Serving Chicago
Prototyping and 3D Printing Services for Chicago
Engineered prototypes — printed, machined, cast and wired — in Chicagoland in about two days
We build working prototypes for Chicago companies: SLA, FDM and SLS printing, CNC machining, urethane casting, sheet and soft goods, and electronics builds with real firmware on them.
Chicagoland is full of capable machine shops and moulders. They quote from finished prints. We are the option when the prints do not exist yet, or when the last prototype worked on screen and not on the bench.
- Design + build in one team
- ±0.05 mm on machined features
- Prototypes to Chicago in ~2 days
- Same Central time zone
Where can a Chicago company get a prototype made?
Short answer
Chicagoland has strong build-to-print shops: Advanced Machine for CNC, Advanced Prototype Molding for plastics and urethanes, Chicago White Metal Casting for prototype die casting, Drummond Industries for plastic parts. They quote from finished drawings. LA NPDT designs and engineers the part first, then builds it by printing, machining, casting or fabrication, wires in electronics where needed, and ships to Chicago in about two days. Printed parts from finished CAD start around $150; an engineered functional prototype runs $4,000 to $25,000.
How we compare to Chicago prototype shops
Most Chicagoland options are build-to-print: send drawings, get parts. That is efficient and cheap — once the drawings are right.
Chicago-area prototyping providers compared on advertised scope
| Provider | Base | What they advertise | Design / engineering | Electronics | Why a client might pick us instead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA NPDTUs | Ruston, Louisiana — shipping to Chicago | Design, engineering and prototype build: SLA, FDM, SLS, CNC, urethane casting, soft goods, electronics builds | In house — we create the files | PCBs, firmware and battery systems in house | You can start from a sketch or an existing part instead of a drawing package |
| Advanced Machine | Chicago, IL | CNC machining from your print, one part to hundreds, 20+ years and 100k+ units shipped annually | Drafting from a sketch advertised; product engineering not | Not advertised | Mechanism design, tolerance stack-ups and DFM before anything is cut |
| Advanced Prototype Molding | Chicago area, IL | Rapid prototyping and production in plastics, urethanes and metals, 40+ years in injection moulding | Not advertised | Not advertised | We design the part to be mouldable in the first place, then hand a clean package to a moulder |
| Chicago White Metal Casting | Bensenville, IL | Prototype die casting, sand casting, rubber plaster moulding, CNC and 3D printing for low volume | Not advertised | Not advertised | Full product development around the casting, including assembly and electronics |
| Drummond Industries | Bensenville, IL | Plastic part prototypes and mould design for inventors and entrepreneurs | Mould design advertised | Not advertised | Whole-product engineering rather than a single plastic part |
LA NPDTUs
- Base
- Ruston, Louisiana — shipping to Chicago
- What they advertise
- Design, engineering and prototype build: SLA, FDM, SLS, CNC, urethane casting, soft goods, electronics builds
- Design / engineering
- In house — we create the files
- Electronics
- PCBs, firmware and battery systems in house
- Why a client might pick us instead
- You can start from a sketch or an existing part instead of a drawing package
Advanced Machine
- Base
- Chicago, IL
- What they advertise
- CNC machining from your print, one part to hundreds, 20+ years and 100k+ units shipped annually
- Design / engineering
- Drafting from a sketch advertised; product engineering not
- Electronics
- Not advertised
- Why a client might pick us instead
- Mechanism design, tolerance stack-ups and DFM before anything is cut
Advanced Prototype Molding
- Base
- Chicago area, IL
- What they advertise
- Rapid prototyping and production in plastics, urethanes and metals, 40+ years in injection moulding
- Design / engineering
- Not advertised
- Electronics
- Not advertised
- Why a client might pick us instead
- We design the part to be mouldable in the first place, then hand a clean package to a moulder
Chicago White Metal Casting
- Base
- Bensenville, IL
- What they advertise
- Prototype die casting, sand casting, rubber plaster moulding, CNC and 3D printing for low volume
- Design / engineering
- Not advertised
- Electronics
- Not advertised
- Why a client might pick us instead
- Full product development around the casting, including assembly and electronics
Drummond Industries
- Base
- Bensenville, IL
- What they advertise
- Plastic part prototypes and mould design for inventors and entrepreneurs
- Design / engineering
- Mould design advertised
- Electronics
- Not advertised
- Why a client might pick us instead
- Whole-product engineering rather than a single plastic part
Facts taken from each firm's own public website in August 2026 and describe the services they advertise, not our opinion of their work. The last column is our own positioning, not a claim about them.
Processes, materials and the tolerances they hold
Which process we choose depends on what the prototype has to prove — looks, fit, function or manufacturability.
Prototyping process, typical materials and achievable tolerance
| Process | Typical materials | Typical tolerance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLA / resin printing | Standard, tough and clear resins | ±0.1 – 0.2 mm | Appearance models, fine detail, clear parts |
| FDM printing | PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, nylon | ±0.3 – 0.5 mm | Fit checks, jigs, large or rough-and-ready parts |
| SLS printing | Nylon PA12, glass-filled nylon | ±0.3 mm | Living hinges, snap fits, functional mechanisms |
| CNC machining | Aluminium, steel, brass, Delrin, PC, ABS | ±0.05 – 0.1 mm | Load-bearing parts, sealing faces, production-like finish |
| Urethane casting | Rigid and elastomeric urethanes, silicone | ±0.2 mm | 10 – 50 units before tooling exists |
| Sheet and soft goods | Sheet metal, fabrics, foams, webbing | Pattern dependent | Brackets, wearables, carriers and vests |
| Electronics build | Custom PCBs, off-the-shelf modules, Li-ion packs | Per fab capability | Board bring-up, firmware, power and battery behaviour |
SLA / resin printing
- Typical materials
- Standard, tough and clear resins
- Typical tolerance
- ±0.1 – 0.2 mm
- Best for
- Appearance models, fine detail, clear parts
FDM printing
- Typical materials
- PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA, nylon
- Typical tolerance
- ±0.3 – 0.5 mm
- Best for
- Fit checks, jigs, large or rough-and-ready parts
SLS printing
- Typical materials
- Nylon PA12, glass-filled nylon
- Typical tolerance
- ±0.3 mm
- Best for
- Living hinges, snap fits, functional mechanisms
CNC machining
- Typical materials
- Aluminium, steel, brass, Delrin, PC, ABS
- Typical tolerance
- ±0.05 – 0.1 mm
- Best for
- Load-bearing parts, sealing faces, production-like finish
Urethane casting
- Typical materials
- Rigid and elastomeric urethanes, silicone
- Typical tolerance
- ±0.2 mm
- Best for
- 10 – 50 units before tooling exists
Sheet and soft goods
- Typical materials
- Sheet metal, fabrics, foams, webbing
- Typical tolerance
- Pattern dependent
- Best for
- Brackets, wearables, carriers and vests
Electronics build
- Typical materials
- Custom PCBs, off-the-shelf modules, Li-ion packs
- Typical tolerance
- Per fab capability
- Best for
- Board bring-up, firmware, power and battery behaviour
Tolerances are what we routinely hold on prototype quantities; tighter is possible on machined features when a drawing calls for it.
What a prototype costs and how fast it reaches Chicago
Typical prototype scope, cost band and lead time including transit
| What you need | Typical cost | Lead time | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed parts from your finished CAD | $150 – $900 | 3 – 6 days | Parts, finishing, freight to Chicagoland |
| Reverse engineering an existing part into CAD | $800 – $5,000 | 1 – 3 weeks | Measurement, clean CAD, drawings you own |
| Engineered functional prototype from a sketch | $4,000 – $25,000 | 3 – 8 weeks | CAD, DFM, build, fit and function testing |
| Connected prototype with PCB and firmware | $12,000 – $60,000 | 6 – 14 weeks | Board design, firmware, enclosure, integration |
| Bridge run, 10 – 50 units | Quoted per unit | 3 – 6 weeks | Urethane casting or machined parts, assembled |
Printed parts from your finished CAD
- Typical cost
- $150 – $900
- Lead time
- 3 – 6 days
- Includes
- Parts, finishing, freight to Chicagoland
Reverse engineering an existing part into CAD
- Typical cost
- $800 – $5,000
- Lead time
- 1 – 3 weeks
- Includes
- Measurement, clean CAD, drawings you own
Engineered functional prototype from a sketch
- Typical cost
- $4,000 – $25,000
- Lead time
- 3 – 8 weeks
- Includes
- CAD, DFM, build, fit and function testing
Connected prototype with PCB and firmware
- Typical cost
- $12,000 – $60,000
- Lead time
- 6 – 14 weeks
- Includes
- Board design, firmware, enclosure, integration
Bridge run, 10 – 50 units
- Typical cost
- Quoted per unit
- Lead time
- 3 – 6 weeks
- Includes
- Urethane casting or machined parts, assembled
Ground freight from Ruston reaches most of Chicagoland in about two days; expedited options are available.
Prototypes we have built
Large-scale machine prototype
A full-size food-service machine proven before production.
See the project
Where we are — and why that works for a Chicago client
Short answer
LA NPDT is not based in Chicago. Our engineers work from Ruston, Louisiana, and serve Chicago clients remotely: shared CAD, a weekly review with the engineer doing the work, prototypes in about two days, and travel when a project genuinely needs someone in the room. The "LA" in our name is Louisiana.
Same Central time zone, so a morning call is a morning call for both of us and questions during a build get answered the same day.
Our overhead in Louisiana is a fraction of what a studio pays for space and staff in a coastal or top-ten metro, so the same senior engineering hours cost you less. What does not change is who does the work: practising mechanical, electrical, firmware and software engineers, not account managers passing files to subcontractors.
Where to go next
- Rapid prototypingHow we build working prototypes and what they cost.
- Product development for Chicago clientsDesign, engineering and short-run production for Midwest manufacturers and brands.
- Service areasHow we work with clients in every US metro from our Louisiana base.
- Product development portfolioProducts we designed, engineered and manufactured.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a prototype made in Chicago?
Build-to-print shops such as Advanced Machine, Advanced Prototype Molding, Chicago White Metal Casting and Drummond Industries make parts from your drawings. We are the option when the drawings do not exist or the design needs engineering — we create the files, build the prototype and ship to Chicagoland in about two days.
How much does a prototype cost?
Printed parts from finished CAD typically run $150 to $900. An engineered functional prototype from a sketch runs $4,000 to $25,000, and a connected prototype with a custom PCB and firmware $12,000 to $60,000.
Can you reverse engineer a part we no longer have drawings for?
Yes. We measure the existing part, rebuild it as clean parametric CAD with drawings you own, and can improve it for cost or durability in the same pass. That usually runs $800 to $5,000 depending on complexity.
Are you located in Chicago?
No. Our engineering base is in Ruston, Louisiana — the "LA" in our name is Louisiana, not Los Angeles. Chicago clients work with us remotely: weekly reviews with your engineer, shared CAD, and prototypes shipped in about two days.
Does working remotely slow the project down?
It has not. Reviews happen weekly with the engineer doing the work rather than an account manager, files are shared live, and prototypes move by freight rather than by car — which is how they would move in your own city anyway.
Do you charge more for out-of-state clients?
No. Rates are the same wherever you are; only shipping cost varies. Our Louisiana overhead is why the same senior engineering hours cost less than a big-metro studio.
Will you sign an NDA?
Yes, before the first technical conversation. Files and IP transfer to you as the project closes out.
What tolerances can you hold?
Roughly ±0.05 to 0.1 mm on CNC machined features, ±0.1 to 0.2 mm on SLA, ±0.3 mm on SLS and ±0.3 to 0.5 mm on FDM. Tighter machined features are possible when a drawing calls for them.
Where to go next
- Rapid prototypingHow we build working prototypes and what they cost.
- Product development for Chicago clientsDesign, engineering and short-run production for Midwest manufacturers and brands.
- Service areasHow we work with clients in every US metro from our Louisiana base.
- Product development portfolioProducts we designed, engineered and manufactured.