PARTS IN  1-3 DAYS

Quick-Turn Metal Prototyping

We don’t have minimums, we deliver the best parts for your money, and meet your deadlines!

Every job is unique, and many require special considerations for materials, finishing, custom work, or urgent delivery – your commercial quote will be turned around by seasoned estimators who confirm all aspects of your job.

Amazing companies choose PROTOTEK for high-quality parts done fast!

Licenses, certifications
and real metal prototyping service

Expertise and quality are paramount. With more than three decades of experience in commercial metal prototyping, we’ve achieved a rich set of certifications and provide high-touch attention and service to every quote – and every job.

We engage with our customers to help them design better and more cost-effective parts. We want to be your one-stop shop for commercial sheet metal fabrication. Most of our business is from returning customers, and to achieve that, we strive to hit our customer’s deadlines across all project types.

ITAR Badge Prototek

sam certified

Prototek FAB 40 2020 award

Better Business Bureau Prototek

CA - ISO

NH - ISO

WI - ISO

D&B Number Prototek

AS9100 D Certified

Metal Prototyping – Working with PROTOTEK

Deep capabilities in commercial sheet metal and machining – design, metal prototyping, manufacturing, finishing, and even challenging assemblies.

What do we do?

  • Sheet Metal Parts & Assemblies in 1-3 Days
  • CNC Milled and Turned Parts in 1-3 Days
  • Additive Manufactured Parts in 1 – 3 Days
  • Expedited Jobs

About our fast, flexible, personalized service:

  • ISO-9001:2015 Certified, ITAR Registered
  • Quotes within 24 Hours
  • Contact us about our expedited services

Our metal prototyping capabilities start below but they don’t stop there. Want to talk to someone about a job, upload a file for quote or call us now.

QUOTES WITHIN 24HRS

We accept these file types STP, PRT, IGS, DXF, STL, and more!

PARTS & ASSEMBLIES – ONE STOP SHOP

NO ORDER TOO SMALL

EXPEDITED PARTS IN 1-3 DAYS

Why Prototek?

PROTOTEK AS SEEN ON MANUFACTURING MARVELS®

PROTOTEK's Capabilities

Sheet Metal

  • Manufacturing Design Assistance
  • Laser Cutting - Punching
  • Material Graining
  • Drilling - Countersinking - Tapping
  • Forming - Bending
  • Hardware Insertion
  • Mechanical Assembly
  • TIG, MIG, Spot Welding & Weld Grinding
  • Welded Assemblies & Frames

Machining

  • Up to 5-Axis Milling
  • Horizontal & Vertical Milling
  • 9-Axis Mill-Turn
  • Turning
  • CNC Routing
  • Surface Grinding
  • Lapping & Polishing
  • Welding / Post-Weld Machining
  • Heli-Coils / Hardware Inserts

Cutting & Engraving

  • Wire & Sinker EDM Cutting
  • Waterjet Cutting
  • CO2 Laser
  • Fiberoptic

Quality Assurance

  • Quality Engineering Assistance
  • CMM Inspection Services
  • First Article and AQL Inspections
  • Compliance and Document Control

Plastic & Composite Fabrication

  • Plastic Thermoforming - Bending
  • Annealing
  • Cryogenic Deflashing & Deburring
  • Plastic Welding
  • Thermal, Adhesive, & Mechanical Bonding
  • Vapor Polishing
  • Radiological Film-Cutting Services

Assembly

  • Manufacturing Design Assistance
  • Tooling and Fixture Fabrication
  • Electro-Mechanical Services
  • Welded, Mechanical, & Small Parts Assembly
  • Wire Harnessing
  • Laser Cutting – Polymers & Metals
  • Insert Installation

Finishing

  • Powder Coating
  • Painting
  • Chemical Agent Resistant Coating
  • Silk Screening
  • Laser Engraving
  • Chem Film
  • Anodizing
  • Black Oxide
  • Bead Blasting
  • Tumbling

Additive Manufacturing

  • Laser Sintering
  • Multi Jet Fusion
  • Stereolithography
  • Digital Light Processing
  • Fused Filament Fabrication
  • Material Jetting
  • Cast Urethane

Prototek – Metal Prototyping Made Simple

Our metal prototyping services involve creating a model of a product in order to ensure correct measurements and functionality of the part designed. Our customers use prototypes to evaluate and update parts before mass production begins. Our metal prototyping services get used frequently across a wide range of industries. You can find metal components in automotive, aviation, construction, medical, aerospace, technical design and other sectors due to the extreme advantages of metal components when engineering. So, if you’re looking for a company to handle your metal prototyping, contact Prototek.

What is Metal Prototyping?

In case you are new to the process, a prototype is a mock-up or preliminary draft of a part intended for eventual mass production. Long before production begins, prototypes get developed to allow designers to examine and modify the component.

In metal prototyping and metal prototype fabrication, prototypes get created from various materials, depending on the manufacturing process. One of the most efficient and extensively used in metal prototype fabrication is sheet metal, but other metals can be leveraged in metal prototyping. You can build a prototype out of aluminum, steel, or other materials, but be sure to contact us to get a sense of what metals can be used for your specific metal prototyping needs.

Materials We Use in Metal Prototyping

Here are materials available for your metal prototyping project:

Metal Prototyping Material Grade / Alloy Max. Sheet 
Material Thickness (in) Heat Treatable Tensile Strength (Ultimate, PSI) Fatigue Strength (PSI) Hardness (Brinell) Machinability (AISI Rating)
Metal Prototyping Material Grade / Alloy Max. Sheet 
Material Thickness (in) Heat Treatable Tensile Strength (Ultimate, PSI) Fatigue Strength (PSI) Hardness (Brinell) Machinability (AISI Rating)
Aluminum 1100-0 0.190 No 13000 5000 23 360%
Aluminum 1100-H14 0.190 No 18000 7200 32 360%
Aluminum 2024-0 0.125 Yes 27000 13000 47 360%
Aluminum 2024-T3 0.190 Yes 63800 20000 120 360%
Aluminum 2024-T81 0.090 Yes 70300 19000 128 360%
Aluminum 3002-0 0.125 No N/A N/A N/A 360%
Aluminum 3003-0 0.800 No 16000 7300 28 360%
Aluminum 3003-H14 0.190 No 23000 8700 42 360%
Aluminum 3003-H22 0.250 No 20000 10000 37 360%
Aluminum 5005-H14 0.130 No 24000 9900 48 360%
Aluminum 5005-H34 0.130 No 23000 11000 43 360%
Aluminum 5052-H32 0.220 No 34000 17000 60 360%
Aluminum 5052-H34 0.125 No 37000 18000 68 360%
Aluminum 5083-H116 0.190 No 47000 23000 83 360%
Aluminum 5086-H116 0.190 No 44000 22000 81 360%
Aluminum 6061-0 0.190 Yes 19000 8800 33 360%
Aluminum 6061-T4 0.190 Yes 33000 14000 63 360%
Aluminum 6061-T6 0.190 Yes 45000 14000 93 360%
Aluminum 7075-0 0.190 Yes 35000 18000 59 360%
Aluminum 7075-T6 0.190 Yes 83000 23000 150 360%
Copper C11000 0.140 No 25000-29000 11000-17000 82-92 60%
Stainless Steel 301 0.125 Yes 85000-210000 31000-88000 190-440 N/A
Stainless Steel 304 0.250 Yes 84000-170000 30000-63000 170-360 40%
Stainless Steel 304L 0.250 Yes 78000-170000 25000-62000 160-350 40%
Stainless Steel 316 0.250 Yes 76000-170000 30000-63000 160-360 36%
Stainless Steel 316L 0.250 Yes 77000-170000 25000-65000 170-350 36%
Titanium 6AL-4V 0.125 Yes 131000 74000 334 22%
Titanium 6AL-4V ELI 0.125 Yes 125000 20300 326 22%
Titanium 3Al 2.5 0.171 No 89900 24700 256 N/A

Metal Prototype Design Considerations

In general, metal prototype fabrication refers to manipulating materials to manufacture a piece of metal for a final product. It entails the cutting, shaping and finishing of the select metal. Metal prototyping is a common procedure through many industries, including medical devices, computers, electronics and appliances. However, regardless of the industry or end product, there are several design considerations that need to be considered for any metal prototyping project. Here is a list of the design elements to keep in mind:

  • Bends

    Bending is used to form a material to a specific shape or shapes through the application of force. It is one of the most common sheet metal design methods and may also be called press braking, flanging, die bending, folding or edging.

  • Wall Thickness

    The thickness of the sheet metal will affect how it should be handled and the force needed to apply design methods.

  • Bend Relief

    An incision cut along the sides of a proposed bend in sheet metal to prevent tearing and part deformation during the bending process. Bend relief lengths and widths vary between projects and depending on the metal used.

  • Slots and Holes

    Holes and slots must be at least as wide in diameter as the material is thick. It’s also important to consider distance from the edge.

  • Tabs and Notches

    Tabs and notches also come with distinct requirements for effective metal fabrication. Notches must be at least the thickness of the material or 0.04 in. (1.016mm), whichever is greater, and no more than 5 times the width of the material. Tabs must be at least 2 times the thickness of the material or 0.126 in. (3.200mm), whichever is greater, and no more than 5 times the width.

  • Hems

    Hemming is a metalworking technique that involves rolling the edge of sheet metal over and onto itself, forming a two-layer field. There are two types of hems, open and closed. The tolerance of a hem is dependent upon the hem’s radius, material thickness and features near the hem.

  • Countersinks

    Conical holes are cut into a manufactured item to allow a screw, nail or bolt to be inserted flush with the surface.

  • Offsets

    Offsets are used to create Z-shaped profiles in sheet metal parts.

Metal prototyping is beneficial to ensure the safety and strength of the materials when used in a particular project. Moreover, getting the exact measurements are of great help, whether in rapid metal prototyping or custom metal prototyping, to ensure the fit, strength and lifespan of the end product. So, if you are looking for metal prototyping, contact us today for a quote.

We ship parts ANYWHERE in the US
in as little as 1-3 days!

We ship parts ANYWHERE in the US in as little as 1-3 days!

We have 9 locations that cover the US

Prototek
215 Devcon Dr.
San Jose, CA 95112
Directions

Sac EDM a Prototek Company
11341 Sunrise Park Dr.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95742
Directions

Midwest Prototyping a Prototek Company
1100 W 120th Ave #100
Westminster, CO 80234
Directions

Prototek
900 Cheyenne Ave.
Grafton, WI 53024
Directions

Midwest Prototyping a Prototek Company
10949 Blackhawk Dr
Blue Mounds, WI 53517
Directions

Prototype Solutions Group a Prototek Company
1621 Indianhead Drive
Menomonie, WI 54751
Directions

Prototek
205 Pine St.
Contoocook, NH 03229
Directions

Prototek
244 Burnham Intervale Rd.
Contoocook, NH 03229
Directions

ProtoCAM A Prototek Company
6620 Grant Way
Allentown, PA 18106
Directions

Prototek Trending Topics

Sheet Metal

CNC Machining

Additive Manufacturing

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a broker or a manufacturer?

We are a full service sheet metal and machining manufacturer with four U.S. production facilities across the nation allowing us to deliver your high-quality parts FAST.

Does PROTOTEK manufacture in higher-volume quantities?

We focus on prototypes to low-volume production and can do larger runs. All our parts, from one – to 100 – to 1,000+ are always delivered with production-quality finish.

What are your payment terms?

PROTOTEK offers Net 30 payment terms for established customers with good credit.

What file formats are required or suggested for requesting a quote?

We accept .STP, .DWG, .IGS, .PDF, Parasolid files, and more.

What if I need help with my part design?

Our estimators are on hand to discuss your specific job needs. Our expert team can help you move your project smoothly through the design process and on to delivery.

If I do not have a CAD model, can you quote/fabricate my parts?

Yes, we can work directly from your drawings. Additional engineering charge (NRC) may apply depending on complexity.

How do I submit my NDA and other document requests?

Submit your NDA, Approved Vendor and other document requests to your sales rep or estimator.

How long is a quote valid?

Our quotes stand firm for 7 days from the date of issue.

How fast can I get my order?

Lead time for standard orders is 10 business days. Expediting options are available, including emergency service – down to as fast as 1-2 business days, depending on complexity of work and materials.