The delivered contact faces look flatter than those in the trial. I can show the visible difference, but we haven't measured them against a supplied drawing because we don't have one.

Can the seller identify the delivered finger revision and the trial revision, Carla, so the comparison isn't just between your photograph and a picture they choose from a catalogue?

I've asked for both. Their reply names the gripper body only, not either finger set. The tooling is still unfitted.

I'd ask whether they can supply the demonstrated fingers as an alternative too, because proving an undocumented substitute can become a project of its own; I'm not saying reject it unseen, just keep the original supply question alive

Nadia, agreed as an option. I would want availability and any cost responsibility stated before comparing it with assessing the delivered set.

And if they demonstrate the substitute, keep the housing samples and task conditions identifiable. A different part that happens to sit nicely in the new faces would answer a different question.

Will, have you seen an original-component offer become a real supply arrangement quickly, or is that another uncertainty Carla should keep visible?

I cannot predict that here. I mean ask for the actual terms, not assume the demonstrated set is sitting ready for dispatch.

Grace, that's why I want both questions asked, not two invented good options on a comparison sheet; one might turn out unavailable and the other might need work nobody has priced

Seller has now sent a drawing for the delivered fingers, but says the trial set was custom. No availability answer for that set and no sample demonstration with the delivered one.

That identifies one side of the comparison, not the equivalence. Ask what reference they are using for the custom trial contacts and how the delivered geometry meets the same application requirements.

Does the drawing actually match the pieces delivered, including the contact detail that looked flatter?

Our toolmaker is comparing them. I won't call the drawing a match just because its title is the seller's new part number.

Is the tooling review still paused while that comparison is open? I would not schedule installation from receipt of the drawing alone.

Yes, paused. No installation booked and neither the substitute nor a return to the demonstrated set is agreed.

Thanks Nadia and Will for separating technical assessment from availability. I've put those as distinct open questions in the supplier reply, not ranked the options as if either were ready.

Keep the outcome stated that narrowly: delivered fingers identified on paper, physical comparison ongoing, application equivalence unproved; the arm's arrival hasn't settled the tooling acceptance.