What we do

Manufacturing support,
engineering judgment.

Relay Manufacturing helps teams move their designs to production with confidence.
We review feasibility, align scope, and coordinate execution through trusted manufacturing resources - so outcomes are predictable, not hopeful.

What we do, and what we don’t

Relay is not a one-process shop. We start with the part, validate risk and feasibility, then execute through the right path whether it's in-house, through trusted partners, or via a warm intro when it’s outside our lane.

In-house

Where we own the build directly: Relay started with a focus on 3D printing and are incrementally scaling our in-house capabilities with time and customer need.

  • LF-FDM (large-format thermoplastic)
  • FDM (functional polymer parts)
  • DLP (high-detail resin parts)
  • Diode laser cutting
  • CO2 laser cutting

Trusted partners

Work we’ve thoroughly vetted and can scope confidently. You still get one accountable owner who can translate your project requirements.

  • CNC machining (milling / turning)
  • Waterjet cutting
  • Fiber laser cutting
  • Forming (sheet metal, welding)
  • Molding (urethane casting, injection molding)

What we’ll help you route elsewhere

If your project is outside our execution lane, we won’t fake it. We’ll tell you plainly and connect you with the right people.

  • Die casting and permanent mold casting
  • High-throughput stamped or progressive-die metal parts
  • Certified aerospace / medical production (AS9100, ISO 13485)
  • Fully automated production lines or turnkey factory builds

Everything on this page reflects processes we have real experience with and full confidence evaluating.
Check back as we expand our team, partners, and experimental work - this list will keep growing.

Core capabilities

We support multiple manufacturing processes and execution paths. Each is selected based on part requirements, risk, and intended use - not convenience or machine availability.

Capabilities below are organized by what the part needs to do, not by equipment. For each, we call out typical use cases, material considerations, and how the work is executed.

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 thermoplastics.

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
Carbon-fiber nylon, reinforced thermoplastics, PETG, ABS, ASA, and other engineering polymers.

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.

Forming

Sheet and plate forming for brackets, enclosures, guards, and structural parts — ideal when you want strength and repeatability without machining a block.

Press brake forming sheet metal Formed sheet metal enclosure component

Press brake bending

Best for
Brackets, panels, enclosures, gussets, mounts, and formed assemblies where consistent bend angles and fast turnaround matter.
Materials
Mild steel, stainless, aluminum, galvanized sheet — with bend radius and grain direction considered for crack-free bends.

Vacuum forming

Best for
Large, lightweight plastic shells, covers, housings, and cosmetic components where consistent wall thickness and smooth surface finish matter more than tight tolerances.
Materials
ABS, PETG, HDPE, HIPS, PVC, and acrylic sheet — material choice driven by impact resistance, temperature, and cosmetic requirements.

Welding

Best for
Multi-piece structures: frames, housings, brackets + stiffeners, enclosure builds — when the part is better made from formed components than a single machined piece.
Materials
Steel, stainless, aluminum — with finishing options like powder coat, paint, or passivation depending on environment.

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.

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).

What you receive

Clear scope, predictable execution, and parts delivered ready to use — not surprises.

  • Confirmed scope + assumptions before production
  • Defined deliverables tied to fit + function
  • One accountable owner end-to-end
  • Milestone updates (not only when issues pop up)
  • On-time delivery, packaged and labeled
  • Clear handoff: what changed, what’s next
If something changes, you hear it early, with options and a recommendation.
Parts palletized and ready for shipment

Is Relay a fit?

A quick gut-check to align expectations.

We’re a strong fit if you…

  • Want a manufacturing plan, not just a quote
  • Care about scope clarity and predictable delivery
  • Have real constraints around fit, function, or materials
  • Prefer one accountable owner end-to-end
  • Want a process validated before spending money

We may not be a fit if you…

  • Only want the lowest price or fastest checkout
  • Expect instant quotes without technical review
  • Prefer to manage vendors and tradeoffs internally
  • Need commodity parts with minimal decision-making
  • Expect “yes” answers when feasibility is unclear

Start with a technical review - not a checkout.

Submit files to get a clear fit assessment, defined scope, and next steps before anything moves forward.

Submit Your Files Talk to an Engineer

No obligation. No sales pressure.