Listen to Boromir

October 27, 2025

“One does not simply specify ±0.005 on every dimension without paying for it.

That path is treacherous, lined with endless inspection time, skyrocketing machining costs, and machinists’ curses whispered into the wind.

Tight tolerances are not free. They demand precision tooling, slower feeds, more scrap, and meticulous quality control. Each extra decimal place is another coin tossed into the furnace of manufacturing cost.

Only specify tight tolerances where function demands it. Leave the rest with generous fits. Consider function, material choice, manufacturing process, part geometry. Determine what actually matters.

For in manufacturing, wisdom lies not in precision alone, but in knowing where precision is needed.”

– Lord Boromir, Captain of the White Tower, High Warden of the White Tower, Steward-prince of Gondor