From a sketch on the back of a notebook, a worn-out sample, or a CAD model — to a real, machined working part in 5-15 days. No tooling, no NRE, no minimum order. Iterate as many times as you need to land the design.
Most prototype shops are really production shops with a slow lane bolted on. We're built the other way — small batches and one-offs are the everyday work, with bigger production runs scheduled around them.
That means we don't need a Class-A drawing pack to start. A sketch with the critical dimensions, a photo of a worn sample, or a half-finished CAD model is enough. We measure, model in Fusion 360 or SolidWorks if needed, and machine the first piece. You hold it, find the issues, mark up the changes, and we cut the next revision.
No tooling charges. No NRE. No minimum order. Each revision is quoted from the diff — what changed, what stays — so iterations stay cheap. Most prototype designs land at the third or fourth piece.
A typical first-article prototype follows this rhythm. Multi-revision jobs loop steps 03-04 until the design is right.
Sketch, photo, sample, half-baked CAD, full drawing — anything. Email or upload via the quote form. The engineer who'll machine it reads it that day.
Day 0Quote in 24-48 hours. If a dimension is missing or the GD&T conflicts, we phone before quoting — usually solves it in five minutes.
Day 1-2Material sourced for the build (typically 1-5 working days, longer for specialist grades). Turn, mill, EDM. Photos at fixturing, after first cut, and at completion.
Day 3-12You hold the part. Mark up the changes. We re-quote the diff and cut the next revision — typically 3-7 days for a single-feature change.
Day 12-15Most prototype jobs don't start with a perfect drawing pack. Here's what's actually useful, ranked by how fast we can quote from it.
Two camps of prototype, two right answers. Most jobs sit in one or the other.
| Prototype goal | Recommended material | Why | Typical cost vs. final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit check / visual review | Aluminium 6061 or acetal | Cuts ~3× faster than steel, no heat treat, easy revisions | ~30-50% of final-part cost |
| Working load / wear test | Production grade — 4140, 316SS, bronze | Behaves like the real part. No surprises in the field trial. | ~80-100% of final-part cost |
| Reverse-engineered replacement | Match original spec from sample | OEM material if known; reverse-spec from hardness + visual otherwise | ~120% (single-piece premium) |
| First-article ahead of production | Production grade — exact spec | Confirms drawing, cycle time and material before tooling-up larger run | Quoted as 1-piece prototype |
| Engineering plastic part | Acetal, nylon, UHMWPE, PTFE | Machined from plate or rod — same shop floor as steel | ~60-80% of final-part cost |
Yes. A hand sketch with the critical dimensions, a photo with measurements, or a worn sample is all most prototype jobs need. We model in CAD if it helps the conversation, or work straight from the sketch on simple parts.
Simple turned or milled parts in common materials: 5-7 working days from approval. Multi-feature prototypes with reverse engineering or specialist materials: 10-15 working days. Express turnaround available where the schedule allows, typically 30-50% premium.
One part. Most prototype jobs are between 1 and 10 pieces. Larger first-article runs (20-50 pieces) are common ahead of design freeze for production.
Yes — that's the normal mode. We expect 2-3 revisions on a typical prototype. Each revision is quoted from the diff, not from scratch, so iterations stay cheap.
We machine acetal, nylon, UHMWPE and PTFE for engineering plastic parts. For 3D-printed plastic prototypes (FDM, SLS) we partner with a Perth print shop and quote that work alongside the machined parts.
If the prototype needs to bear load or wear like the production part, machine in the production grade — 4140, 316SS, bronze, etc. If it's just for fit-check or visual review, aluminium 6061 or acetal cuts faster and cheaper. We'll advise at quote stage.
Worn sample to drawing to direct-fit replacement. Often the front half of a prototype job.
ServiceOnce the prototype is right, the same shop scales it to 50-10,000 pieces with the same drawing.
Get startedSketch, sample, photo or CAD. Quote in 24-48 hours.