Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions we hear most about working with us. Don't see yours? Get in touch and we'll answer it.

How does your pricing work?

We work on prepaid hour blocks (retainers). You buy a block — 25, 75, or 125 hours — at a blended hourly rate, and we draw from it as we work. Your hours are good across any of our services: CAM programming, turnkey, or training. Prepaying locks in priority scheduling so your project starts right away.

Why a prepaid block instead of just paying hourly?

Three reasons: your work gets priority scheduling from day one, the larger blocks carry a lower blended rate, and there's no per-task quoting or PO friction once your block is set — we just get to work. Not sure which block fits? Book a call and we'll right-size it with you.

What happens to hours I don't use?

Your hours are valid for a full year, and unused time rolls forward — it doesn't disappear at the end of a project. We track and report every hour so you always know exactly where your balance stands.

What if I need more hours mid-project?

Just buy another block whenever you want — the new hours are added to your balance and we keep going. You're never stuck waiting on a new agreement to continue work that's already underway.

What do "off-site" and "on-site" mean?

Off-site work is everything we do from our own shop — CAM programming, fixture design, and process setup. On-site work is done at your facility — machine setup, prove-out, and training. Many projects have both: we prepare off-site first, then come to you for the on-site portion.

How does on-site work and travel get billed?

On-site work is billed when you're ready for us to come out — you control the schedule. Before we travel, a short pre-flight checklist confirms your machine, tooling, and materials are ready, so no on-site time is wasted. The on-site phase, including travel, is scoped in your estimate up front — no surprises.

Who owns the programs and files you deliver?

The programs, fixtures, documentation, and files we create for your project are yours. The specifics are confirmed in your project agreement.

What if a program doesn't run right on my machine?

We simulate and verify before anything ships, and on turnkey projects we prove out on your machine and don't leave until it's dialed in. If something we programmed doesn't perform as scoped, we make it right — getting it correct the first time is the whole idea behind "good parts, then fast parts."

Is my data secure? Are you ITAR-compliant?

Yes. Zappettini Consulting is registered with the U.S. Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), and controlled work is handled under ITAR-compliant protocols. See our ITAR compliance page for details, or ask us about data handling for your specific project.

What software and machines do you work with?

We're fluent in the CAD/CAM tools you already use — SolidWorks, Mastercam, Fusion 360, hyperMILL, ESPRIT, and Inventor — and we program for Fanuc, Haas, Brother, Okuma, and other common controls. Tell us your machine, control, and post, and we'll dial the process in to it.

Do you offer training?

Yes. We train your team on CAD, CAM, and at the machine — from Fusion 360 and Mastercam to macros and probing — so your people run production with skill and confidence, not just instructions. Training time comes out of the same retainer block.

How do we get started?

Start with a quick call. We'll scope the work together, send you an estimate, and once you approve it, your block is confirmed and work begins. No commitment to get the conversation going.