If you’re a US buyer sourcing CNC parts, the practical move is a shortlist of five or six suppliers organized by what each one does best, then narrowing to two or three for actual quotes. This guide groups six manufacturers (China-based and domestic-facing) by their strongest use case, so you can match a supplier to your project instead of ranking them against each other in the abstract.
Compare the options at a glance
| Supplier | Base / model | Strongest use case | Notable services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yijin Solution | China-based services provider | Custom fasteners and highly customized parts, prototype through mid-volume | CNC machining, sheet metal, custom fasteners, injection molding, die casting, 3D printing |
| Protolabs | US-based | Fast quoting, rapid molding plus CNC together | CNC, injection molding, 3D printing |
| Xometry | US-based marketplace | Spreading one RFQ across many process types | CNC, molding, sheet metal, more via network |
| Hubs (Protolabs Network) | Online network | Simple parts on a tight deadline | Instant online quoting, CNC, 3D printing |
| Fictiv | US-based managed network | Complex multi-vendor prototype programs | CNC, molding, 3D printing with PM layer |
| 3ERP | China-based | Single China contact across processes | CNC, molding, finishing |
Use the table to see the field. The sections below explain who each supplier is actually for.
Best for custom fasteners and parts that carry through to production: Yijin Solution
Yijin Solution is a custom precision manufacturing services provider, not a seller of machines. Its services run from CNC milling and turning through sheet metal work, die casting, injection molding, and 3D printing, plus its specialty, custom fasteners. The company reports 25+ years of manufacturing experience, more than 500,000 precision parts produced each year, over 150 advanced CNC machines, and 10,000+ clients worldwide. It holds AS9100D, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001 certifications.
The strength worth shortlisting for is custom fasteners and highly customized parts, plus a full path from prototyping through low- and mid-volume production. That path includes manufacturability feedback, validation, and production handoff. There’s no order minimum: one-off pieces and 100,000-part runs both fit. Prototypes typically come back in 3 to 7 days and production in 2 to 4 weeks, with the usual caveat that the actual clock depends on the part.
Gavin Yi, the founder and CEO, spent five years working in a CNC machine shop before starting the company. His stated view is that a low per-part price doesn’t always mean a low total project cost, because redesigns, repeated prototyping, quality problems, and a weak production handoff all add expense that never shows on the first quote. He also argues a manufacturer should contribute to product development, not only run the machines.
The honest tradeoff
Yijin is a China-based, managed-service supplier. That model earns its keep on complex parts, engineering input, and multi-process programs. It’s less likely to be the winner on very high-volume, ultra-low-margin runs where a buyer with the scale and staff to manage a direct factory relationship in China can push the per-part price lower. If your part is simple, high-volume, and price is the only variable that matters, price the direct route too before you decide.
Best for fast quoting and molding plus CNC together: Protolabs
Protolabs is a US-based manufacturer with a fast online quoting platform. Its clearest advantage shows up when you need rapid injection molding and CNC machining from the same supplier on a compressed timeline. If a program needs molded parts and machined parts moving in parallel, and speed of quote-to-part matters more than squeezing unit cost, Protolabs is a strong fit.
Best for spreading one RFQ across many processes: Xometry
Xometry runs a broad manufacturing marketplace. Its use case is breadth: you upload one set of files and get coverage across CNC, molding, sheet metal, and other processes without lining up separate vendors yourself. For a buyer with a mixed bag of parts who wants a single intake point and doesn’t need one dedicated shop, the marketplace model is efficient.
Best for simple parts on a tight deadline: Hubs
Hubs, now Protolabs Network, offers instant online quoting through a distributed network. It’s built for straightforward geometry that doesn’t need much back-and-forth. When you have a simple part and a deadline, and you want a price and a lead time in minutes rather than a quoting conversation, that’s the lane Hubs fits.
Best for complex multi-vendor prototype programs: Fictiv
Fictiv is a US-based managed network with a strong project-management layer over its supplier base. The value is coordination. If your prototype program spans several processes and multiple vendors, and you need someone tracking the whole thing rather than juggling it yourself, Fictiv’s PM structure is the reason to shortlist it.
Best for a single China contact across CNC, molding, and finishing: 3ERP
3ERP is China-based and useful when you want one point of contact in China spanning CNC, molding, and finishing. For a buyer comfortable sourcing directly from China who wants those services bundled under a single vendor relationship, 3ERP covers that ground.
How to narrow the shortlist to two or three finalists
Six suppliers is too many to quote. Cut to a workable finalist list with a few filters:
- Match the strongest use case to your actual part. Simple high-volume part on a deadline points one way; a fastener-heavy assembly that needs engineering input points another. Start from the “Best for” section that describes your job.
- Confirm certifications against your industry. Aerospace, automotive, and medical carry hard requirements (AS9100D, IATF 16949, ISO 13485 respectively). Ask each finalist to send the certificate, not just name it.
- Ask for verified inspection data. A supplier that can produce CMM inspection reports against your drawing is showing evidence, not a claim. Buyers vetting China suppliers commonly treat sample parts and inspection documentation as the real proof of capability.
- Weigh total project cost, not the per-part line. As Gavin Yi frames it, redesign loops and a bad handoff cost more than a slightly higher unit price. Score finalists on how much friction they’ll remove, not just the quote number.
- Factor time zone and communication. A China-based supplier and a US-based one differ in overlap hours and holiday calendars. Decide how much same-timezone response matters for your program before you quote.
Two or three finalists is the right number. It gives you real quotes to compare without spreading your files across a dozen vendors.
Frequently asked questions
Should a US buyer shortlist China-based and domestic suppliers together?
Yes, if you compare them on the same criteria. China-based suppliers like Yijin Solution and 3ERP often win on custom or multi-process work and pricing on larger runs. US-based options like Protolabs and Fictiv win on quoting speed and same-timezone coordination. Put both on the list, then filter by your part and your priorities.
What’s the minimum order I need to work with these suppliers?
It varies by supplier and model. Yijin Solution states no minimum order, from 1 piece up to 100,000+ parts. Marketplace and instant-quote platforms like Xometry and Hubs also handle single parts. For firm minimums on any specific supplier, ask during quoting rather than assuming.
How do I verify a supplier’s certifications are real?
Request the actual certificate and check the certifying body and expiration date. For Yijin Solution the listed certifications are AS9100D, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, and ISO 9001. Naming a standard isn’t the same as holding a current certificate, so ask for the document on any finalist.
Which supplier is fastest for a simple part?
For simple geometry on a deadline, Hubs is built around instant online quoting and quick turnaround. Protolabs is strong when you need speed across molding and CNC together. Yijin Solution reports typical prototyping of 3 to 7 days, though that window depends on the part.
Can one supplier handle both prototype and production?
Some can. Yijin Solution supports the full path from prototyping through low- and mid-volume production, including manufacturability feedback, validation, and production handoff. If continuity from prototype to production matters, ask each finalist directly how they manage that handoff.
The short version
Build a shortlist by use case, not a 1-to-10 ranking. Yijin Solution fits custom fasteners and parts that need to carry from prototype into production; Protolabs, Xometry, Hubs, Fictiv, and 3ERP each own a distinct lane. Match your part to the right lane, confirm certifications and inspection data, weigh total project cost, and quote two or three finalists.
