Hubs is now Protolabs Network. Find out more

Get instant quote

Source custom robotics & automation parts

  • Custom parts with varying levels of complexity

  • Ideal for prototyping or full production runs 

  • Fast and reliable with local and global manufacturing options

Get instant robotics quote All uploads are secure and confidential
Join thousands of companies using Protolabs Network logo logo logo logo

Manufacture robotics with digital efficiency

With a huge variety of manufacturing capabilities available for low-volume prototyping through to full-scale production, Protolabs Network provides everything you need to build robotics. Whether you’re developing unique end effectors, customized fixtures or workholdings, or an entirely new robotic system with a large number of custom components, our network of trusted manufacturers provides limitless capacity for making highly customized parts.

ISO certified illustration
Certified for every application

Protolabs Network is ISO 9001 certified and our suppliers have industrial certifications.

  •  ISO 9001

  • ISO 14001

  • ISO 13458

  •  ISO TS16949

  • AS 9100

Protolabs network certificates preview
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

Quality inspection illustration
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

How robotics & automation engineers use Protolabs Network

check icon
Clamps
check icon
End effectors
check icon
Casings
check icon
Sensors
check icon
Motors
check icon
Tubing
check icon
Housing & containers
check icon
Automation parts
check icon
Replacement parts
check icon
Assemblies

Robotics & automation manufacturing capabilities

CNC milling
CNC milling

For cost-efficient prototypes and production

  • 3-, 4- & 5-axis milling 

  • Lead times from 5 business days

See our CNC milling services
CNC turning CNC machined part, CNC turning, smooth surface finish
CNC turning

Lathes and live tooling ideal for cylindrical parts

  • 60+ metals & plastics, including 10+ aluminum & 20+ steel 

  • Lead times from 5 business days

See our CNC turning services
3D printing Other manufacturing capabilities
3D printing

FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF

  • 25+ plastics & 35+ colors

  • ±0.5% dimensional accuracy with a lower limit down to ±0.0059 in (0.15 mm)

  • Lead times from 1 business day

See our 3D printing services
Sheet metal fabrication Other manufacturing capabilities
Sheet metal fabrication

Laser cutting, bending, post-processing

  • 6 metals & 9 surface finishes

  • Tolerances down to ±.004 in (0.010 mm)

  • Lead times from 5 business days

See our sheet metal fabrication services

Why robotics experts use Protolabs Network

Specialized network Network illustration
Specialized network

Get access to cutting-edge capabilities and limitless capacity

Learn more
Quality assurance Certification illustration
Quality assurance

Our ISO 9001-certified quality management system ensures reliable quality across our network.

Read more about quality assurance
DFM support Instant quote icon
DFM support

Lower the cost of your order with immediate manufacturability feedback

Start a quote now

Materials & surface finishes for robotics parts 

We provide access to a huge range of high-performance materials and surface finishes that are resilient, reliable, and ready to work.


Picture of examples of automotive materials
Robotics materials

Choose from more than 30 metal alloys and hundreds of high-performance plastics.

Steel & stainless steel: 316/316L, 15-5, 1045, 4140, A36
Aluminum: 6061-T6, 7075-T6, 5052, 5083-H111, 2024-T351
Brass & copper alloys: C360, C110, C101
Thermoplastics: Polycarbonate (PC), ABS, PEEK, PET
Commodity polymers: Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), PVC

Example of surface finishes for aerospace
Robotics surface finishes

Improve precision, wear-resistance, and more with a selection of finishes 

Anodizing 
Polishing
Electroless nickel plating
Black Oxide
Chromate Conversion Coating
Powder coating
Painting
Insert installation
Heat treatment
Passivization

Additional robotics manufacturing services networksales@protolabs.com

How we help robotics & automation companies innovate

Competitive pricing, IP protection and DFM guidance

The Protolabs Network platform is the easiest way to get competitive pricing for comparing order volumes, lead times, materials, tolerances, secondary processes, and more for your projects. Get all final pricing information upfront, including shipping, quality control and customs clearance (when ordering from the US and EU). We prioritize IP protection on the platform and throughout the process to ensure that your designs and models are completely secure. Our platform is equipped with design for manufacturability (DFM) analysis and our mechanical engineers are always on hand to offer guidance to get the most out of Protolabs Network.

To spec and on time, every time

To keep your supply chain consistent and sturdy, we adhere to thorough quality control processes and protocols. Our manufacturing partners go through a complete vetting process before joining the network and on-site quality engineers perform frequent audits to ensure they meet The Protolabs Network Standard. Internal teams in Amsterdam and Chicago inspect parts for functionality and cosmetic specifications, and we handle all custom clearance requirements and ensure on-time delivery.

Source locally and globally to de-risk supply chains

Supply chain resilience is critical, especially when you need parts on a strict schedule and with specific certifications. We offer local and global sourcing to reduce your supply chain risks and provide sourcing solutions to match compliance requirements. Protolabs Network gives you access to the most comprehensive network of industrial 3D printing, CNC machining service, injection molding and sheet metal specialists with consistent capacity available for your aerospace and aviation projects, no matter the scope.

FAQ

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 robotics parts into production today

Get instant quote