Prototyping
Source custom auto parts to accelerate innovation
-
Tight tolerances & complex geometries
-
Huge selection of durable & resistant materials
-
Get full IP protection and quality documentation
Join thousands of companies using Protolabs Network
Automotive part manufacturing is faster with Protolabs Network
Protolabs Network helps you get on the road faster without compromising on design or quality. With our instant quoting platform and specialized supplier network, you can bolster your supply chains and get custom parts for every prototyping, R&D, validation and full-scale production need. Hit your targets faster and never miss innovation deadlines with Protolabs Network's cutting-edge capabilities and near-limitless capacity.
Certified for automotive manufacturing
Protolabs Network is ISO 9001 certified and our suppliers have industrial certifications.
-
ISO 9001
-
IATF16949
-
ISO 13458
-
ISO 14001
-
ISO TS16949
Comprehensive quality documentation
Get validation reports to ensure the highest quality and compliance.
-
CMM Inspection Report
-
Full Dimensional Inspections
-
Material Test Reports
-
Material Certificates
-
Certificates of Conformance
-
First Article Inspections
Highest quality standards
We use a rigorous set of protocols and procedures to maintain quality.
-
Special tooling
-
Dimensional checks with calibrated equipment
-
Review of all quality documentation and industry certifications
-
Full IP protections on the platform and within the network
Parts in 1 day with Protolabs
Protolabs and its network work together to bring you the world's most comprehensive manufacturing solution. While the network can provide a large breadth of capabilities, Protolabs’ factories offer expedited manufacturing with automated in-house machines for the industry's fastest lead times.
Get quick-turn parts with Protolabs
Rapid manufacturing for automotive prototypes
Prototyping is a crucial step in developing automotive technology, and definitely not when you want to be waiting around for parts. Whether you need a few complex parts or several thousand, our platform and project teams can quote rapidly and deliver components in days. We can also scale from prototyping to small batch production quickly and deliver parts to stand in for First Off Tools (FOTs) while you’re still looking for a serial supplier.
How automotive companies use Protolabs Network
Intermediary & replacement parts
Autonomous driving systems
Electrical vehicles and charging parts
Manufacturing line jigs & fixtures
E-bikes and scooters
Commercial & utility vehicle parts
Jigs & fixtures
EV battery testing components
Parts for resurrecting older technologies
Automotive manufacturing capabilities
CNC machining
CNC machining
Milling, turning and post-processing
-
Tolerances down to ±.0008 in (0.020 mm)
-
Lead times from 5 business days
3D printing
3D printing
FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF
-
± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012 in)
-
Lead times from 1 business day
Sheet metal fabrication
Sheet metal fabrication
Laser cutting, bending, post-processing
-
Tolerances down to ±.004 in (0.1 mm)
-
Lead times from 5 business days
Injection molding
Injection molding
Prototypes and production tooling
-
Wide range of part complexities and sizes
-
1 to 1M parts
Why the automotive industry chooses Protolabs Network
Materials & surface finishes for automotive parts
We give you access to a huge range of materials and surface finishes for every application through our global network of specialized manufacturing partners.
Automotive materials
Select from a broad range of industrial-grade materials
Steel, mild steel & stainless steel:
304/304L,
316/316L,
430,
301,
4140,
4340,
Tool Steels
Titanium:
1,
2,
5
Aluminum:
6061-T6,
6063,
5052,
5083-H111,
2017,
7075-T651
Thermoplastics:
Polyethylene (PE),
Polypropylene(PP),
Polycarbonate (PC),
ABS
Commodity polymers:
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Automotive surface finishes
Select from these finishes to protect your parts
Anodizing
Powder coating
Electroless nickel plating
Polishing
Insert installation
Heat treatment
Passivization
Gallery of automotive parts
How Protolabs Network helps automotive companies innovate
Achieve complex geometries with state-of-the-art processes
Our manufacturing partners can achieve incredible geometric complexity. No matter how complex your design is, we have the capabilities to produce whatever you throw at us with exceptional mechanical and cosmetic properties. Our network is equipped with the latest 3D printing and CNC technologies, including 5-axis machines and industrial SLS and MJF printers, to produce rapid prototypes and small batches of production parts with ease.
Save countless hours with instant quoting and design support
Time is almost never on your side when you need to innovate quickly and get your projects off the factory floor and onto the road. Instead of waiting weeks for quotes, use our platform for instant pricing and advanced DFM analysis. Compare quotes easily and get your parts into production faster so you’re never late for the automotive revolution. Whether you need to make tooling equipment for testing, need a single part to release a fleet of vehicles, or update your technologies to meet the electrification age of automotive, Protolabs Network is your comprehensive solution.
Work with world-class Protolabs Network mechanics
Our automotive engineers and seasoned mechanics are ready to help you create innovative products and keep you on track. Project teams at Protolabs Network work alongside our instant quoting and DFM tools to build plans customized to your production needs. We know how to save your shop time and effort, and how parts are used across every facet of the automotive industry. We’ve been in the shop ourselves, and understand that even the smallest thing can cause big delays. At Protolabs Network, our mission is to get you from prototyping to your customer’s driveway as seamlessly as possible.
FAQ's
How do we ensure our manufacturing partners are ISO certified?
We do thorough checks of every manufacturing partner (MP) during the initial onboarding process and perform audits on processes and certifications every two years. To source parts from certified MPs, you can indicate these requirements on the platform or contact networksales@protolabs.com. We’ll match your designs with the right supplier.
How does Protolabs Network protect data and intellectual property?
Our platform is secure and encrypted to ensure that customer data and interactions with suppliers are all protected. All digital models and drawings are safely stored on AWS servers, located in Europe. MPs must sign our Manufacturing Partner Agreement as part of their onboarding, which contractually obligates them to keep customer data confidential. Our General Terms of Sale prohibit orders that misappropriate or infringe on copyrights, patents, design rights, trademarks, trade secrets and other IP rights.
What happens if a part doesn’t meet your specifications?
One of the reasons engineers use Protolabs Network is that we take on all the risks for you. If your parts aren’t up to spec, you can file a dispute claim and we’ll remake your components or refund your order. For more detail on how we handle disputes, you can contact our Customer Success Team. At the same time, we complete non-conformity reports for parts that don’t meet all requirements, with follow-up with manufacturers including root cause analysis and rapid corrective actions.
How do I request materials not listed on the site or platform?
If you want to get parts in specialized materials that aren’t listed on our site or platform, you can send a request to your account manager or contact networksales@protolabs.com. Our supplier network has access to a huge range of materials, so most of the time we are able to find a manufacturing partner to fulfill your request.
Put your automotive parts into production today.
Get instant quote