Prototype CNC Machining
2025 Matsuura MX-520 simultaneous 5-axis centre and Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL 3-axis mill. Climate-controlled facility at 20°C ±1°. Both machines palletized. 2–3 day ship on critical parts where scheduling allows. GD&T is read and quoted directly.
What we mean by prototype
Prototype work at VisionForge covers:
- One-off functional prototypes from a single STEP file
- 2–50 piece verification runs for design-of-experiments or first-customer evaluation
- Bridge parts between a finished prototype and a qualified production tool
- Fixtures, tooling bodies, and gauges to support a customer's own prototype program
What we don't do at prototype stage: reduce your drawing to something cheaper to make. If a critical-to-function tolerance is tight, we hold it and quote accordingly. If a feature is over-specified for the application, we'll say so in DFM feedback, but the call stays with you.
Turnaround: 2–3 day ship on critical parts
2–3 day ship is possible on prototypes where our schedule allows and material is on hand. That isn't a universal promise — it's a real number for one-off aluminum and stainless prototypes pulled from stock, quoted and approved in the same business day.
What drives lead time on a prototype:
- Material availability. 6061-T6, 7075-T6, and 304/316 stainless are typically on the shelf. Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 625/718, 17-4 PH, Invar 36, and PEEK are ordered per job and quoted with lead time.
- Setup complexity. A 3-axis prismatic part can run same-day after programming. A simultaneous 5-axis contoured part needs CAM development and first-article verification.
- Inspection requirements. An FAI report or ±0.0002" partner CMM verification adds a day.
Quote turnaround on a prototype RFQ is typically same-day or next-day.
Which machine runs your prototype
We route the job to whichever machine gives you the lowest total cost, and that call is made at quote — not after you've paid for the wrong one.
- Fanuc Robodrill α-T14iAL (3-axis): work envelope 700 × 380 × 330 mm. Best for prismatic, plate, and 2.5D prototypes where features are accessible from one or two setups. Fast cycle times on aluminum. Palletized for multi-part prototype runs.
- 2025 Matsuura MX-520 (simultaneous 5-axis): 20k RPM spindle, 1 micron repeatable accuracy. Needed when the part has contoured surfaces, undercuts, compound-angle features, or would otherwise take three or four setups on a 3-axis mill. Also our platform for Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel, and Invar prototypes where work-holding complexity matters.
Send the drawing and STEP. We'll tell you which machine it runs on and why, before you see a price.
DFM feedback in the quote, not after
If a feature will fight the fixture, a tolerance will drive cost without adding function, or a material callout doesn't suit the application, we flag it in the quote. Not after the first article. Not in an email asking you to revise the drawing mid-run. In the quote.
DFM feedback we routinely include:
- Tolerance bands that cost real money vs. bands that are free
- Radius callouts that force a smaller tool than needed (and a slower cycle)
- Thin-wall sections that will chatter without a stiffer fixture
- Heat-treat sequence and its impact on final tolerance
You don't have to take our input. The drawing is yours. But you'll see it before you approve the price.
Materials and tolerances on prototypes
- Aluminum: 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 2024, MIC-6 plate
- Stainless: 17-4 PH (H900, H1025, H1150), 304, 316, 416
- Titanium: Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5), Grade 2 CP
- Superalloys: Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Invar 36
- Tool steel: A2, D2, O1 (pre-hardened stock)
- Engineered plastics: PEEK, G10, Acetal, Delrin, UHMW
- Copper / brass: C110, C360
In-house tolerance: ±0.0001". Partner CMM verification to ±0.0002" when a certified report is required. Our facility is climate-controlled at 20°C ±1° — the morning first-off and the afternoon second-off measure the same.
Material certifications are available on request, traceable to mill. In-house vibratory finishing is available on prototype parts for deburring and edge break before inspection or shipment.
From prototype to bridge production
A prototype that ran clean is a head start, not a separate job. When you move to bridge production we carry forward:
- Program and toolpaths. No re-programming from scratch.
- Fixture. The prototype fixture becomes the production fixture, or it tells us exactly what a production fixture needs to correct.
- Inspection plan. Critical-to-function features identified at prototype stage become the core of the production inspection routine.
- Lessons from the first-off. Every surprise from the prototype is documented and closed out before the production PO.
How to send a prototype RFQ
- PDF drawing with GD&T called out.
- 3D model (STEP preferred, X_T or Parasolid fine).
- Critical-to-function list. Which three features matter most. We build the inspection plan around those.
- Quantity and target ship date. "ASAP" tells us less than "3 pieces, any of the 20th through the 24th."
- Material preference and any heat-treat / coating callouts. If the drawing already has them, great. If you're open to suggestions, say so.
Send us a drawing.
Response within 24 hours on most RFQs. Get a Quote
FAQ
How fast can you turn a prototype?
2–3 day ship is possible on critical prototypes where our schedule allows and material is in stock. Standard prototype turnaround on non-critical jobs is typically 5–10 business days, quoted per job. RFQ response within 24 hours.
Do you need a finished drawing, or can you quote from a STEP file?
STEP plus a PDF drawing with GD&T is ideal. We can quote from STEP alone for a ballpark number, but tolerances drive cost — the number tightens when the drawing arrives. For one-off functional prototypes where tolerances are "standard," STEP-only is often enough.
What materials do you run on prototypes?
6061-T6 and 7075-T6 aluminum, MIC-6 plate, 17-4 PH stainless, 304/316/416 stainless, Ti-6Al-4V, Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Invar 36, A2/D2/O1 tool steel, PEEK, G10, Acetal, Delrin, UHMW, C110 copper, and C360 brass. Aluminum and common stainless are typically on the shelf; exotic alloys are ordered per job.
Can you machine prototypes in titanium and Inconel?
Yes. Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 625/718 both run on the Matsuura MX-520. Simultaneous 5-axis motion, 1 micron repeatable accuracy, and a climate-controlled facility at 20°C ±1° are what those materials need. Small prototype batches in Ti-6Al-4V can also run on the Robodrill with adjusted feeds.
What tolerances do you hold on prototype work?
±0.0001" in-house. Partner CMM verification to ±0.0002" is available when a certified CMM report is required. We don't quote tolerances we can't hold — if a feature is tighter than either machine can deliver, we say so in the quote.
Do you offer DFM feedback on prototype RFQs?
Yes. DFM feedback is included in the quote, not added after the first article.
What happens after the prototype is approved — can you scale to production?
Yes. Programs, fixtures, and inspection plans developed at prototype stage carry forward to bridge production and full low-volume runs on the same machines, in the same shop, with the same accountable contact.
Are you AS9100D certified?
AS9100D is in process. CGP (Controlled Goods Program) registration is under Government of Canada review — Designated Official exam passed. ISO 9001 partner operations handle live-tool turning, precision grinding, and CMM inspection.
Where are you located?
1578 Finfar Ct, Unit #2, Mississauga, Ontario. GTA pickup is welcome. We ship across Canada and into the US routinely.