Services

Services we support

These are the manufacturing services we most often
review, source, and compare across our vendor network.

3D printing

Additive manufacturing processes used for prototypes, tooling, and low-volume production where geometry, scale, or iteration speed matter.

Large-format 3D printer Printed tooling component

FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

Best for
Functional prototypes, basic fixtures, and general-purpose plastic parts where surface finish is secondary to speed and cost.
Materials
PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, and similar prototyping materials. PEEK, PEKK, Ultem (PEI) and similar engineering polymers

LF-FDM (Large-format FDM)

Best for
Oversized prototypes, tooling, fixtures, jigs, foundry and casting patterns, and low-volume end-use parts where traditional manufacturing becomes impractical.
Materials
Most of the same materials as FDM, though geometry influences material choice greatly with LF-FDM.

SLA (Stereolithography)

Best for
High-detail, aesthetic, or small-scale prototypes where surface finish and feature resolution are critical.
Materials
Photopolymer resins selected for stiffness, flexibility, or surface quality.

CNC machining

Precision subtractive manufacturing for tight tolerances, reliable fit, and production-grade materials — from prototypes to low-volume production.

CNC milling in progress Finished CNC machined component

3-axis / 5-axis milling

Best for
Tight-tolerance parts, complex geometry, fixturing, brackets, housings, and prototypes that must assemble correctly on the first try.
Materials
Aluminum (6061/7075), stainless (303/304/316), tool steels, brass, and engineering plastics (Delrin, UHMW, Nylon).

Turning (lathe)

Best for
Round parts: shafts, spacers, bushings, threaded components, pulleys, and concentric features requiring good surface finish.
Materials
Aluminum, stainless, mild steel, brass, and many plastics, with secondary milling for flats, slots, and keyways as needed.

Finishing & secondary ops

Best for
Cosmetic and functional finishes: deburr/chamfer, tapped holes, press-fits, reaming, bead blast, anodize, powder coat, and assembly-ready prep.
Materials
Finish options vary by base material (e.g. anodize for aluminum, passivation for stainless). We’ll recommend based on use and environment.

3D scanning & reverse engineering

Capture real-world parts into usable CAD — whether for replication, modification, or manufacturing planning.

3D scanning a mechanical part Scanned geometry converted into CAD

Part replication

Best for
Legacy or undocumented parts. Most existing parts where no CAD exists.
Output
Cleaned mesh, parametric CAD, or production-ready geometry depending on need.

Fit & interface capture

Best for
Designing parts that must mate to existing geometry: housings, enclosures, tooling, and modifications.
Output
Reduces iteration risk by designing from real geometry instead of assumptions.

Manufacturing preparation

Best for
Applying draft, shrink, or modifications to scanned parts for casting, machining, or printing workflows.
Output
A scan becomes a usable starting point, not just a visual model.

Cutting

Fast, accurate 2D profiling for brackets, panels, enclosures, and fixtures — often the most efficient path when parts are primarily planar.

Laser cutting sheet metal Cut metal parts on a table ready for forming

Laser cutting

Best for
Precise sheet parts: brackets, panels, enclosures, faceplates, and patterns. Clean edges and fast turnaround.
Materials
Mild steel, stainless, aluminum (thickness-dependent), plus some plastics where appropriate.

Waterjet

Best for
Thicker materials and heat-sensitive parts where you want no heat-affected zone. Great for plate, composites, and mixed material jobs.
Materials
Steel, aluminum, stainless, plastics, rubber, composites, and many specialty materials (thickness and edge quality vary by spec).

Molding

Production-friendly processes for repeatable parts at quantity — from flexible, low-commitment tooling to full injection molding when volumes justify it.

Molding process in production Molded plastic part inspection

Urethane casting

Best for
Low-volume production and pre-production runs where you want molded-like parts fast without committing to hard tooling.
Materials
Urethane resins tuned for stiffness, flexibility, clarity, or impact resistance (often selected to mimic common injection plastics).

Injection molding

Best for
Repeatable production parts at volume: consistent tolerances, strong surface finish control, and cost efficiency once tooling is amortized.
Materials
Commodity and engineering thermoplastics (ABS, PC, PA, POM, PP, TPE, glass-filled variants), selected for strength, heat, UV, and environment.

What You Receive

  • Manufacturability review before quoting
  • Quote comparison across vetted vendors
  • Best-fit recommendation for price, quality, and lead time
  • One accountable point of contact
  • Clear communication if anything changes
  • Delivery with defined expectations
Parts palletized and ready for shipment

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