Hardware startup pilot
Pressure-test a first enclosure build before locking a contract manufacturer.
ForgeFlow
Turn messy product specs into supplier-ready manufacturing plans.
Estimate prototype risk, supplier paths, machining complexity, and lead times before the first PO is sent.
Live product preview
Prototype readiness
82 / 100
Needs DFM cleanup before supplier release
Cost range
$4,180 – $5,420
Lead time
12–18 days
Problem
Prototype planning still lives in spreadsheets and supplier threads.
Teams ship drawings before they know whether the process, tolerance stack, finish spec, or geography can actually hit the date they promised.
Workflow
01
Capture product type, material, tolerance, and finish requirements
02
Map compatible manufacturing methods and supplier routes
03
Estimate prototype cost range and lead-time windows
04
Flag QA risk, bottlenecks, and missing supplier packet items
Use cases
Mechanical design review
See whether tolerance targets survive the process you picked on the drawing.
Sourcing handoff
Package a supplier-ready checklist instead of forwarding a loose STEP file.
Dashboard preview
One build command surface for readiness, routing, cost, and QA.
Prototype build planner
Capture the build profile suppliers need before they quote.
Prototype readiness
82
/ 100
Needs DFM cleanup
Recommended route
CNC milling via Domestic West
Aluminum 6061 is a metal route with machinability score 90%.
Process fallback: CNC milling
Cost estimate
$1,550 – $2,010
Midpoint $1,780 for 5 prototype units
Low case
$1,550
Expected
$1,780
High case
$2,010
Lead-time tracker
Optimistic
14d
Expected
17d
Conservative
21d
DFM review
3 day window
CNC programming
4 day window
First article
5 day window
Finish + QA
6 day window
Ship
7 day window
Supplier route map
Domestic West
San JosePortlandPhoenix
- 1DFM review
- 2CNC programming
- 3First article
- 4Finish + QA
- 5Ship
Primary geography: US West
Pilot quantity: 5 units of Aluminum 6061
No single hard blocker detected in routing plan.
Manufacturing risk
Enclosure / housing at Standard (±0.2 mm) pushes CNC milling into medium inspection load.
Bead blast adds cosmetic acceptance criteria before release.
Tolerance target aligns with the selected process window.
Bottlenecks
No hard bottlenecks flagged for this build profile.
Supplier-ready checklist
Release STEP + PDF with hole callouts and finish notes
readyRequired before quote release
Attach material spec and acceptable alternates
attentionRequired before quote release
Mark critical-to-function dimensions for first article
attentionRequired before quote release
Document Bead blast acceptance and masking rules
attentionRequired before quote release
Confirm 5-unit pilot scope and spares policy
readyRequired before quote release
Lock supplier route through Domestic West
readyRequired before quote release
Pricing
Hardware Team
$890/mo
Shared dashboard, route comparisons, and QA risk tracking across programs.
Compare plansFAQ
Does ForgeFlow replace my CM?
No. It prepares the manufacturing plan, risk profile, and supplier packet your team or CM still executes.
Are the estimates binding quotes?
No. They are planning ranges built from process, geography, finish, and quantity inputs.
Can I compare supplier routes?
Yes. Geography selection changes route hubs, lead-time windows, and checklist requirements.
Ship the supplier packet before the schedule slips.
Run the prototype build planner and walk into sourcing with cost ranges, route options, and QA risk already mapped.