Metal Prototyping in Binh Duong — From 1 Piece, 24-Hour Turnaround

Why Prototype in Sheet Metal?

When developing a new product, many engineers default to 3D printing or CNC machining. But if your part is a flat profile, with bends, with welds — meaning the final product will be manufactured using laser cutting and CNC bending — then prototyping with the exact production process is the smartest choice.

Compared to CNC machining:

• Laser cutting is orders of magnitude faster for flat-profile parts — a bracket that takes 30–60 minutes to mill can be laser-cut in 15–30 seconds
• No fixturing, no complex CAM programming required
• 50–80% lower cost for sheet-form parts

Compared to metal 3D printing (SLM/DMLS):

• 10–50x cheaper. Metal 3D printing starts at 500,000–2,000,000 VND per part minimum; sheet metal fabrication starts at 35,000 VND
• 100% real material — stainless 304 is stainless 304, not sintered metal powder
• No size limitations from a print chamber (sheets up to 1500 x 3000mm)

Compared to plastic 3D printing (FDM/SLA):

• Metal prototypes enable real functional testing: load-bearing, heat resistance, chemical resistance, actual assembly fit
• No need to remake the prototype in metal after testing in plastic — you skip an entire iteration cycle

Bottom line: If the final product is sheet metal, prototype in sheet metal. You get a part identical to mass production — same material, same tolerances, same feel in hand — at the lowest possible cost and lead time.

Who Needs Metal Prototypes?

R&D Engineers and Product Developers

You are designing a new product and need to verify fitment, assembly, and function before committing to production. Metal prototypes let you assemble with mating components, check clearances, confirm hole positions, and send physical samples to customers for approval — all with real parts, not 3D renders on a screen.

Startups and New Businesses

You have a product idea and need physical samples for fundraising, trade shows, or pilot sales. Order 1–5 pieces at a cost of a few hundred thousand to a few million VND, delivered in 1–3 days. Far better than investing tens of millions in tooling before you know the market will buy.

Factory Maintenance Teams

A part has failed and you need an urgent replacement, but there is no drawing and no original supplier. You measure the broken part (or send us photos with dimensions), we recreate the drawing and fabricate a replacement. Your machine is running again in 24–48 hours instead of waiting 2–4 weeks for imported spare parts.

Export Companies

Your overseas buyer requires samples before placing a bulk order. You need 3–5 high-quality samples, professionally packaged, shipped via DHL/FedEx. We guarantee prototypes are 100% identical to mass production quality — because they use the same process.

Product Designers

You design beautifully in CAD but need the physical experience — wall thickness, weight, the feel in your hand, surface finish. One real metal prototype communicates more than a thousand renders.

Students and Makers

Thesis projects, personal builds, engineering competitions. We accept orders from 1 piece, no minimum quantity, no business registration required.

Our Prototyping Workflow

We have designed our prototyping process to be as fast as possible, eliminating every unnecessary step:

Step 1: Send Your File — Any Format

Submit your file via email, Zalo, or upload directly on our portal:

• DXF/DWG — best format, quote ready in 30 minutes
• STEP/IGES — 3D files, we auto-unfold to flat pattern
• PDF technical drawing — with full dimensions, quote ready in 1–2 hours
• Hand sketch — pencil sketch with dimensions, photograph and send via Zalo. We recreate the technical drawing at no charge

No file at all? Mail us the broken or worn part — we measure it, create the drawing, and fabricate the replacement.

Step 2: Quotation — 30 Minutes to 2 Hours

Our system analyzes your file automatically: calculates cut perimeter, number of bends, and processing time. You receive a detailed quote including:

• Material cost (based on actual weight)
• Laser cutting cost (based on actual cut time)
• CNC bending cost (based on number of bends)
• Welding and surface finishing cost (if applicable)
• Delivery timeline

Step 3: Confirm and Produce

You confirm the quote and pay 100% upfront (for prototype orders). Production starts immediately:

Timelines start from quote confirmation. Rush delivery is negotiable — we have delivered laser-cut parts in 4 hours for emergency cases.

The Economics of 1-Piece Orders — Why Most Shops Say No

Most traditional metal shops refuse single-piece orders because:

1. High setup cost — adjusting machines, changing tooling, swapping bend dies takes 30–60 minutes, whether you produce 1 or 1,000 pieces
2. CNC programming time — manually writing a machining program takes 1–2 hours
3. No margin — the selling price for 1 piece does not cover fixed costs

We solve this with a fully digital workflow:

• Automatic programming from DXF files — our system generates laser cutting and CNC bending programs directly from design files, with no manual programming. Time: under 60 seconds instead of 1–2 hours
• No physical tooling — laser cutting requires no stamping dies, no custom cutting tools. Any shape can be cut with the same setup
• Intelligent nesting — your single part is nested on the same material sheet with other orders, sharing the waste material cost

The result: we fabricate 1 piece at only 10–20% more than the per-unit price of a 10-piece order, instead of the 5–10x markup you would see at a traditional shop.

Design Iteration Support — Version 1, 2, 3…

Prototypes rarely come out right on the first attempt. Our iteration process:

1. Version 1 — You send the file, we produce it. You receive the part, test it, and note issues
2. Feedback — You send back a list of changes: “move this hole up 2mm”, “add a stiffening rib at this corner”, “extend the assembly tab by 5mm”
3. Version 2 — We modify the file (or you revise and resend), and produce immediately. The cost is only the fabrication price — no additional design fees
4. Repeat until perfected

We keep all your files on our system. Each version is numbered, and you can revert to any previous version. When you move to mass production, the files are ready — no need to resubmit.

Free DFM Feedback (Design for Manufacturing)

With every prototype order, we review your drawing and provide free feedback on manufacturability issues:

• Bend radius too tight (material will crack)
• Holes too close to the bend line (will deform)
• Missing relief cuts at bend corners
• Tolerances not achievable with sheet metal processes
• Cost-reduction suggestions (for example, eliminating a bend operation through a design change)

You get a better product at no extra cost.

Materials Available for Prototyping

We keep common materials in stock at all times, ensuring no waiting for material procurement:

Stainless Steel

Aluminum

Copper and Brass

Steel

Specialty materials (Hardox, Invar, titanium, phosphor bronze) are available on special order, adding 2–5 days for material procurement.

Prototype Pricing — Transparent and Fair

Prototype pricing is higher per piece than mass production — this is normal because there are no volume discounts. However, thanks to our digital workflow, prototype pricing at Tuan Thinh remains highly competitive.

Reference Price Table (price includes material + fabrication)

Actual pricing depends on material, dimensions, thickness, and complexity. Reference prices above are based on 1.5mm stainless 304, under 300 x 300mm.

Price Structure Breakdown

Prototype price = Material + Laser cutting + Bending + Welding + Surface finishing

• Material cost: Based on actual part weight (not full sheet)
• Laser cutting cost: Based on actual cut time (seconds)
• CNC bending cost: Based on number of bends (each bend = one fold operation)
• Welding cost: Based on weld seam length (cm)

No hidden fees. No setup charges (already factored into processing cost). No MOQ (minimum order quantity).

From Prototype to Production — Seamless Transition

This is the biggest advantage of prototyping at a production shop (rather than a 3D print service or CNC jobshop):

Same Process, Same Result

• Prototypes and production parts use the same machines, same programs, same tolerances
• No surprises when transitioning from prototype to production — parts are identical
• Production files have been validated through the prototype cycle — reducing the risk of batch defects

Volume Pricing

Savings come primarily from: one-time setup amortized over many pieces, optimized nesting (less scrap), and bulk material purchasing.

Production Order Timeline

Once you have approved the prototype and are ready for production:

1. Submit quantity — via Zalo or our portal
2. Receive production quote — within 2 hours (files are already on hand)
3. Confirm + 50% deposit — production starts within 24 hours
4. Delivery — 5–10 days depending on quantity and complexity

Get Started — Send Your File for a Quote

Have a part that needs prototyping? Contact us now to receive a quote in 30 minutes to 2 hours:

• Portal: portal.tuanthinh.net — upload your file, receive an automated quote
• Zalo: 0xxx.xxx.xxx — send files or sketches, reply within 15 minutes (business hours)
• Email: info@tuanthinh.net — DXF/STEP/PDF files
• Pricing page: tuanthinh.net/pricing
• Contact: tuanthinh.net/contact

Laser Tuan Thinh — Sheet metal fabrication in Thu Dau Mot, Binh Duong, Vietnam. Laser cutting, CNC bending, welding, powder coating. From 1 piece, 24-hour delivery for simple parts. Metal prototyping in Binh Duong — fast, precise, production-grade quality.