Chinese
DMG 5-axis and rows of 3-axis CNC in a 5,000 m² Chang'an base
Dongguan · Chang'anIn-house + partnersPrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningUrethane / vacuum castingSheet metal fabrication3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
PR-05 · Process hubs
Rapid prototyping (multi-process) 手板模型
Shops that make early physical versions of your product in days, so you can check fit, looks and function before paying for tooling.
- Typical lead time (how long it takes)
- 3–10 days
- Typical cost
- From tens to a few hundred US dollars per part, depending on size and finish
- Minimum order (MOQ: the smallest order a shop will accept)
- 1 piece
- Best for
- 1–50 parts to test fit, looks and function before tooling
What is it?
A prototype is an early physical version of your product, made before you pay for expensive production tooling. Prototype shops (called 手板厂, shǒu bǎn chǎng, in Chinese) use several fast methods, like carving parts from solid blocks, 3D printing and casting in soft molds, then paint and finish them so they look like the real thing. You use prototypes to check that parts fit, look right and work, while changes are still cheap.
Design tips (DFM: designing so it's easy to make)
- 01Send STEP files plus notes on which surfaces are cosmetic
- 02Say whether the prototype must match production material or just look right
- 03Ask for the finish (paint colour, texture, silk-screen) up front
- 04Group all parts of an assembly into one order so they're checked together
Shops for this process
Sino-British founders (CEO Vader Yu and James Murphy) and English-speaking project managers
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machining3D printingUrethane / vacuum castingSheet metal fabrication
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Foreign-managed
German-founded (2012) design-to-production firm with Berlin and Shenzhen offices
Shenzhen · Bao'anPrototypesLow volumeMass production
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)PCB assembly (SMT/PCBA)Contract manufacturing / box buildProduct design & engineering
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Instant online quotes with automated DFM feedback for mechanical parts
Shenzhen · Bao'anIn-house + partnersPrototypesLow volumeMass production
CNC machiningInjection moldingSheet metal fabrication3D printing
English online orderingSource ↗
Tuowei Precision
拓维模型130+ CNC centres, SLA printers, vacuum casting and molding on a 10,000 m² site
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volume
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningUrethane / vacuum casting3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Kaierwo
凯尔沃New-energy prototypes: battery packs, charger housings, inverters, cooling modules
Shenzhen · GuangmingMakes in-housePrototypesLow volumeMass production
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningUrethane / vacuum casting3D printing
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Chinese
Automotive white-body stamping prototypes and full-size show-car models
Shenzhen · Bao'anMakes in-housePrototypesLow volume
Rapid prototyping (multi-process)CNC machiningSheet metal fabricationMetal stamping
English-speaking salesSource ↗
Get 3 quotes
Get 3 quotes: Rapid prototyping (multi-process)
Describe the part once. We send it to up to 3 shops that fit, and they quote you directly.
12 guides
Guides & articles
Everything we've written about Rapid prototyping (multi-process), starting with the basics.
Start here10 min
What is rapid prototyping? A plain-English guide
What rapid prototyping means, the main methods (3D printing, CNC machining, urethane casting), how many rounds to expect, and how Shenzhen's prototype shops work.
→
01Choosing · 7 minChoosing a prototyping method: 3D printing vs CNC vs urethane casting
A simple comparison of the three main prototyping methods by speed, cost, strength, look and quantity, plus a quick way to pick the right one for each part.
02Basics · 6 minLooks-like vs works-like prototypes
Why most hardware teams build two different kinds of prototype, what each one is for, and when to combine them into a single "looks-like, works-like" build.
03Choosing · 10 minWhich 3D printing process? SLA vs SLS vs MJF
The three 3D printing processes most used for professional prototypes and small batches, explained in plain words. How each works, how the parts look and behave, and which one to choose.
04Basics · 11 minWhat is CNC machining? A plain-English guide
How CNC machining works, what it's good (and not good) for, what it costs, and how to get CNC parts made in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
05Basics · 10 minWhat is injection molding? A plain-English guide
How injection molding works, why it makes plastic parts so cheap at volume, what the catch is, and when your product is ready for it.
06Basics · 9 minWhat is vacuum casting? A plain-English guide
How vacuum casting (urethane casting) works, why it's used for 10 to 50 molded-looking parts, what materials and finishes it offers, and how to order it in Shenzhen. Written for first-timers.
07Choosing · 7 min3D printing vs CNC for prototypes
Should your prototype be 3D printed or CNC machined? A plain-English comparison of cost, speed, strength, materials, looks and design freedom, with a simple decision guide.
08Cost · 10 minHow much does it cost to develop a hardware product?
The cost buckets of developing and manufacturing a hardware product, explained for first-timers. Design, prototypes, tooling, certification and the first production order, with typical ranges where they're widely published, plus the costs people forget.
09Basics · 9 minHow long does it take to develop a hardware product?
A realistic timeline for bringing a hardware product to market, stage by stage, for first-time founders. Where the time actually goes, what slows projects down in Shenzhen, and how to save weeks.
10Working in China · 18 minHow to get an injection mold made in China
A plain-English walkthrough for first-timers. What an injection mold is, when you need one, what it costs, how long it takes, and how to make sure the mold belongs to you.
11Basics · 11 minProduct development stages: how to make a physical product from idea to finished product
The stages of making a physical product, from first sketch to boxes on a ship, explained for first-timers. What happens at each stage, why it matters, what you get out of it, and who in Shenzhen helps.
Common questions
What's the difference between a 手板 and a production part?
A 手板 is made with prototype processes (CNC, printing, casting), so materials and tolerances can differ from molded parts. Use it to validate design, not production quality.
Can one shop do everything?
Most 手板厂 offer CNC, SLA and vacuum casting in-house, and outsource painting or plating locally.