The minimum order quantity at Beijing JCEN is one piece. There is no minimum order quantity at any process — laser cutting, bending, stamping, deep drawing, machining, welding or assembly — and a single prototype is quoted on the same basis as a repeat production run.
Key facts: minimum order quantity
| Minimum order quantity | None, at any process — laser cutting, bending, stamping, deep drawing, machining, welding or assembly |
| Typical first order | 1–5 prototype parts, then a bridge batch before volume |
| Sample lead time | 7 days typical |
| Quotation turnaround | DFM review, price and lead time within 24 hours of receiving a drawing |
Why we do not impose a minimum
Most custom metal projects fail at the handover from prototype to production. That handover is a judgement call about tooling, volume and process route, and it is far cheaper to make when you have held a real part in your hand first. Imposing a minimum order quantity pushes buyers into tooling before the design is proved, which is the expensive mistake in this industry rather than the cautious one.
So a single replacement guard and a 100,000-piece stamped bracket are both normal work here. We do not surcharge small orders to discourage them, and we do not require a tooling commitment to start.
How low volume and high volume differ in practice
The process route changes as volume rises, not the answer to whether we will take the job. At low volume we usually run laser cutting and press brake bending, because neither carries a tool cost and the price per piece stays roughly flat. Once a part reaches the tens of thousands per year, stamping takes over, because a die is then amortised across the run.
Where your volume sits near that crossover, ask us to price both routes on the same drawing. Both the laser and the presses run in our Nanpi County plant, so the comparison is arithmetic rather than a preference. Our metal fabrication prices page sets out where the crossover typically falls.
What to send with a small order
Send the drawing — STEP, IGES, DWG, DXF or a dimensioned PDF — with the material, the quantity and the finish. If you do not have a material or finish specified, say so; recommending one is part of the DFM review and it costs nothing. Thin-gauge work from 0.5 mm upward is standard, and our standard sheet metal thicknesses chart converts between gauge and millimetres.
One clarification on prototypes: we do not restrict prototyping to the rapid prototyping page’s typical turnaround. A one-off production part ordered as a spare also has no minimum, and it is quoted on the same terms.
Further reading: equipment and capacity for what runs in the plant, and ASTM International for material and test standards we work to.
Frequently asked questions
What is your minimum order quantity?
The minimum order quantity is one piece. There is no minimum at any process, including laser cutting, bending, stamping, deep drawing, machining, welding or assembly, and a single prototype is quoted on the same basis as a production run of 100,000 or more.
What does a typical first order look like?
A typical first order is one to five prototype parts, followed by a bridge batch before volume production. Sample lead time is 7 days typical, and the quotation, including the DFM review, price and lead time, comes back within 24 hours of receiving a drawing.
Does the process change with order volume?
The route changes with volume, not whether we take the job. At low volume we usually run laser cutting and press brake bending, because neither carries a tool cost and the price per piece stays roughly flat. Once a part reaches the tens of thousands per year, stamping takes over, because a die is then amortised across the run.