Metal Prototype Manufacturer

Metal prototyping is the process of creating early versions of your product using metal materials before full production begins. It’s like making a test version to see how your idea works in real life. You need metal prototyping to check if your design functions properly, test how strong it is, and make sure everything fits together correctly. This saves you money and time by catching problems early, before you spend thousands on large-scale manufacturing. With over 20 years of experience, Hemtom helps you perfect your design through high-quality metal prototypes.

Hemtom works with a wide variety of metals to meet your specific needs. We handle aluminum, which is lightweight and easy to machine, steel for strength and durability, stainless steel for projects needing corrosion resistance, brass for decorative parts, copper for electrical components, and titanium for high-performance applications. We also work with specialty alloys when your project requires specific properties like heat resistance or special strength characteristics. Our experienced team will help you choose the right metal based on your prototype’s intended use, budget, and performance requirements.

Our CNC machining services cover everything you need for metal prototypes. We offer CNC milling for creating complex shapes and detailed features, CNC turning for round parts and cylindrical components, drilling for precise holes, tapping for threaded connections, and surface finishing to make your parts look professional. Our modern machines can handle both simple and complex geometries with tight tolerances. Whether you need one prototype or a small batch of parts, our CNC capabilities ensure consistent quality and accuracy. We can work with drawings, 3D files, or even help develop your design ideas.

The time to complete your metal prototype depends on several factors, but we always work efficiently to meet your deadlines. Simple parts might take 3-5 business days, while complex components with detailed features could take 1-2 weeks. Factors that affect timing include the complexity of your design, the type of metal you choose, any special finishes you need, and our current workload. We’ll give you a realistic timeline when you submit your project details. Rush jobs are possible for urgent needs, and we always keep you updated on progress throughout the manufacturing process.

We accept all standard file formats to make ordering easy for you. CAD files like STEP, IGES, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and Inventor work best because they contain complete 3D information. We also accept PDF technical drawings, 2D DWG files, and even hand sketches if that’s what you have. If you’re not sure about your files, just send what you have and our team will review them. We can often work with incomplete information and help you develop your design further. Our goal is to make the process simple, regardless of what design tools or file types you’re working with.

At Hemtom, we specialize in small batch orders and welcome projects of any size. We don’t have a strict minimum order quantity because we understand that prototyping often means you only need one or a few pieces to test your concept. Whether you need a single prototype for testing or 50 pieces for a small production run, we’re happy to help. Our custom approach means we can adjust our processes to work efficiently even with very small orders. This flexibility is one of the advantages of working with a specialized prototype manufacturer like Hemtom.

Quality control is built into every step of our process. We start by carefully reviewing your design files and discussing any potential issues before machining begins. During manufacturing, our experienced machinists monitor each operation and check dimensions regularly. We use precision measuring tools to verify that parts meet your specifications. Before shipping, every prototype goes through a final inspection where we check dimensions, surface finish, and overall quality. If we find any issues, we fix them or remake the part at no extra cost. Our 20+ years of experience means we know what to watch for to deliver excellent results.

Absolutely! Our experienced team loves helping customers improve their designs. With over 20 years in prototype manufacturing, we’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. We can suggest changes to make your part easier to manufacture, stronger, or less expensive to produce. Sometimes small design tweaks can save you significant money or improve functionality. We’ll review your design and offer suggestions for better machining approaches, material choices, or structural improvements. This design feedback is part of our service, and many customers find it incredibly valuable for perfecting their products before full production.

We offer various surface finishes to make your metal prototypes look and perform exactly as needed. Standard options include mill finish (as-machined), which is economical and functional, bead blasting for a uniform matte appearance, polishing for a smooth shiny surface, and anodizing for aluminum parts to add color and corrosion protection. We can also apply powder coating, plating, or other special finishes depending on your requirements. The right finish depends on whether your prototype is for testing, presentation, or functional use. We’ll help you choose the best finish for your specific needs and budget.

The cost of metal prototypes varies based on several factors, making each project unique. Material choice significantly affects price, with aluminum being more economical than titanium or specialty alloys. Part complexity, size, required tolerances, quantity, and surface finishing all influence the final cost. Simple parts might cost under $100, while complex precision components could cost several hundred dollars. We provide detailed quotes based on your specific requirements, so you know exactly what to expect. Our goal is to offer competitive pricing while maintaining the high quality that comes with our 20+ years of experience.

Hemtom serves a wide range of industries that need high-quality metal prototypes. We work with automotive companies developing new car parts, aerospace firms creating aircraft components, medical device manufacturers making surgical instruments, electronics companies building housings and heat sinks, and consumer product developers creating everything from kitchen gadgets to sporting goods. We also serve startups and inventors working on new ideas, as well as established companies updating existing products. Our diverse experience across industries means we understand different requirements and can provide valuable insights for your specific application.

Yes, we can assemble your metal prototype parts to create complete functional units. If your prototype involves multiple metal components that need to fit together, we can handle the assembly process. This includes inserting fasteners, joining parts with adhesives when appropriate, and performing basic mechanical assembly. Having us assemble your prototype ensures proper fit and gives you a complete unit ready for testing. This service is especially valuable for complex prototypes where precise assembly is critical for proper function. We’ll work with you to determine the best assembly approach for your specific project.

Definitely! While 3D CAD files make the process smoother, we regularly work with 2D technical drawings and can create excellent prototypes from them. Our experienced team can interpret traditional engineering drawings and understand dimensions, tolerances, and features from 2D views. If needed, we can create 3D models from your 2D drawings to ensure we understand your design completely. We might ask clarifying questions about certain features or dimensions, but this is normal and helps ensure your prototype matches your expectations. Don’t let the lack of 3D files stop you from moving forward with your project.

We can achieve tight tolerances suitable for most prototype applications. Standard tolerances are typically ±0.005″ (±0.127mm), which works well for most projects. For critical dimensions, we can achieve ±0.002″ (±0.05mm) or even tighter when necessary. The achievable tolerance depends on the material, part size, machining operations required, and specific features. Tighter tolerances increase cost and manufacturing time, so we help you determine which dimensions actually need tight control versus those where standard tolerances work fine. Our experience helps us balance cost, time, and precision to meet your prototype needs effectively.

We understand that sometimes you need prototypes quickly, and we’re equipped to handle rush orders. For urgent projects, we can often rearrange our production schedule to prioritize your job. Rush service typically adds 24-48 hours to normal production time rather than the usual 3-5 days, depending on part complexity. There may be additional charges for rush service, but we keep these reasonable. When requesting rush service, provide as much detail as possible upfront to avoid delays. We’ll be honest about what’s achievable and work hard to meet your deadlines while maintaining our quality standards.

To give you an accurate quote, we need several pieces of information about your project. Most importantly, we need your design files (CAD files, drawings, or sketches), material preferences, quantity needed, and any special requirements like surface finishes or tight tolerances. It’s also helpful to know your timeline and intended use for the prototype. If you’re not sure about some specifications, that’s okay – we can discuss options and help you make decisions. The more information you provide upfront, the more accurate our quote will be, but don’t worry if you don’t have every detail figured out yet.

Yes, we can create metal prototypes designed for outdoor and harsh environment applications. We’ll help you select appropriate materials like stainless steel for corrosion resistance, aluminum alloys for marine environments, or specialty metals for high-temperature applications. We can also apply protective finishes like anodizing, powder coating, or plating to enhance durability. Our experience includes prototypes for automotive, aerospace, and industrial applications where parts must withstand challenging conditions. We’ll discuss your specific environmental requirements and recommend the best materials and finishes to ensure your prototype performs well in real-world conditions.

We can provide material certificates and documentation when required for your project. This includes material test certificates showing the chemical composition and mechanical properties of the metals we use, dimensional inspection reports verifying that your prototype meets specified tolerances, and certificates of compliance for specific industry standards when applicable. This documentation is particularly important for aerospace, medical, or automotive applications where traceability is required. Let us know if you need specific documentation when requesting your quote, as this may affect pricing and lead time slightly but ensures you have proper records for your project.

Protecting your intellectual property is extremely important to us. We maintain strict confidentiality for all customer projects and can sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) when requested. Our team understands the sensitive nature of prototype work and treats all designs, specifications, and project details as confidential information. We have secure file handling procedures and limit access to project information to only the team members working on your parts. Your design files are stored securely and are never shared with other customers or outside parties. We respect that your prototype may represent significant investment and innovation, and we protect it accordingly.

If your metal prototype doesn’t meet the agreed specifications, we’ll make it right at no additional cost to you. We stand behind our work and take responsibility for any manufacturing errors. Depending on the specific issue, we might remake the part completely, modify the existing part if possible, or work with you to find an acceptable solution. Our quality control process is designed to prevent specification issues, but if something does go wrong, we address it quickly and professionally. We want you to be completely satisfied with your prototype because your success leads to our success, and we value long-term customer relationships over short-term profits.