces.

  3. Application: "This will be used as a waterproof mounting gasket for an outdoor light fixture." (This context is always helpful!)

  4. Your Contact Information & Shipping Address.

That's it! With this information, we can provide you with a fast, accurate, and competitive quote for perfect, custom-cut parts delivered right to your door.

Stop accepting the limitations of manual cutting. Let our precision and efficiency work for you.