Engineering tool · CNC, 3D printing, sheet metal, and vacuum casting
Tell us what the part is made of, what it is and how many you need. We'll tell you which process to start with, why, and what rules out the other three.
01 / What decides
The selector applies these rules. They are the same ones we use when reviewing your file.
Each process makes one family: CNC machines metals and engineering plastics, MJF prints PA12 and TPA, sheet metal is cut in aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper and brass, and vacuum casting copies in polyurethane. If your part has to be aluminum, there's nothing to discuss.
Compare aluminum, POM, and PA12A bracket or a plate is cut and bent. A shaft or a gear is turned or milled. An organic shape or one with internal channels is printed. A housing depends on the material and how many you need: machined, printed, or cast.
What sheet metal admitsUp to five parts, manufacturing directly (CNC or MJF) avoids paying for a mold. From there to a few hundred, especially if appearance matters, vacuum casting spreads the cost of the silicone mold. Above 500, injection starts to pay off.
How many parts per moldAn H7 fit in a housing does not require machining the entire part to that precision. Mark only the critical dimensions on the drawing: every needlessly tight tolerance adds machining and inspection.
Calculate an ISO 286 tolerance02 / Frequently asked questions
Seven short answers. The rest, in the frequently asked questions.
View all questionsMaterial first, because it rules processes out. Then what the part is, how many you need and what precision it requires. The selector ranks the four processes on that basis and tells you what to check in each. We confirm the final decision with your 3D file.
Not necessarily. The selector doesn't see your geometry or calculate machine time. It's for ruling out what doesn't fit and quoting only what's worth it.
Our 3D printing is MJF in PA12 and TPA. We machine metal and ABS. A cast “ABS-like” polyurethane looks like it, but it isn't ABS.
It depends on the part size and finish, but the typical range is 10 to 300 units. Below that, it's usually better to manufacture directly; above that, consider injection molding.
Because what you selected earlier rules them out. With a flexible material there are no shafts or mechanisms; with a metal there are no seals; without machining there are no precise fits. The selector disables them so you don't end up in a dead end, and if you change something above, it corrects what's below and tells you.
It's not part of the selector: each process has its minimum lead time, shown in the table: from 5 working days for MJF, 8 for machining and sheet metal and 10 for vacuum casting. If your date is what matters, tell us when requesting the quote and we'll find a way.
A 3D model per part in STEP or your CAD native format. If there are tolerances, threads, or specific finishes, add a drawing in PDF. STL is only valid for 3D printing.
Design ready?
Upload your 3D model to the Proto&Go! platform, choose process, material, finish, and quantity. You'll receive the quote in 24 hours.
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