Protolabs has significantly expanded its manufacturing capabilities and pricing options available to designers, engineers, and buyers worldwide. By leveraging the company's digital network of manufacturers at Hubs, customers can access advanced capabilities, reduce part cost, and increase part quantities across CNC machining, injection molding, and 3D printing services. The expansion complements the low-volume, on-demand manufacturing services already available from Protolabs.

Here's a breakdown of additional options unlocked by the manufacturing network: CNC machining: Tolerances down to +/- 0.001 in. (0.020mm) are now achievable. Plating (black oxide, nickel), anodizing (Type II, Type III), and chromate coating are available in larger quantities.

And parts sizes can range from as large as 40 in. (1,000mm) to as small as 0.02 in. (0.5mm); Injection molding: High-requirement molding projects in need of larger and deeper parts (47.24 in.

x 27.56 in. x 11.81 in.; 1,200mm x 700mm x 300mm) and more complex parts are also possible; 3D printing: Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing is available via the network for rapid prototyping of cost-efficient parts. This is in addition to Protolabs' six other plastic and metal additive manufacturing technologies offered through its digital factories.