Yes — order a single piece. One-off prototypes run on the same production machines with the same 100% first-article inspection and CMM reporting as any batch; what changes is setup amortization, not discipline. And when the design is proven, the same part scales from prototype to bridge runs of thousands without changing suppliers.
This is standard practice here, not a favor — here is what MOQ 1 really means for your cost and your timeline.
Programming, fixturing and first-piece proveout are one-time costs that amortize over the batch. On a single part they land in full — which is why an honest per-piece price for 1 piece is higher, and why the real annual quantity always gets you a better number than the first PO alone.
Every run — including the single prototype — gets 100% first-article inspection and a Zeiss CONTURA CMM report with the shipment. The inspection level is a property of the shop, not the batch size.
Prototype → bridge run → series: same machines, same fixturing logic, same engineer. A single part today is the first data point of a production program, not a dead-end order.
Yes, and now you know why: setup amortization. Send the real annual volume with the RFQ and the quote reflects the program, not just the first piece.
A drawing — STEP, IGES, DWG, DXF or PDF, even a dimensioned sketch — plus material, tolerance expectations and finish. Standard RFQs are priced within 4 working hours.
That is the normal path here: prototype, bridge runs of thousands, then series machining or — for plastic parts — an injection mold built under the same roof, with DFM feedback carried through.
Get your one-part quote — 4 working hours →
Deeper reading: 10 costly sourcing mistakes · from prototype to injection mold
