Get high-quality manufacturing services for your custom robotic prototypes and production parts. Launch products faster, reduce risks, and streamline production processes with on-demand production at competitive prices.
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At SHBD Metal, we have years of experience prototyping and manufacturing parts for robotics and automation applications. We use rapid prototyping and digital manufacturing techniques to produce high-performance prototypes and parts that fit seamlessly within complex robotic systems.
SHBD Metal is an ISO9001-2015 certified manufacturer that can guarantee reliable parts and prototypes suitable for industrial robotics and automation.
We can fulfill orders of virtually any size, from one-off prototypes to full production.
Equal parts machine shop and digital manufacturing specialist, we offer a range of manufacturing technologies and services, from CNC machining to 3D printing.
Our precision machining allows for tolerances down to +/- 0.005 mm, suitable for micro and nano robotics systems.
Our extensive facilities and partner network allow us to fulfill orders quickly, no matter the quantity or complexity.
We have been manufacturing robotics and automation parts for over a decade and our skilled engineers know how to get the best outcomes from your designs.
Our engineers will review your designs immediately to provide a fast and accurate quotation for the project.
At SHBD Metal, we provide robotics and automation customers with rapid prototyping and services like CNC machining and Injection Molding. Our expert team has the knowledge and skills to help bring new product concepts to life. For more information on our prototyping capabilities and how we serve the robotics industry, contact us or request a quote today.
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The robotics and automation industry requires a wide range of parts made from both metals and plastics. Typical priorities for robotics customers include:
Below are some of the types of robotics parts we can manufacture for you:
The robotics and automation industries are closely linked. Automation is a broader category that describes the use of machines, computers, and other equipment to perform tasks — manual, mathematic, procedural, etc. — that would otherwise need to be carried out by human workers. Robotics, on the other hand, is the use of physical robots to perform physical tasks.
Robotics and automation often go hand in hand, as in industrial manufacturing. In an automotive factory, for example, an assembly line typically consists of hundreds of manufacturing robots performing automated tasks, sometimes with the aid of machine vision. However, automation can exist without robotics (in software automation, for example) and robotics can exist without automation (such as a medical robot controlled by a surgeon).
As a specialist in the prototyping of physical components, SHBD Metal receives many orders for robotics components. But we can also produce other types of automation parts such as conveyor belt components, automatic control equipment, and logic controller components.
Robotic end effectors — essentially the "hands" of the robot that can perform tasks like gripping or manipulating — are key components in a robotic system. Prototyping robotic end effectors is an important stage in the development of a robotic system, as it allows the engineer to test certain designs, materials, and fabrication techniques. Because end effector components like sensors and actuators are used to achieve highly precise control and feedback, it is important to carry out iterative prototyping and testing to achieve optimal performance.
SHBD Metal offers wide range of manufacturing processes for robotics & automation prototypes and production parts.
By using CNC milling & turning, we can make a wide range of prototypes and production parts for the robotics sector with high precision and repeatability.
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We offer low-volume prototype moldings and mass production moldings for robotics components requiring high-volume plastic parts.
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We provide 3D printing services using a range of cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies for metal or plastic robotics parts.
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Laser cutting, bending, stamping, spinning, punching, welding — ideal for enclosures, panels, and structural robotics components.
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In the robotics industry, most robotic systems typically require a rugged, sturdy frame that allows the system to perform a range of useful mechanical motions, such as swiveling, extending, or carrying out a specific task with its end effector. At SHBD Metal, we can use our range of manufacturing processes and reliable materials to make high-quality metal parts like frames, shoulder joints, and gears.
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Many robots — particularly those used in manufacturing — have similar structures when it comes to parts like the arm and shoulder, but the end effector is what makes the robot unique and allows it to perform its chosen function. An end effector or end of arm tooling (EOAT) often requires several complex and intricate components that work together to allow the robot to grip, pick, cut, or do whatever it is tasked with doing.
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As well as structural and task-specific parts, SHBD Metal is equipped to make casings, housings, tubing, and other important components for robotic assemblies. Made from plastic or metal, these important parts can be used to house structural elements, as well as mechanical and electronic components. Prototyping robotic housings can be achieved with low-cost processes like 3D printing or urethane casting.
Get Instant QuoteFor the years we have gathered relevant experience that enables us to handle any robotic projects. Here's the gallery of robotic prototypes and production parts for our worldwide clients.
We offer a huge range of material possibilities with all our manufacturing processes. Some common choices for robotics projects are listed below.
| Material | Properties | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum (6061, 7075) | Lightweight, excellent machinability, good thermal conductivity, corrosion resistant | Robot frames, structural components, heat sinks, enclosures, end effector components |
| Stainless Steel (304, 316) | High strength, excellent corrosion resistance, good wear properties | Robotic grippers, precision shafts, medical robotics, food-grade automation parts |
| Titanium | High strength-to-weight ratio, excellent corrosion resistance, biocompatible | Aerospace robotics, medical robotic devices, lightweight structural parts |
| Nylon (PA6, PA12) | High wear resistance, low friction, excellent fatigue resistance | Gears, bearings, sliding components, snap-fit parts, cable management |
| ABS / PC-ABS | High impact strength, good dimensional stability, easy to paint and finish | Robot casings, housings, enclosures, prototype shells |
| PEEK | High temperature resistance, chemical resistant, excellent mechanical strength | High-performance robotics components, sensor housings, semiconductor automation |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | High impact resistance, optical clarity, good dimensional stability | Robot vision system components, protective covers, transparent enclosures |
SHBD Metal offers wide variety high level surface finishes. We only list some of the common finishing options. There are more finish options for custom parts for Robotics Industry.
Metals & Plastics · Tool marks visible · N/A
Metals & Plastics · Brushed & gloss mirror surface · 0.02-0.05mm removed
Metals & Plastics · Matt or satin surface · N/A
Metals & Plastics · Matt, gloss, texture · Colors matched · 0.05-0.1mm
Metals · Matt, Gloss & Texture · Colors matched · 0.05-0.15mm
Aluminum · Smooth, Matt & Gloss · Colors matched · 0.002-0.04mm
Metals · Matt & Gloss · Black · 0.015-0.035mm
Metals · Gloss · Silver · 0.004-0.05mm
Metals & Plastics · Satin & Gloss · Silver · 0.001-0.3mm
Metals · Gloss · Silver & Black · 0.005-0.2mm
Aluminum · Smooth, Matt · Clear/slight yellow · 0.25-1μm
