Validate form and function.
One part to check fit, durability, and assembly. 3D printing in 5 days or machining in 8, without tooling.
3D printingPrototypes and short runs
Prototypes and short runs, in days.
From 1 to 300 parts without tooling: CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal cutting and bending, or vacuum casting depending on quantity, material, and lead time. An engineer reviews each part before manufacturing.
01 / Four processes
Choose by quantity,
material, and lead time.
All four start from your 3D model and none needs tooling. What changes is the material, the quantity at which each one pays off, and the days until the first part.
| Process | Ideal quantity | Materials | First parts | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | From 1 unit | 21 materialsMetalEngineering plastics | 8 working days | Functional parts with tolerances, fixtures and short runs in metal. CNC machining |
| 3D printing MJF | From 1 unit | PA12TPA | 5 working days | Complex geometries, housings, clips, and ducts: the fastest prototype. 3D printing |
| Sheet metal cutting and bending | From 1 unit | SteelStainless steelAluminumCopperBrass | 8 working days | Brackets, chassis and enclosures without press tools or dies. Sheet metal cutting and bending |
| Vacuum casting | 10 a 300 | Rigid PUFlexible PUTransparent | 10 working days | Final product appearance for pre-production runs and short runs; about 20 copies per mold. Vacuum casting |
| Injection molding | More than 300 | Thermoplastics | Several weeks | Steel or aluminum mold: when the run is already long. If your order requires it, we'll let you know upon review. |
Production lead times start from order confirmation; shipping is added. Quote with price and lead time in 24 working hours for all four processes.
02 / Prototype, pre-production or short run
Each stage
requires its specific process.
What changes between a part for validation and three hundred for sale is not just the quantity.
Appearance and real-world testing.
Units with the final product appearance for user testing, trade shows, or certification: vacuum casting, machining, or sheet metal.
Vacuum castingManufacture without injection molds.
Several silicone molds, or machining or sheet metal spreading the setup cost. Above 300, injection molding starts to pay off.
Prototype, pre-production run, or short run: which one you need03 / How to request
A 3D file.
Nothing more.
The 3D model is enough to get a quote and manufacture; the PDF drawing is only required if there are tolerances, threads, or visible surfaces.
01
Upload your parts
One file per part, in STEP or your CAD format, and up to three quantities to compare the unit price.
STEPSLDPRTX_T / X_BIPTCATPARTPRTSAT3DM
02
Quote in 24 h
An engineer reviews manufacturability and proposes process, material, finish and lead time. If the design can be made cheaper, they'll tell you.
03
Parts from 5 days
5 working days in 3D printing, 8 in machining and sheet metal, 10 in vacuum casting. Verified before dispatch and shipped across Europe.
04 / Before ordering
Decide with data,
not by eye.
Free tools to choose process and material and to prepare the part.
Process selector.
Answer a few questions about material, geometry, quantity, and lead time, and it tells you which process fits.
Open the selectorMaterial comparison.
Compare stiffness, temperature, weight, and indicative price of the 33 materials, side by side.
Open the comparatorDesign for manufacturing.
Design rules for machining, 3D printing, sheet metal, and vacuum casting, in PDF and on each service page.
Design guidesTolerances and finishes.
What precision each process achieves and what finish each material allows before ordering.
Tolerances by processFinishes by process05 / Frequently asked questions
Prototypes and short runs,
question by question.
3D printing or CNC machining for a functional prototype?
MJF 3D printing allows manufacturing complex geometries in PA12 or TPA without a mold. CNC machining offers a wider range of metals and engineering plastics and allows for more precise fits. Choose based on the material, loads, tolerances, and finish required by the prototype.
Can I order a single 3D printed part?
Yes. Proto&Go! manufactures via 3D printing from a single unit, without the need for molds or tooling. You can order a sample to verify the design before producing more parts.
Can I order a single machined part or is a run required?
Proto&Go! machines from a single unit. When requesting a quote, you can compare up to three quantities to see how the price per part decreases in a short run. For long runs of machining, you can consult the machining team of i-mas.
I need 50 or 100 plastic housings: which process suits me best?
Vacuum casting is an option for short runs of housings with a final product appearance. It allows obtaining polyurethane copies using a silicone mold and choosing color and finish. It is advisable to compare it with 3D printing and injection molding based on geometry, material, tolerances, and quantity; the number of parts alone does not decide the process.
3D printing or vacuum casting for a run of housings?
3D printing allows you to manufacture and modify housings without creating a mold. Vacuum casting allows you to obtain polyurethane copies with various hardness levels, colors, and finishes. Compare both options based on quantity, material, and final appearance on the vacuum casting page.
Vacuum casting or plastic injection for a short run?
Vacuum casting uses silicone molds with lower initial investment and a limited lifespan. Injection molding uses a metal mold whose cost is better distributed as the run increases. The choice also depends on the final material, tolerances, and repeatability: request a comparison for your design and expected volume.
Can a single part be manufactured via vacuum casting?
It is technically possible, but making a master and a mold for a single copy may not be cost-effective. For a single unit, compare machining and 3D printing. Vacuum casting makes sense when you need several copies with the same appearance or a specific PU resin.
When is it better to manufacture a sheet metal housing instead of machining it?
Sheet metal can suit a housing with uniform walls and flat faces. Machining allows variable thicknesses, precise seats and solid shapes. The choice depends on the design, tolerances and quantity.
Prototypes and short runs
Do you have the file?
Then you almost have the part.
Choose material, finish, and quantity on the platform. You get the quote in 24 hours.
It opens in a new tab. Accepted formats:
STEPSLDPRTX_T / X_BIPTCATPARTPRTSAT3DM
Get a quote on the platform