- Quantities: 1 to 19 pieces per part number, as the first step toward a batch of 20 pieces or more.
- Same process as production: same machines, material grade, and inspection; programs and fixtures kept for the batch.
- Lead time: Typical prototype lead time: 7–20 days, depending on part complexity. Simple aluminum parts in 2 days through rush machining.
- Shipping: Ship EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP; transit time depends on the method and destination (about 3–40 days).
- Quote: within 24 hours, at your prototype quantity and at your batch size.
What our prototype machining covers
We make prototypes for parts that are going into production: a few pieces to check fit and function in your machine before you order the batch. Most of our customers build automation cells, assembly systems, and packaging machines, and many send a whole part list for one station.
| Quantity per part number | What it usually is | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| 1–19 pcs | Prototypes before a batch | This page |
| 20–500 pcs | Small production batches, machine builds | small batch CNC machining |
| 500–10,000 pcs | Production batches, yearly volumes | Production batches |
A good fit
- Milled and turned prototypes for a part you plan to order in batches
- Several part numbers for one machine or station
- Aluminum, steels, stainless steels, brass, copper, titanium, engineering plastics including PEEK; see the materials we machine
- Critical features to ±0.01 mm milled and ±0.005 mm on turned diameters, confirmed at drawing review
Not a fit
- Tolerances tighter than 0.005 mm
- Special materials we cannot buy in China
- Special industries with requirements beyond our scope
Prototypes made the way the batch will be made
A prototype from a different shop, or from a different process, proves the design but not the supply. We machine prototypes on the same machines and from the material grade on your drawing, and inspect them the same way as production parts. The programs and fixtures are kept for at least 3 years, and a batch of 20 pieces or more reuses them, so the batch behaves like the samples you approved.
One example: TC4 titanium research prototypes, 30 pieces turned and milled to ±0.05 mm on diameters and hole positions, with Ra 1.6, M2 threads, and Ø1.6 mm holes.
What a prototype costs compared with a batch
Prototypes cost more per piece than a batch. Drawing review, programming, fixturing, and the first-article check are one-time work; on 1 or 2 pieces, those pieces carry all of it. From 20 pieces it is shared, and the unit price drops sharply.
On a TC4 titanium part with 3 to 4 hours of machining per piece, the unit price at 20 pieces was half the unit price of the 2-piece sample. On short-cycle aluminum parts the drop is usually larger. Ask for prices at your prototype quantity and at your expected batch size; we quote both. How a CNC quote is built explains the numbers.
Lead times, rush prototypes, and shipping
Typical prototype lead time: 7–20 days, depending on part complexity. We confirm the ship date before you order.
| Part | Typical lead time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prototypes | 7–20 days | Depending on part complexity |
| Simple aluminum parts, a few pieces | 2 days | rush machining, from aluminum in stock |
| Shipping | About 3–40 days | EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP; depends on the method and destination |
Ship EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP; transit time depends on the method and destination (about 3–40 days). Import duties and taxes are paid by the buyer, except under DDP.
How prototypes are inspected
- Machinist self-check. The machinist who ran the part measures the first piece before anything else.
- Formal QA inspection. Our quality team then inspects it against your drawing. The first-article report is free on your first order.
- The right instrument for each size. General sizes under ISO 2768-m are measured with calipers; precision features are verified on our CMM. Our page on tolerances and inspection lists what we hold and how we measure it.
If a prototype arrives off-drawing, we remake it free and pay the freight, or rework it, whichever fits the problem. Report it within 30 days of delivery.
From prototype to batch
- Send the drawings. STEP plus PDF is ideal; several part numbers can go in one .zip file. Tell us the prototype quantity and the batch size that will follow.
- Quote within 24 hours. Prices at both quantities, lead time, and manufacturability notes where a feature adds cost or risk.
- Prototypes machined and inspected. Same machines, material grade, and inspection as production.
- You test, we keep the setup. Programs and fixtures are kept, so design changes start from the proven setup.
- The batch reuses it. Your order of 20 pieces or more runs from the same program and fixture. See low volume CNC machining for how batches are made and inspected.
FAQ
Do you machine single prototypes?
Yes, from 1 piece. Our prototype machining is mainly the first step toward a batch: a few pieces to prove a design before you order 20 pieces or more of the same part number.
Will the production batch match my prototypes?
That is the point of prototyping with us. Prototypes are milled and turned on the same machines, from the material grade on your drawing, and inspected the same way as production parts. The programs and fixtures are kept, and the batch that follows reuses them.
Why does a prototype cost more per piece than a batch?
Drawing review, programming, fixturing, and the first-article check are one-time work. On 1 or 2 pieces, those pieces carry all of it; on 20 pieces it is shared. On a TC4 titanium part with 3 to 4 hours of machining per piece, the unit price at 20 pieces was half that of the 2-piece sample. Ask for both prices and we quote both.
How fast can you machine a prototype?
Typical prototype lead time: 7–20 days, depending on part complexity. For simple aluminum parts in a few pieces, rush machining takes 2 days. Shipping time depends on the method and destination.
How are prototypes shipped?
Ship EXW, FOB, DAP or DDP; transit time depends on the method and destination (about 3–40 days). Import duties and taxes are paid by the buyer, except under DDP.
What files do you need for a prototype quote?
STEP plus a PDF drawing is ideal. Put several part numbers in one .zip file. Tell us the prototype quantity and, if you know it, the batch size that will follow. We reply within 24 hours.
Raymond Liang
Co-founder and Technical Sales Manager at Meili Machining. Raymond spent ten years on CNC turning and milling before co-founding Meili in 2017, and he still reviews drawings and plans setups for difficult parts himself.
Prototype lead time and shipping terms from Meili, November 2026. Inspection practice and other terms are the same as on our low-volume page, from Raymond Liang and our shop records, October 2026. Published November 12, 2026.