All City Prototyping Resources

Your complete library of prototyping guides, manufacturing insights, and product development best practices for hardware teams.

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From CAD to First Article: How to Compress Hardware Prototyping Timelines
Thought Leadership
Product Startups

From CAD to First Article: How to Compress Hardware Prototyping Timelines

Learn the proven workflow that product teams use to cut weeks off prototyping cycles without sacrificing quality or design validation.

8 min read
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Design for Machining: 9 Rules That Save You Weeks in the Shop
Thought Leadership
Industrial OEMs

Design for Machining: 9 Rules That Save You Weeks in the Shop

CNC machining constraints that every engineer should know before finalizing designs. Avoid costly redesigns and iteration delays.

10 min read
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Picking the Right 3D Printing Process for Functional Prototypes
Thought Leadership
Consumer Hardware

Picking the Right 3D Printing Process for Functional Prototypes

FDM, SLA, SLS, or MJF? Understand when each additive process makes sense for strength, finish, speed, and cost.

7 min read
Read More
The Hidden Costs of Cheap Prototypes: Why Quality Matters Early
Thought Leadership
Product Startups

The Hidden Costs of Cheap Prototypes: Why Quality Matters Early

Cutting corners on prototype quality can derail your product roadmap. Learn which aspects of prototyping are worth the investment.

6 min read
Read More
Live Shop Tour: How All City Prototyping Runs Overnight CNC and 3D Printing
Webinars
Manufacturing Process

Live Shop Tour: How All City Prototyping Runs Overnight CNC and 3D Printing

Walk through our facility and see how we orchestrate multi-axis CNC machining, 3D printing, and finishing services to deliver parts in 24-48 hours.

Watch On-Demand
DFM Deep Dive: Cleaning Up Your CAD Before It Hits the Machine
Webinars
Design Best Practices

DFM Deep Dive: Cleaning Up Your CAD Before It Hits the Machine

Join our lead engineer for a live CAD review session covering tolerances, wall thickness, tool access, and feature optimization for CNC and 3D printing.

Register Now
Prototyping for Investors: Building Show-Ready Hardware in 30 Days
Webinars
Product Startups

Prototyping for Investors: Building Show-Ready Hardware in 30 Days

Hardware founders share how they built investor-grade prototypes on tight timelines and budgets using rapid CNC and 3D printing.

Watch On-Demand
Material Selection Masterclass: Metals, Plastics, and Composites
Webinars
Materials & Finishing

Material Selection Masterclass: Metals, Plastics, and Composites

Expert guidance on choosing aluminum, steel, ABS, nylon, resin, and more based on mechanical properties, cost, and lead time.

Watch On-Demand
Prototyping 101: Turning Concepts into Testable Hardware
Lunch & Learns
Fundamentals

Prototyping 101: Turning Concepts into Testable Hardware

A 45-minute introduction to rapid prototyping covering CAD preparation, process selection, and what to expect from your first prototype run.

Schedule Session
How to Spec a Prototype Run for Your Internal Team
Lunch & Learns
Team Training

How to Spec a Prototype Run for Your Internal Team

Train your product and engineering teams on creating clear prototype specifications that reduce back-and-forth and accelerate delivery.

Schedule Session
Material Selection for Machined and Printed Prototypes
Lunch & Learns
Materials

Material Selection for Machined and Printed Prototypes

Interactive workshop covering when to use aluminum vs steel, ABS vs nylon, and SLA resin vs FDM plastic for prototype testing.

Schedule Session
DFM Workshop: Fixing Designs Before They Hit the Machine
Lunch & Learns
Design Best Practices

DFM Workshop: Fixing Designs Before They Hit the Machine

Hands-on session reviewing real CAD files and applying design-for-manufacturing principles to reduce cost and lead time.

Schedule Session
Wearables Startup Went from Sketch to Shipping Beta in 10 Weeks
Case Studies
Consumer Hardware

Wearables Startup Went from Sketch to Shipping Beta in 10 Weeks

How a fitness wearables company used rapid CNC and SLA printing to iterate enclosures, pass drop tests, and ship 500 beta units in under 3 months.

5 min read
Read More
Industrial OEM Cut Iterations in Half with CNC + SLA Hybrid Prototyping
Case Studies
Industrial OEMs

Industrial OEM Cut Iterations in Half with CNC + SLA Hybrid Prototyping

See how an equipment manufacturer reduced prototype cycles from 6 weeks to 3 weeks by combining CNC machined metal parts with 3D printed housings.

6 min read
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Medical Device Team Validated Form, Fit, and Function Before Tooling
Case Studies
Medical Devices

Medical Device Team Validated Form, Fit, and Function Before Tooling

A med-tech startup used biocompatible 3D printing and precision CNC to run user trials and secure FDA 510(k) clearance before investing in injection molds.

7 min read
Read More
Robotics Team Launched Pilot Program 4 Months Early
Case Studies
Robotics & Automation

Robotics Team Launched Pilot Program 4 Months Early

Learn how a warehouse robotics company accelerated time-to-market using overnight CNC for structural components and FDM printing for cable management.

5 min read
Read More
Hardware Prototyping Playbook: From CAD File to Pilot Run
Guides & Playbooks
End-to-End Process

Hardware Prototyping Playbook: From CAD File to Pilot Run

Complete step-by-step guide covering design validation, prototype procurement, testing cycles, and scaling to pilot production.

View Guide
Prototype Quote Checklist: Everything Your Vendor Needs to Move Fast
Guides & Playbooks
Procurement

Prototype Quote Checklist: Everything Your Vendor Needs to Move Fast

Ensure your RFQs include CAD formats, tolerances, material specs, finish requirements, and quantity breakdowns to get accurate quotes in 24 hours.

View Checklist
DFM Guide for CNC and 3D Printed Parts
Guides & Playbooks
Design Best Practices

DFM Guide for CNC and 3D Printed Parts

Practical design-for-manufacturing principles covering wall thickness, draft angles, undercuts, tolerances, and finish specifications.

Download Guide
Scaling from Prototype to Production: A Transition Roadmap
Guides & Playbooks
Production Planning

Scaling from Prototype to Production: A Transition Roadmap

Navigate the journey from functional prototypes to tooled production including volume breakpoints, process transitions, and vendor selection.

View Roadmap
Prototype Budget Calculator: From Single Unit to Pilot Batch
ROI Tools & Checklists
Budgeting

Prototype Budget Calculator: From Single Unit to Pilot Batch

Interactive tool to estimate prototype costs based on part complexity, material, process, quantity, and finish requirements.

Use Calculator
Vendor-Ready CAD Checklist
ROI Tools & Checklists
Design Validation

Vendor-Ready CAD Checklist

Pre-submission checklist ensuring your CAD files are complete, dimensioned correctly, and ready for manufacturing without delays.

Use Checklist
Prototype Test Plan Checklist for Hardware Teams
ROI Tools & Checklists
Testing & Validation

Prototype Test Plan Checklist for Hardware Teams

Structured checklist covering functional testing, environmental testing, user feedback collection, and documentation for hardware prototypes.

Use Checklist
Pre-Pilot Run Readiness Checklist
ROI Tools & Checklists
Production Planning

Pre-Pilot Run Readiness Checklist

Ensure design validation, supplier qualification, quality systems, and logistics are in place before committing to pilot production.

Use Checklist

Featured Resources

Product Startups

From CAD to First Article: How to Compress Hardware Prototyping Timelines

Learn the proven workflow that product teams use to cut weeks off prototyping cycles without sacrificing quality or design validation.

Industrial OEMs

Design for Machining: 9 Rules That Save You Weeks in the Shop

CNC machining constraints that every engineer should know before finalizing designs. Avoid costly redesigns and iteration delays.

Consumer Hardware

Picking the Right 3D Printing Process for Functional Prototypes

FDM, SLA, SLS, or MJF? Understand when each additive process makes sense for strength, finish, speed, and cost.

Product Startups

The Hidden Costs of Cheap Prototypes: Why Quality Matters Early

Cutting corners on prototype quality can derail your product roadmap. Learn which aspects of prototyping are worth the investment.

Prototyping FAQs

Got a Product You Need to Build?

Schedule a discovery call with our prototyping engineers or request a quote for your next hardware project.

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