3-day aluminum. 5-day complex. Real metal.

Yes for simple aluminum parts with material in stock. "Simple" means: 3-axis machining possible, common aluminum grade (6061 or 7075), standard tolerances (±0.05 mm), no complex finishing, single-setup design. About 40% of RFQs fall in this category. Requires PO confirmation and CAD approval by 10 AM Wuxi time to start same-day; ship 3 business days later.

Rush: 1.5× standard cost, ~60% of standard lead time. Simple aluminum: 2 days (vs 3). Standard parts: 3-4 days (vs 5-7). Used when deadlines matter more than cost. Reserved capacity gets scheduled for rush orders — we can't infinitely absorb rush requests, so booking early matters.

We review CAD for manufacturability before starting. If we find issues (tolerance impossible, feature inaccessible, wall thickness problem), we flag immediately with specific recommendations. Typical turnaround: 4 hours from RFQ receipt. If DFM changes needed, we pause the clock until revised CAD arrives — your deadline shifts accordingly.

3D printing wins for: extremely complex internal channels impossible to machine, very low quantity of very complex parts (1-2 unique geometries), geometry with no draft angle accessible for machining. For most engineering prototypes in metal, CNC is faster and better. For plastic prototypes, MJF/SLS nylon is often the right choice.

Yes with rush service. Order Monday morning Wuxi time (Sunday evening US), manufacture Mon-Wed, ship Wednesday via DHL Priority 3-day. Parts arrive Friday or Monday in US. Total 5-8 calendar days from PO to US doorstep. For UK/EU customers: similar 5-7 day total. For Japan/Korea: 4-6 day total.

Simple aluminum bracket (25 mm × 50 mm × 10 mm): $25-50 per part at qty 5. Mid-complexity 6061 housing (100 × 80 × 40 mm): $80-200 per part. Complex 5-axis aerospace bracket: $300-1000+ per part. Rush service adds 50%. Shipping $50-150 depending on weight and destination. Compare to US domestic: typically 2-3× our pricing.