How to Deliver Large-Size Components with High Quality and Fast Lead Time? See Xometry’s Solution!

We were pleasantly surprised by Xometry’s cost performance, production speed and product quality. We have encountered manufacturers with lower quoted prices before, but we gave up after initial contact.

Such suppliers end up costing far more time negotiating part details and following up on constant delivery delays, resulting in a much higher comprehensive cost in the end. Reliable quality control and fully traceable order progress greatly reduce communication overhead — this is our most genuine experience working with Xometry.

We essentially needed the dog to be able to complete a series of organic motions like run, jump, and gently collapse, as a puppy might into the lap of its owner.

Nicole was absolutely fantastic to work with. She was always on top of any issues we ran into, and made sure that we got all our parts on time. Also a big shout out to Scott Benson for managing a project that had multiple fabrication aspects, from concept generation all the way to packaging and shipping internationally

Some manufacturers send you a quote in an hour or two, then you have to spend some time fixing it then get another quote. Being able to quickly throw a model up on Xometry’s site and get all the answers at once is crucial to optimizing time and budget.

The communication with Xometry is very good! There is perhaps a misconception that Xometry is a web based service, so you get very little human interaction. This is certainly not the case: we have an account manager assigned to us who is very approachable and responsive.

With Xometry, we have found a manufacturing partner that supports our development philosophy. The ability to quickly and precisely order small batches of parts gives us the freedom to iteratively improve our robots. This flexibility is essential to our innovation process.

Our development process begins with extensive brainstorming of potential shapes and sealing methods. 3D printing plays a key role at this stage, allowing us to quickly test different designs before determining the final production materials. Since the final materials are too costly and time-consuming for early prototype stages, we focus on creating small-scale test models in-house, then produce large prototypes through Xometry to ensure convenience and accuracy.

In the past, developing non-standard devices was always complicated by the issue of tolerance matching between externally purchased standard parts and custom-machined components. Xometry's one-stop solution perfectly solved this pain point: they not only handled the complex metal 3D printing and sourcing of components but also delivered a finished product that had undergone precision assembly and adjustment. What we received was a functionally ready component that met our precision requirements. This efficient and worry-free delivery experience is exactly what R&D personnel need.

The Horological Society continuously balances its respect for traditional craftsmanship with an openness to modern innovation. One such innovation is the use of 3D printing, which has become an invaluable tool for prototyping clock components in plastic. By sourcing high-quality 3D-printed parts through Xometry, we should be able to test designs efficiently before committing to metal production. This approach allows us to refine intricate mechanisms like gear assemblies with minimal waste and cost.

For the physical prototype, I selected Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) using PA12 nylon. This combination offered the durability and dimensional accuracy I needed, while being light enough to preserve the model’s integrity and strong enough to handle repeated use. I ordered the parts through Xometry’s on-demand manufacturing service, which allowed me to test my designs without investing in a printer or tooling—a crucial advantage when working with small volumes and evolving prototypes.

UCL Racing's Mars Rover team developed an airless flexible wheel for the European Rover Challenge, competing on a simulated Martian surface. With Xometry's SLS 3D printing and engineering feedback, they produced six wheels from EOS TPU 1301 (Shore 86A) with a radial honeycomb lattice structure. The final design meets 220mm diameter and 120N load requirements, featuring symmetric tread pattern and integrated motor mount.

Emiel, an aerospace engineering graduate and creator of "The Practical Engineer" YouTube channel, built two magnetic coupling prototypes: magnet-to-magnet and magnet-to-copper using eddy currents. With Xometry's laser cutting service, he sourced copper plates of 3mm and 6mm thickness, discovering that the copper version enables smooth, self-regulating, non-contact torque transfer with 8mm gap capability.