FirstCut  CNC MACHINING - REALLY FAST!

CNC machined parts in 1 BUSINESS DAY
At First Cut, our mission is to provide real CNC machined parts — FAST. Our subtractive rapid prototyping process combines traditional rapid prototyping with CNC machining to deliver the following advantages:

  • Speed — Get CNC machined parts at least as fast as you can get additive rapid prototypes.
  • Convenience — First Cut brings the online quoting and ordering you expect from rapid prototyping to the CNC machining world.
  • Real material properties — Your parts are machined from real blocks of plastic and aluminum — not the "material like" materials used in additive rapid prototyping processes. Click here to see how CNC machined parts compare to FDM parts.
  • Improved surface finishes — CNC machining eliminates the stair stepping inherent in the additive processes.

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Typical Applications
  • Functional prototyping before committing to injection molding tooling or high volume machining.
  • Custom "one off" projects like jigs and fixtures where only one or maybe a few parts are required.

Get a running start on the fastest prototype machined parts around by submitting your 3D CAD model to our FirstQuote automated quoting system. You'll get pricing, options, and, if appropriate, suggested changes for improved machinability.

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Rapid Injection Molding

Need more than 10 parts? Protomold ships injection molded plastic parts in as little as one business day after receipt of your 3D CAD model.

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Learn more about Proto Labs
Customer Portal
Manage your quotes and order history using the new Customer Portal.


Customer Testimonials
July 1, 2009
"We are very impressed by the first aluminum parts you sent us."
—Stanley Stephenson, CVI Melles-Griot

Case Studies
Healthsense Slashes Time-to-Market with Protomold and First Cut
March 6, 2008
Read
News Releases
Order Prototype Parts With Ease via Design World Online Network
June 5, 2009
Read
Journal Magazine
2009 Issue 1 — Weathering the storm
April 20, 2009
Read
Press Coverage
Proto Labs turns 10
July 1, 2009
Read
Upcoming Tradeshows
NPE 2009: The International Plastics Showcase
Booth #W128047
McCormick Place
Chicago, IL
June 22-26, 2009