How to get a custom part made

1. Start with what the part has to do

The right process and material follow from a handful of questions. Answer them before you choose anything, and include the answers in your notes when you request a quote:

1. What loads does it carry? A cover or a display stand is very different from a bracket holding a shelf or a gear under torque.
2. How hot or cold does it get? Some plastics soften in a hot car; metals and engineering plastics don't.
3. Does it fit with other parts? Holes for bolts, bearings, or shafts need specific sizes. Everything else can usually be looser.
4. Does it need to look finished? A prototype on a bench can show layer lines or tool marks; a customer-facing part may not.
5. How many do you need, now and later? One prototype and a run of 500 often call for different processes.

2. Choose a process

Process	Best for	How the price behaves
FDM 3D printing	Functional plastic prototypes, fixtures, enclosures, brackets	Low setup; price follows size and print time
Resin 3D printing	Small parts with fine detail and smooth surfaces	Low setup; several small parts can share one print
CNC milling	Strong, precise parts in metal or plastic: plates, housings, brackets	Fixed setup cost; price per part drops fast with quantity
CNC turning	Round parts: shafts, pins, bushings, spacers, threaded parts	Fast per part once set up; great for runs
CNC routing	Large flat parts from wood, MDF, plywood, and plastic sheet	Price follows cut length and sheet usage
Laser cutting	Detailed flat parts from thin sheet: acrylic, wood, leather	Fast; price follows cut length and number of shapes

Common patterns: prototype with 3D printing, then machine the final parts once the design settles. Or laser cut a flat pattern to check fit before routing it from thicker stock. If you're unsure, choose "Not sure" on our instant quote and we'll recommend a process.

3. Choose a material

Plastics

• PLA (3D printing): stiff and inexpensive; softens with heat, so keep it indoors.
• ABS (3D printing): tougher and more heat tolerant than PLA.
• Nylon (3D printing or machining): tough and wear resistant; good for gears, clips, and hinges.
• TPU (3D printing): flexible, for gaskets, bumpers, and grips.
• Delrin (acetal) (machining): slippery, stable, and precise; good for bushings and wear parts.
• HDPE (machining or routing): tough, chemical resistant, and inexpensive.
• Acrylic and polycarbonate (laser, machining, routing): clear parts. Acrylic laser cuts with polished edges; polycarbonate is far more impact resistant.

Metals

• Aluminum 6061: the default for machined metal parts; light, strong, and quick to machine.
• Aluminum 7075: stronger, for highly loaded parts.
• Steel 1018 and stainless 304: for strength, wear, welding, or corrosion resistance.
• Brass: for fittings, low-friction parts, and decorative work.

If the part touches food or skin

Say so in your notes. Whether a material can contact food depends on the specific material and how it's used; in the US, the FDA regulates food contact substances. We'll suggest materials and processes that suit the use.

4. Prepare your files

STEP (.step, .stp)	The best 3D format for machining: exact geometry that any CAD program can open.
STL, 3MF, OBJ	Standard for 3D printing. Our instant quote measures volume and surface area exactly from these. 3MF also stores units (see 3mf.io).
DXF, SVG	The best formats for laser cutting and routing: 2D outlines at full size.
PDF drawing	Add one when tolerances, threads, or finishes need to be called out.
Photo or sketch	Fine for simple parts or replacements. Include a ruler or key dimensions.

Three things cause most quoting delays: files in the wrong units (an inch file read as millimeters is 25 times too small), missing information about which dimensions matter, and 2D drawings with duplicate overlapping lines that would be cut twice.

5. Design for the process

3D printing

• Walls of at least about 0.05 in. for FDM and 0.04 in. for resin.
• Overhangs past about 45° need supports. Chamfers instead of flat ceilings often avoid them.
• FDM parts are weakest between layers; tell us the load direction.

CNC machining

• Inside corners are rounded by the cutter. Allow a radius (1/8 in. is a good default).
• Keep pockets less than about four times as deep as they are wide.
• Use standard drill and thread sizes.
• Avoid very thin walls; they flex and chatter while cutting.

Laser cutting and routing

• Every closed shape is a separate cut with its own pierce; fewer, simpler shapes cost less.
• The laser removes a thin kerf. For press fits, tell us and we'll compensate.
• Routed inside corners are rounded by the bit, just like milled ones.

6. Specify tolerances where they matter

A tolerance is how far a dimension may vary. Tight tolerances take more time and inspection, so they cost more. The usual approach is a general tolerance for the whole drawing, plus tighter callouts only on the features that fit with something else.

A common general tolerance is ISO 2768-1, class "m" (medium), which allows about ±0.008 in. on dimensions from about 1/4 in. to 1.2 in., and ±0.012 in. from 1.2 to 4.7 in. (the standard itself is written in millimeters). US drawings often use ASME Y14.5 for dimensioning and tolerancing. If your drawing has no tolerance block, tell us which dimensions matter and we'll ask about anything unclear.

7. What drives cost, and how to lower it

1. Setup. Programming, fixturing, and first-part checks are a fixed cost per job. Ordering a few parts at once spreads it out.
2. Machine time. More material removed, finer finishes, and more features take longer.
3. Material. Aluminum and common plastics cost less to buy and to cut than stainless steel or exotic plastics.
4. Tolerances and finishes. Only specify what the part needs.
5. Design details. Generous inside radii, standard holes, and fewer separate shapes all save time.

Our instant quote shows machine time, material, setup, and quantity discounts for your exact part, so you can see what changes the price.

8. Plan the lead time

3D printing and laser cutting are usually the quickest; machined parts take longer because of programming and setup. Your instant quote shows a lead time for your job. If you have a deadline, put it in your notes.

9. Get quotes and compare them fairly

When you compare quotes, check that they're for the same thing:

• Same material and grade (6061 aluminum is not 7075).
• Same quantity, finish, and tolerances.
• Same lead time, and whether shipping is included.
• Whether design or modelling work is included if you sent a sketch.

10. Ordering, pickup, and shipping

Once you approve a quote, we schedule the job and keep you posted. Parts can be picked up at our shop in Spanish Fork by appointment, or shipped anywhere in the US. See our service areas.

Checklist before you request a quote

3D file (STEP) or 2D file (DXF/SVG)	Gives an exact, instant price instead of an estimate.
Units	Inches read as millimeters makes the part 25 times too small.
Material, or what the part does	Lets us price the right stock or recommend one.
Quantity, now and later	Changes which process is cheapest.
Critical dimensions and fits	We hold those tight and keep the rest economical.
Finish and color	Affects time and sometimes the process.
Deadline	So we can plan, or tell you up front if it's tight.
Any competing quote	So we can beat it.

Questions people ask