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FOR INVENTORS · R&D · SOLO BUILDERS

From sketch
to production.

No CAD? No problem. Bring a sketch, a photo, a broken part, or a 3D-printed mockup. We'll talk DFM, recommend materials, build the prototype, and — when you're ready — run production. Same shop, same operator, all the way.

Bring Us Your Sketch →
01 / The path

Sketch → sample → production.

01

Bring whatever you have

Sketch on a napkin. Photo of the broken part. STEP file. 3D-printed mockup. The conversation starts wherever you are.

02

We talk DFM

Material recommendations, tolerance reality-check, manufacturability flags. We tell you what we'd change before we cut anything.

03

First sample

Cut in real production material at real production tolerance. The sample is the part — not a print-farm approximation.

04

Iterate

Rev 2, rev 3, rev 4. Same operator, faster every revision. The program gets smarter; you get the part dialed in.

05

First-article run

When the prototype gets approved, the next 50 are cut on the same lathe with the program already locked.

06

Production

Cobot-loaded for lights-out runs. Setups saved. Drawings on file. You're a recognized customer with recognized parts.

02 / What we say yes to

Inventors we work well with.

Hardware founders
Pre-seed to Series A — going from 3DP mockup to first 50 units of real product.
Independent product designers
Tooling, jigs, custom hardware for clients who can't tolerate platform margins.
Solo R&D engineers
Side-project parts, motorsports, garage-built equipment, restoration one-offs.
03 / FAQ

Common questions from inventors.

I'm an inventor without a CAD model. Can The Shop still help? +
Yes. Bring a sketch, a photo, a broken part, or a 3D-printed mockup. We'll talk through what you're trying to do and either work from your reference directly or build a STEP model with you.
How much does it cost to prototype with The Shop? +
Depends entirely on the part — material, complexity, finish. Send a sketch and we'll give you a real number, typically within 72 hours. There's no minimum-order surcharge for one-off prototypes.
Can I move from prototype to production with you? +
Yes — that's the explicit advantage. The same lathe that cuts the prototype cuts the production batch, with the same operator, at the same tolerance. The program gets saved; re-orders quote faster.
What materials are best for prototyping? +
For functional prototypes: aluminum 6061 (cheap, fast), Delrin (cheap, easy on tools), 303 stainless (when corrosion matters). For form-only checks: 3D-printed PLA or PETG. We'll recommend based on what you're testing.

Got an idea? Bring us a sketch.

Or a STEP file. Or a broken part. Whatever you have.

Request a Quote → Or call 845.545.1811
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