A first article inspection (FAI) is where a lot of shops get stuck — not because they can’t measure the part, but because building a CMM routine that captures every ballooned characteristic and outputs a clean AS9102 package is exacting work. Miss a characteristic or format the report wrong and the customer bounces it, and your shipment waits. On-demand first article inspection CMM programming gets the FAI right the first time.

What FAI programming requires

• Ballooned drawing alignment — every characteristic numbered and captured, nothing missed.
• Full GD&T evaluation per ASME Y14.5 tied to the correct datums.
• AS9102 Forms 1–3 populated correctly for aerospace compliance.
• Traceable, repeatable routines you can re-run for future articles.
• Clean reporting in the exact format your customer requires.

Built for compliance, delivered securely

FAI work demands precision and traceability. We program the routine against your ballooned drawing and model, capture every characteristic, and deliver output formatted to populate AS9102 — all in your software, on your network, with your data staying put. For ITAR-controlled aerospace and defense parts, on-site programming is available so nothing leaves your facility.

Why the first article is worth getting right

A bounced FAI doesn’t just delay one shipment — it can stall an entire program and damage a customer relationship built on quality. The cost of a correctly programmed, fully captured first article is small against the cost of a rejection, a resubmission, and the lost trust. This is precisely the kind of high-stakes, exacting work where bringing in proven expertise pays for itself.

When to bring in FAI programming support

• A first article is due and you need it programmed and reported correctly.
• Your customer requires AS9102 and your team is stretched.
• A previous FAI got bounced for missed characteristics or formatting.
• You need a repeatable routine for recurring first articles.

Frequently asked questions

Do you produce the AS9102 forms?

We program the CMM routine to capture every characteristic and deliver output formatted to populate AS9102 Forms 1–3. Tell us your customer’s exact requirements.

Can you work from a ballooned drawing?

Yes — a ballooned drawing plus the model is ideal. If yours isn’t ballooned, we can account for that in scope.