This Terms of Service ("Terms") establishes the definitive operational, technical, and financial guidelines governing your use of Edelweis engineering solutions. By utilizing our platform, executing a Direct Buy transaction, or engaging in a custom engineering partnership, you legally bind yourself to these protocols.

1. Operational Framework by Service Tier

Our engagement parameters are strictly dictated by the tier of service procured. Upgrading or downgrading alters the legal liabilities and technical resources allocated to your project.

1.1. Individual & Prototype Plans (Direct-Buy)

Instant Initiation: For fixed-price services (e.g., $350 digital prototypes), the engineering cycle commences the moment your technical parameters are submitted and payment clears.

Parameter Locking: The initial requirements provided during the checkout process constitute the "Locked Scope." Any deviations, structural changes, or newly introduced constraints after this point will require the purchase of a supplementary design ticket.

As-Is Delivery: Deliverables are provided based exclusively on the mathematical and physical inputs supplied by you. Edelweis assumes no responsibility for flawed conceptual inputs provided by the client.

1.2. Team & Strategic Engagements

Resource Allocation: Retainer hours (e.g., 80 dedicated hours/month) are actively tracked. Unused hours do not roll over to subsequent billing cycles. It is the client's responsibility to maintain a steady flow of project requirements.

SLA Governance: Edelweis commits to a 24-hour Task Kick-off Service Level Agreement. This SLA is contingent upon the client providing unambiguous, fully dimensioned briefs.

Communication Protocol: All technical directives must be routed through the designated PDM Vault or official Slack/Teams channels. Directives given outside these systems are not legally binding or actionable.

1.3. Enterprise & R&D Partnerships

Custom SOW Precedence: For high-ticket strategic partnerships (up to $30,000/month), these standard Terms are superseded by your custom Statement of Work (SOW) regarding timelines and liability caps.

Supply Chain Liaison: If Edelweis is acting as a liaison with your Tier-1 manufacturers, our authority is strictly limited to technical clarification. We do not authorize financial POs or binding manufacturing contracts on your behalf.

2. Technical Standards & Software Compatibility

2.1. Native File Delivery

Edelweis guarantees native compatibility with industry-standard parametric software. Unless otherwise specified during the scoping phase, deliverables will be provided in native formats for Siemens NX, Dassault SolidWorks, or Autodesk Inventor, alongside neutral STEP/IGES files.

2.2. The Hexagon-W Certification Mark

Deliverables are considered officially validated by Edelweis only when accompanied by our cryptographic signature and the proprietary Hexagon-W certification mark within the drawing title block. Any unauthorized removal, alteration, or transfer of this mark to unverified assemblies constitutes a critical breach of these Terms and immediately nullifies any performance guarantees.

2.3. Parametric Integrity

We utilize a "Clean History" modeling standard. Clients are strictly prohibited from utilizing "dumb solids" or breaking the parametric tree to force geometric outcomes if they intend to retain Edelweis for future modifications.

3. Limitation of Physical & Manufacturing Liability

This is a digital engineering engagement. Edelweis provides the mathematical certainty; your manufacturer provides the physical reality.

3.1. Manufacturing Defects Disclaimer

We expressly disclaim any and all liability for physical component failure, property damage, or financial loss resulting from:

3.2. Post-Delivery Modifications

Our "Zero-Failure Guarantee" applies only to the files exactly as they leave our PDM Vault. If your internal engineers or third-party manufacturers alter the CAD geometry by even a single millimeter without our written recertification, all Edelweis liability is instantly voided.

4. Financial Integrity & Termination

4.1. Non-Refundable Resource Deployment

Due to the immediate mobilization of highly specialized engineering talent upon purchase, all Direct Buy transactions and retainer payments are strictly non-refundable.

4.2. Abandonment Clause

For non-retainer projects, if Edelweis awaits client feedback, parameter clarifications, or approvals for a period exceeding twenty-one (21) consecutive days, the project will be classified as "Abandoned." Reactivating an abandoned project will incur a 15% reactivation fee based on the total project value.

4.3. Mutual Termination (Retainers & Enterprise)

Month-to-month retainers may be canceled with a formal 30-day written notice prior to the next billing cycle. Upon termination, access to the dedicated PDM vault will remain active for 14 days to allow for final data migration, after which the vault will be permanently purged in accordance with our security protocols.

5. Dispute Resolution & Governing Jurisdiction

In the event of a technical dispute regarding simulation accuracy or CAD fidelity, both parties agree to first enter a 14-day technical arbitration period, during which an independent, certified third-party engineer will review the native files against the original design constraints before any legal action may be pursued.