Sample lead time is 7 days typical for custom metal parts. Complex assemblies, unusual grades, or parts needing a finish beyond deburring take longer, and we confirm the actual sample lead time with the quotation rather than leaving you to assume the typical figure applies.
Key facts: sample lead time
| Sample lead time | 7 days typical for cut and formed parts |
| Quotation turnaround | DFM review, price and lead time within 24 hours |
| Air express | 3–7 days by DHL, FedEx or UPS |
| Sea freight | 15–30 days |
| Minimum order quantity | None |
What moves a sample date
Finish. Deburring is standard on cut and formed work, so it adds nothing to the schedule. Zinc plating, powder coating, anodising and passivation are separate operations, and each adds its own queue. If the sample only needs to prove geometry, leaving the finish off brings the date forward.
Material. Steel and aluminium 5052 or 6061 are usually to hand. Copper, brass and stainless 316 can require a longer material lead time, so they are worth flagging early if the schedule is tight.
Complexity of the first article. A single laser cut and bent bracket is quick. A welded assembly with inserted hardware needs fixture time and inspection before it ships, and flatness after welding may require stress relief.
Whether you have a frozen design. If the drawing is still moving, that is a normal reason to make a sample — but say so, because it changes which process we choose. Laser cutting and bending carry no tool cost, so a design can change after the first part with no penalty beyond reprogramming. That is the point of sampling.
Why we sample before tooling
Most custom metal projects fail at the handover from prototype to production, and that handover is a judgement call about tooling, volume and process route. Holding a real part first is what makes the call safe. Our rapid prototyping page covers the routes we use, and first-article inspection runs on a CMM before a sample ships.
If you are proving a design, ask for both the prototype route and the production route to be priced at the same time. Where your volume sits near the crossover between laser cutting and stamping, the two numbers tell you more than any rule of thumb. Our metal fabrication prices page explains the trade-off, and equipment and capacity lists what the plant can hold.
Material and test standards referenced are published by ASTM International, and measurement practice follows NIST guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the sample lead time for custom metal parts?
Sample lead time is 7 days typical for custom metal parts. Complex assemblies, unusual grades or parts needing a finish beyond deburring take longer.
What can delay a sample?
A finish beyond deburring adds its own queue. Copper, brass and stainless 316 can take longer to obtain, and a welded assembly with inserted hardware needs fixture time and inspection.
Why do you make a sample before tooling?
Holding a real part first is what makes the call over tooling, volume and process route safe. A first article is inspected on a CMM before a sample ships.