Prototyping
Source custom aerospace & aviation parts
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Network of AS 9100 certified manufacturing partners
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Tight tolerances & complex geometries
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Get full IP protection and quality documentation
Join thousands of companies using Protolabs Network
Get off the ground faster with Protolabs Network
Protolabs Network helps you launch projects faster without compromising on design or quality. With our instant quoting system and supplier network, you can bolster your supply chains and get custom parts for every prototyping, validation and full-scale production need. Our vetted network of manufacturing partners has cutting-edge capabilities and near-limitless capacity.
Certified for aerospace & aviation
Protolabs Network is ISO 9001 certified and our suppliers have specialized certifications.
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ISO 9001
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AS 9100
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ISO 14001
Comprehensive quality documentation
Get validation reports to ensure the highest quality and compliance.
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CMM Inspection Report
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Full Dimensional Inspections
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Material Test Reports
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Material Certificates
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Certificates of Conformance
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First Article Inspections
Highest quality standards
We use a rigorous set of protocols and procedures to maintain quality.
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Special tooling
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Dimensional checks with calibrated equipment
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Review of all quality documentation and industry certifications
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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
Our aerospace & aviation manufacturing capabilities
Tooling
Jigs & Fixtures
Surrogate parts
Drones
UAVs
CubeSat
Fuel pumps
Structural components
Small sensors
Aerospace & aviation manufacturing capabilities
CNC machining
CNC machining
Milling, turning and post-processing
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Tolerances down to ±.020 mm (±.001 in)
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Lead times from 5 business days
3D printing
3D printing
FDM, SLA, SLS, MJF
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± 0.3% with a lower limit of ± 0.3 mm (± 0.012 in)
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Lead times from 1 business day
Sheet metal fabrication
Sheet metal fabrication
Laser cutting, bending, post-processing
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Tolerances down to ±0.1 mm (±.004 in)
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Lead times from 5 business days
Injection molding
Injection molding
Prototypes and production tooling
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Wide range of part complexities and sizes
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1 to 1M parts
Why aerospace & aviation companies use Protolabs Network
Manufacturing a fleet of drones to scale reforestation
“Protolabs Network has been pivotal. Being able to affordably leverage FDM processes on a tight schedule let us get out to the field with our tech in a way that probably wouldn't have been possible otherwise.”
Materials & surface finishes for aerospace & aviation parts
Through our manufacturing partner network, we provide access to strong, lightweight materials and surface finishes that can weather every application.
Aerospace & aviation materials
Select from a broad range of industrial-grade materials
Aluminum alloys:
Al 2024,
Al 2014,
Al 7050
Titanium alloys:
Grade 1,
Grade 2,
Grade 5
Stainless steel:
SS 304/304L,
SS 316/316L,
17-4PH
Inconel:
Inconel 718
Plastics:
Ultem 9085,
PA 6 Glass Filled,
PA 12,
PEEK,
PTFE (Teflon)
Aerospace & aviation surface finishes
Select from these finishes to protect your parts
Anodizing Type II (Cosmetic on request)
Anodizing Type III (Hardcoat)
Chromate Conversion Coating
Brushing + Electropolishing (Cosmetic by default)
Electroless Nickel Plating
Black Oxide
Zinc Plating
Heat Treatments
Gallery of aerospace & aviation parts
Manufacturing parts to support R&D in microgravity
Space Tango develops systems for scientific inquiry and research while in orbit. Find out how Protolabs Network helped produce hardware for this cosmic venture.
How we help aerospace & aviation 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.
FAQs
How do we ensure our manufacturing partners are AS 9100 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 aerospace & aviation parts into production today.
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