How to Get a Custom Part Made in NYC
If you’ve never ordered a custom part before, the process can feel like a black box. You know what you need — a replacement bracket, a prototype housing, a one-off component that doesn’t exist anywhere off the shelf — but you’re not sure where to start, who to call, or what it’s going to cost. This guide walks you through the whole process in plain language, from figuring out what you actually need to holding the finished part in your hand.
The short answer: getting a custom part made in NYC typically involves three steps — defining your part (geometry, material, quantity), finding the right fabrication method for it, and working with a shop that can either take your existing design or help you create one. Here’s how each of those works in practice.
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Start With What You Know (Not What You Don’t)
A lot of people stall before they even pick up the phone because they think they need to have everything figured out. You don’t.
You need to know what the part is for — what it connects to, what loads or stresses it needs to handle, and roughly what size it is. Everything else — material selection, tolerances, manufacturing method — can be worked out with a fabricator who knows what they’re doing.
If you have an existing part (even a broken one), that’s actually the best starting point. A shop with 3D scanning capabilities can capture the geometry of a physical object and turn it into a workable digital model — no original drawings required. If you’re starting from scratch, a rough sketch or even a clear description is enough to open a conversation.
What Fabrication Method Does Your Part Need?
This is the question most small business owners don’t know to ask — and it’s the most important one. The right process depends on your part’s geometry, material, quantity, and how tight the tolerances need to be.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the most common options:
- 3D printing (FDM, SLA, SLS) — best for prototypes, complex geometries, and low-volume parts where tooling cost isn’t justified. Fast turnaround, moderate strength depending on material. Our 3D printing services cover all three major technologies.
- CNC machining — best for parts that need tight tolerances, metal or engineering-grade plastic construction, or must hold up under real mechanical loads. CNC machining cuts material away from a solid block — it’s precise, repeatable, and works across a wide range of metals, plastics, and wood.
- Molding and casting — best when you need multiple copies of the same part. You pay upfront to create a mold, then cast as many copies as you need. Works well for plaster, resin, fiberglass, silicone, and urethane parts.
- Hybrid approaches — many parts benefit from combining methods: 3D print a prototype, refine the design, then CNC machine the production version in metal.
If you’re not sure which method fits your part, that’s a normal place to be. A full-service shop can look at what you need and tell you which process makes the most sense — and why.
Do You Need a CAD File?
Maybe, but not always. Here’s the distinction that matters.
A CAD (computer-aided design) file is a precise 3D digital model of your part — the kind that gets handed off to a CNC machine or 3D printer. If you already have one, great. If you don’t, you have two options:
- Design from scratch — if your part doesn’t exist yet, a design and engineering team can build the CAD model from your concept, sketch, or spec sheet.
- Reverse engineer from a physical part — if you have an existing part (original or worn), reverse engineering uses 3D scanning to capture the geometry and convert it into a clean, editable CAD model. This is how shops recreate discontinued components, legacy hardware, and parts with no surviving documentation.
One thing worth knowing: a 3D scan and a CAD model are not the same thing. A scan captures the surface of an object as a point cloud or mesh — useful for reference, but not directly manufacturable. A CAD model is a precise, parametric design ready for production. If you’re having a part made (not just copied), you need the CAD.
What to Expect When You Reach Out to a Shop
Getting a quote doesn’t require a formal RFQ or a purchasing department. For most custom part requests, a quick conversation — phone or email — is all it takes to get the ball rolling.
When you reach out, be ready to describe:
- What the part does and what it connects to
- Whether you have an existing part, drawings, or a CAD file
- What material you think it needs (or what load conditions it has to handle)
- How many you need — even a rough number helps
- Your timeline, if there’s one
A good shop will ask clarifying questions and come back with a clear path forward. If a fabricator can’t tell you which process they’d use and roughly why, that’s a sign to keep looking.
Why Working With a Full-Service Shop Saves Time and Money
One of the most common (and expensive) mistakes small businesses make is bouncing between specialists — a scanner here, a CAD freelancer there, a printer somewhere else. Every handoff is a chance for miscommunication, and you’re the one managing all of it.
A shop that handles scanning, design, fabrication, and inspection under one roof can take a project from a broken part to a finished replacement without leaving the building. That means faster turnaround, fewer surprises, and one point of contact who owns the whole outcome.
Kemperle Industries has been doing exactly this in Brooklyn, NYC for years — working with everyone from independent product designers and small manufacturers to museums and Broadway theaters. If you’ve got a part that needs to be made, we’re happy to talk through it.
Ready to Get Started?
The best first step is a conversation. Tell us what you’ve got — a part, a sketch, a problem, or just a question — and we’ll take it from there.
