Capabilities overview
What we can help you make
Zartman.io routes CNC, sheet metal, 3D printing, and light assembly work to vetted shops that handle prototypes through recurring low-volume builds. Share your RFQ, keep files private, and get matched with suppliers who already run similar materials and complexity.
Typical matches: tight-tolerance metal prototypes, formed enclosures with hardware, 3DP validation builds, and assemblies that need finishing before shipment.
Processes
Where we're strongest
These offerings cover most RFQs we route today. Each card spells out the sweet spot and when you might need a different partner.
CNC machining
Multi-axis milling and turning for tight-tolerance prototype and bridge builds across common alloys and plastics.
Best for
- Prototype and low-volume production parts that need quick DFM
- Aluminum, stainless, tool steels, Delrin, and similar materials
- Components with mixed milling/turning ops or secondary finishing
Not a fit when
Automotive-scale volumes, massive castings, or programs that require ITAR-only facilities.
Sheet metal & fabrication
Forming, laser cutting, and hardware installation for enclosures, brackets, and light structural parts.
Best for
- Electromechanical enclosures or brackets with multiple bends
- Gauge thicknesses through roughly 0.25 inch
- Projects that benefit from quick fixture tweaks before production
Not a fit when
Large welded structures, heavy plate fabrication, or architectural-scale assemblies.
3D printing (polymer + metal)
Selective laser sintering, MJF, and metal additive for complex geometries without tooling delays.
Best for
- Design validation parts that need fast turns
- Lightweight structures with internal channels or lattices
- Short-run spares where machining would be cost-prohibitive
Not a fit when
Mass-market consumer plastic runs or parts larger than typical desktop-sized build envelopes.
Assembly & finishing
Light assembly, bead blast, anodize, chem film, paint, and inspection steps handled before shipment.
Best for
- Pilot builds that need hardware install or insert seating
- Subassemblies that benefit from pre-fit testing
- Parts that need cosmetic finishing alongside functional checks
Not a fit when
Full contract manufacturing lines or highly regulated electronics assembly.
Tolerances & envelopes
Approximate ranges so you can sanity-check fit
These ranges keep expectations calibrated without over-promising. Send the RFQ if you're near the edge—we'll flag it early if it needs a different setup.
- CNC envelopes
- Tight-tolerance prototype and low-volume parts up to roughly 24" x 24" x 12".
- Sheet metal
- Formed panels and brackets up to ~36" in the longest dimension.
- 3D printing
- Polymer and metal builds up to about a 12" cube with fine features near 0.010".
- Typical quantities
- Single prototypes through recurring low/medium production releases.
- Complexity sweet spot
- Multi-op parts that need DFM collaboration more than commodity catalog work.
Larger parts welcome for review—we'll flag if they need a different bench.
What we don't do (yet)
If your RFQ looks like this, we'll recommend other options
Calling this out early keeps trust high. If you send something in this category we'll still help you find a better match elsewhere.
- Large welded structures, heavy plate frames, or massive castings.
- Automotive- or aerospace-certified production that requires dedicated lines or ITAR-only facilities.
- Exotic materials that need bespoke sourcing (e.g., beryllium, Hastelloy) on tight turnarounds.
- High-volume consumer plastics or stampings where tooling amortization drives the whole business case.
How matching works
Same flow as the homepage—just zoomed in on capabilities
We keep the marketplace private, curated, and human-supported so RFQs land with the right suppliers the first time.
Curated supplier bench
We match your RFQ with a small bench of trusted shops—no auctions, no race-to-the-bottom blast lists.
Private routing
We only share your RFQs and files with suppliers we've matched to your project. No public job boards or blast lists.
Hands-on monitoring
We monitor activity in your workspace and can reroute jobs or bring in another supplier if something goes sideways.