Most cam lock RFQs arrive with too little dimensional information: a hole diameter, a product photo, and a quantity. That is enough to start a conversation, but not enough to approve a sample or protect a bulk order from late changes.
This cam lock dimension checklist is for engineering buyers, procurement teams, and OEM project managers who need to send RFQs, drawings, and sample requests with the measurements suppliers actually use to quote, tool, and produce cam locks for cabinets, enclosures, furniture, and mailbox systems.
Quick Answer
A complete cam lock RFQ should include application details, finished panel thickness, mounting hole drawing, cylinder or body length, cam length and offset, back clearance, rotation direction and angle, material and finish, keying plan, quantity, packing requirement, and sample approval criteria. Missing any one of these dimensions can delay sampling or cause a fit problem that only appears during mass production.
Why Cam Lock Dimensions Belong in the RFQ, Not After Sampling
Cam locks look like simple hardware, but they are installed assemblies. The body, cylinder, cam, nut or clip, and key system must fit the panel, the frame, and the production process at the same time.
When buyers send incomplete dimension data, suppliers must guess. That leads to:
- Sample rounds that fit a prototype panel but fail on production parts
- Quoted standard models that need a custom cam after tooling is released
- Assembly issues caused by back clearance or rotation interference
- Keying changes that force repacking or relabeling before shipment
- RFQ comparisons that are not truly like-for-like between suppliers
A structured dimension checklist makes the RFQ faster for both sides. If you are sourcing cam locks for mailbox, cabinet, or enclosure programs, review mailbox cam locks and related cam lock formats alongside your drawing package so the application and product family stay aligned.
Core Cam Lock Dimensions Explained
Buyers and engineers do not always use the same terms. Before filling out an RFQ, confirm which dimension names your supplier expects.
| Dimension | What It Means | Why Suppliers Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting hole diameter | The hole in the panel that receives the lock body | Determines body fit and anti-rotation requirements |
| Hole shape | Round, double-D, square, or custom | Prevents the lock from spinning in the panel |
| Panel thickness | Finished installed thickness of the door, drawer front, or enclosure wall | Determines cylinder or body length |
| Cylinder / body length | Length of the lock body through the panel | Controls fixing security and back projection |
| Head diameter / front projection | Visible front size and how far the head sits above the surface | Affects appearance and user access |
| Cam length | Distance from cam pivot to cam tip | Determines whether the lock catches the frame or strike |
| Cam offset | Vertical or lateral offset of the cam relative to the lock centerline | Needed when the strike plane is not aligned with the lock body |
| Cam thickness | Material thickness of the cam arm | Affects strength and internal clearance |
| Back clearance | Maximum space available behind the panel | Prevents interference with shelves, wiring, slides, or rods |
| Rotation angle | Usually 90° or 180° | Defines locked and unlocked positions |
| Rotation direction | Clockwise or counterclockwise | Must match product design and user expectation |
If your team is still confirming how these parts work together, read the guide on how cam lock mechanisms work in cabinets, enclosures, and furniture hardware before finalizing the drawing package.
Cam Lock Dimension Checklist for RFQs
Use this table as the minimum RFQ package for a cam lock quotation request.
| RFQ Item | Include in RFQ? | Notes for Buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Application type | Yes | Cabinet, drawer, mailbox, parcel box, electrical enclosure, locker, industrial panel |
| Product drawing or photo | Yes | Show panel, frame, and internal clearance if possible |
| Finished panel thickness | Yes | Measure the actual production panel, not nominal board thickness only |
| Mounting hole diameter | Yes | Include tolerance if punched or molded |
| Hole shape | Yes | Round, double-D, square, or custom anti-rotation detail |
| Cylinder / body length | Yes if known | If unknown, provide panel thickness and back clearance limit |
| Cam drawing or locking distance | Yes | Distance from lock center to strike or frame engagement point |
| Cam offset | Yes if non-standard | Needed for many cabinet doors and enclosure panels |
| Back clearance limit | Yes | Maximum projection allowed behind the panel |
| Rotation angle and direction | Yes | 90°, 180°, CW or CCW |
| Material requirement | Yes | Zinc alloy, steel cam, stainless option, or application-specific need |
| Finish requirement | Yes | Chrome, nickel, black, PVD, salt spray expectation if relevant |
| Keying system | Yes | Keyed alike, keyed different, master key, key code plan, spare keys |
| Quantity and delivery target | Yes | Sample quantity, pilot order, and mass production forecast if available |
| Packing requirement | Yes for production orders | Bulk pack, keyed sets, labels, individual bags, export packaging |
| Sample approval criteria | Yes | Fit, rotation feel, finish, keying accuracy, cam engagement, assembly time |
Drawing Checklist: What to Show on a Cam Lock Drawing
A good RFQ drawing reduces back-and-forth more than a long email description. Include these views and dimensions where possible.
Front View
- Mounting hole diameter and shape
- Head diameter or escutcheon size
- Key orientation if appearance matters
- Front projection relative to the panel surface
Side / Section View
- Finished panel thickness
- Cylinder or body length through the panel
- Back projection behind the panel
- Distance from lock centerline to strike or frame contact point
Cam Detail
- Cam length and offset
- Cam rotation path in locked and unlocked positions
- Clearance to internal components behind the panel
- Any bend angle or special cam shape
Assembly Context
- Frame or strike location
- Door gap, drawer box, gasket, or reinforcement ribs nearby
- Other hardware that may interfere with the lock or cam
If the project may require custom cam geometry, key codes, finish, or packaging, note that early in the drawing review. Many buyers start that discussion through WELLHW’s OEM and ODM lock service once the base dimensions are confirmed.
Sample Request Checklist
Sample approval is where missing dimensions become expensive. Send the sample request with the same dimensional package as the RFQ, plus these sample-specific details.
| Sample Item | What to Specify |
|---|---|
| Sample quantity | Enough to test on more than one production-intent panel if possible |
| Sample keying | Keyed alike set, keyed different set, or master key sample arrangement |
| Production panel for fit test | Actual material, finish, and thickness intended for mass production |
| Frame or strike sample | Representative frame, drawer box, or enclosure edge for cam engagement testing |
| Acceptance criteria | Rotation torque feel, cam engagement, head alignment, finish quality, key removal position |
| Replacement requirement | Whether future replacement locks must match the same dimensions and key codes |
| Labeling requirement | Key numbers, part codes, or packaging labels needed on sample units |
Do not approve a sample based on a prototype panel alone if production panels differ in thickness, hole tolerance, or internal layout. The sample should survive the same conditions the bulk order will see on the line.
Application-Specific Dimensions to Add
Some applications need extra fields in the RFQ beyond the standard cam lock dimension set.
| Application | Extra Dimensions or Notes |
|---|---|
| Office furniture and drawers | Slide clearance, central locking rod compatibility, hole pattern consistency across drawer heights |
| Mailbox and parcel boxes | Key code management, replacement lock compatibility, outdoor exposure, cam orientation for mail slot doors |
| Cabinets and storage units | Door overlay, frame gap, cam reach to stile or frame |
| Electrical enclosures | Panel stiffness, gasket area, possible sealing requirement, access frequency |
| Industrial OEM panels | Vibration, duty cycle, corrosion environment, tool access behind the panel |
For furniture-specific size ranges and production pitfalls, see the guide on furniture cam lock sizes for manufacturers. For a broader sizing workflow across cabinets and enclosures, use the guide on how to choose and size cam locks.
Common RFQ Dimension Mistakes
- Sending only the hole diameter. Suppliers still need panel thickness, cam reach, and back clearance.
- Using nominal material thickness. Laminate, paint, and edge banding change the installed dimension.
- Quoting a cam lock from an old project without checking the frame. A cam that worked on one cabinet depth may fail on another.
- Leaving keying undefined. Key plans affect cylinder choice, packing, and replacement strategy.
- No sample acceptance standard. “Looks fine” is not a production approval method.
- Mixing drawing units or incomplete tolerances. Small hole or cam tolerance differences matter at scale.
Printable RFQ Summary Block
Copy this block into an RFQ email or supplier form.
| Field | Your Project Value |
|---|---|
| Application | |
| Panel material | |
| Finished panel thickness | |
| Mounting hole diameter / shape | |
| Cylinder / body length | |
| Cam length / offset | |
| Lock center to strike distance | |
| Back clearance limit | |
| Rotation angle / direction | |
| Material / finish | |
| Keying system | |
| Quantity | |
| Packing requirement | |
| Sample approval criteria |
When Standard Dimensions Are Enough
A standard cam lock quotation is usually enough when the application uses a common hole pattern, normal panel thickness, straightforward cam engagement, and a stable keying plan. In those cases, a complete dimension checklist helps the supplier match the correct catalogue item quickly.
Even standard projects should include a drawing or photo and a sample fit test on production panels. Standard does not mean “no verification required.”
When Custom Dimensions Will Be Needed
Custom cam lock work is likely when the hole shape, cam path, cylinder length, finish, key system, or packaging cannot be matched by a standard model. Customization may involve only the cam, or it may extend to the cylinder, front ring, key code structure, or labeling system.
The earlier the dimensional package is complete, the fewer sample iterations the project usually needs.
How WELLHW Can Help
If you are preparing a cam lock RFQ, send WELLHW your application details, panel drawing, mounting hole size, cam engagement dimensions, material and finish requirements, quantity, keying plan, and sample approval criteria. A complete checklist helps the team recommend a standard cam lock or review whether custom tooling is needed.
Submit project details through the WELLHW contact page or share them during an OEM/ODM review if the program requires custom cam, cylinder, finish, or key system support.
FAQ
What cam lock dimensions are most important in an RFQ?
The most important dimensions are finished panel thickness, mounting hole diameter and shape, cylinder or body length, cam length and offset, back clearance, rotation angle, and keying requirements. Application details and sample approval criteria are equally important because they define how those dimensions will be tested.
Is mounting hole size the same as cam lock size?
No. Mounting hole size is only one part of the specification. Cam lock sizing also includes body length, cam reach, offset, rotation, and internal clearance behind the panel.
Should I send a drawing or a sample panel with the RFQ?
Both are useful. A drawing helps the supplier understand the intended fit, while a production-intent panel helps validate the sample before bulk approval. If only one is available at RFQ stage, send the drawing first and plan a sample fit test before mass production.
What should be included in cam lock sample approval?
Approve samples based on fit in the production panel, key rotation feel, cam engagement with the frame or strike, finish quality, back clearance, keying accuracy, labeling, and replacement compatibility if applicable.
When does a cam lock RFQ need custom dimensions?
Custom dimensions are usually needed when the cam path, hole shape, cylinder length, finish, key system, or packaging cannot be matched by a standard model. A complete RFQ checklist helps the supplier identify that need earlier in the project.
