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Best online sheet metal fabrication services: 10 platforms compared.

FabDigit, SendCutSend, OSH Cut, Xometry, Protolabs, Fabworks, Fictiv, Protolabs Network, RapidDirect and Ponoko on the same verified columns — what is cut and bent, with which hardware, welding, finishing and heat treatment, at what price policy, with which inspection reports and certifications.

Facts checked September 13, 2026 on each vendor’s site · Same columns for every platform · FabDigit runs this site

Upload DXF or STEP — instant FabDigit quoteSheet metal cost guide

Pick by situation

Sheet metal splits cleanly by what the part needs after the laser: nothing, a few bends, or hardware, welds and finish. Start with the platform whose published limits cover your part.

Your situationStart withWhy
Flat brackets and simple bends, a few piecesSendCutSendAlso consider: OSH Cut; Fabworks for parts over 30 × 44 inPublished prices, 175+ stocked materials, free US shipping from $39, 24-hour tier available; bends ±1° to 130°.
Plate over 1/2", or laser-cut tubeOSH CutAlso consider: Fabworks (tube laser); XometrySteel and aluminum to 1" thick, stainless to 5/8", tube laser to 10" diameter, all in its own shops. SendCutSend cuts to 2.25" on waterjet but bends only to 0.250".
Enclosure or chassis with PEM hardware, welds and powder coatFabDigitAlso consider: Xometry (manual quote for welded assemblies); Protolabs (welding +1 day, powder coat +2)Hems, welds, hardware and any of 150+ finishes quoted together in one instant price with an engineer’s DFM check; SendCutSend does no hems or coining and OSH Cut does no welding, plating or anodizing.
Lowest price on a like-for-like quoteFabDigitAlso consider: Send the competing quote to FabDigit firstPrice-beat offer printed on every quote: send the competing quote for the same part, quantity, material, bends and finish and FabDigit almost always beats it. No other platform here publishes a beat policy.
Plating, anodize, e-coat or heat treatment on the finished partFabDigitAlso consider: Xometry (59 sheet finish options); SendCutSend (anodize, zinc / nickel plating, powder coat)150+ finishes and 30 heat treatments priced per line in the quote. OSH Cut lists deburr, blast and powder coat only; Fabworks lists anodizing as coming.
Certified prototype in under a weekProtolabsAlso consider: Xometry (3-day standard, ISO 9001 / AS9100D)3-day tier for parts up to 0.125" with 12 or fewer bends from its own ISO 9001 / ITAR factory; FAI report available.
Sheet metal and CNC parts on one purchase orderFabDigitAlso consider: Xometry (adds casting, extrusion and 3D printing to the same order)Both quote milling, turning and sheet metal in one engine; FabDigit adds one engineer across both, injection molding on the same PO, and the inspection reports chosen per line.
Repeat production, 100–5,000 pieces, with inspection paperworkFabDigitAlso consider: Fictiv (program management)First-article inspection on every order; 4 inspection levels and 8 certificates (CoC, mill certs, traceability, DFARS) selected in the quote; partner shops hold ISO 9001:2015. SendCutSend does not guarantee the accuracy of its material test reports.
Non-metal: acrylic, wood, compositesPonokoAlso consider: SendCutSend (acrylic, wood, composites in its 175+ list)250+ laser materials including plastics and wood, same-day production.

Side by side

Read from each vendor’s own pages on September 13, 2026. Production model matters more here than in CNC: the four that cut and bend in their own shops publish exact machine limits; the networks publish the envelope of their suppliers.

PlatformMaterialsFinishes & heat treatmentPrice policyInspection & certificatesStandard lead timeSheet metal tolerance
FabDigitthis site790 grades, all quotable150+ finishes · 30 heat treatmentsPrice-beat on every quote4 inspection levels · 8 certificates, per line5–7 business days±0.1 mm · ±0.5° bends
SendCutSend175+ sheet materialsAnodize, Zn / Ni plating, 15 powder coatsPublished prices; volume −80 %MTRs on request, accuracy not guaranteedShips in 2–4 days±0.005" laser · ±1° bends
OSH Cut500+ sheet, plate, tubeDeburr, blast, powder coat; no platingInstant; auto volume discountsNot published2 days, guaranteed±0.005" standard
Xometry50+ CNC materials65 CNC · 59 sheet finish optionsInstant; no match policyStandard incl.; FAIR, CMM optional3–7 business days±0.015" edge-to-bend · ±1°
Protolabs30+ CNC materialsAnodize, chromate, bead blast, powder coatExpedite / Standard / Economy tiersUp to AS9102 FAI3 days; Economy 7–18±0.005" edge · ±1°
FabworksSteel, stainless, aluminum onlyTapping, PEM; powder coat via partnerInstant; no match policyNot published1–2 days simple orders±0.002–0.005" laser · ±1°
Fictiv45+ CNC materials28 CNC · 34 sheet finish optionsInstant; 5 qty tiers; no match policyFree dimensional report; FAI, PPAP extraCNC 1–10 daysAs low as ±0.005"
Protolabs Network (Hubs)75+ materials37 CNC · 17 sheet finish optionsInstant; "competitive pricing" claimNot publishedFrom 5 business days±0.2 mm · ±1°
RapidDirect100+ materials; 30+ CNC30 finishesInstant; no match policyFAI, CMM, RoHS on request5 days + 3–10 days transitISO 2768-m / -c
Ponoko250+ incl. plastics, woodNot publishedPublished: from $50; −93 % at 10kNot publishedNot published±0.13 mm

The ten, ranked by fit

FabDigit first — we run this site and say so, as every platform does on its own comparison pages. The other nine follow by how many sheet metal buyers each fits: cut-and-bend breadth, published thickness, size and bend limits, in-house hardware and finishing, lead time and certifications. Every fact on every card is the verified one from the table above.

01 · our pick

FabDigit

Dublin, California, USA · founded 2025 · Private (FABDIGIT INC., California corporation)

Best for: enclosures, chassis and welded assemblies with the full finish menu (powder coat, anodize, plating, e-coat, passivation, 150+ options), heat treatment and PEM hardware priced in one instant quote, an engineer checking the flat pattern and bend order, 4 inspection levels chosen in the form, and a price that beats the competing quote.

Materials
790 grades, all quotable
Finishes & heat treatment
150+ finishes · 30 heat treatments
Price policy
Price-beat on every quote
Inspection & certificates
4 inspection levels · 8 certificates, per line
Standard lead time
5–7 business days
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.1 mm · ±0.5° bends

Strengths

  • 790-grade material library — the largest published among these platforms — every grade quotable
  • 150+ finishes, 30 heat treatments and 33 post-processes priced in the quote, not by email
  • Price-beat policy printed on every quote: send a lower quote for the same part and FabDigit beats it

Limits

  • Founded 2025 — a young company; references on request rather than a long public record
  • Parts are made in a vetted partner network; FABDIGIT INC. is the contracting party and quality reviewer

Company facts · checked September 13, 2026

02

SendCutSend

Reno, Nevada, USA (facilities in Nevada, Kentucky and Texas) · founded 2018 · Private

Best for: flat and simply bent parts in small quantities at published prices, from 175+ stocked materials, shipped in 2–4 days — all in its own US shops.

Materials
175+ sheet materials
Finishes & heat treatment
Anodize, Zn / Ni plating, 15 powder coats
Price policy
Published prices; volume −80 %
Inspection & certificates
MTRs on request, accuracy not guaranteed
Standard lead time
Ships in 2–4 days
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.005" laser · ±1° bends

Strengths

  • Published example prices and volume discounts up to 80 %
  • Everything made in-house, 24-hour tier available
  • 175+ stocked materials from 0.015" to 2.25"

Limits

  • Cuts are 2D perpendicular only — no V-grooves, contours or partial-depth cuts
  • Bends to 130° only; no hems, coining, curls or roll forming; no custom bend radii

sendcutsend.com · checked September 13, 2026

03

OSH Cut

Spanish Fork, Utah, USA (second facility in Burlington, Kentucky) · founded 2018 · Private

Best for: thick plate (to 1"), tube laser and long bends (to 119") with instant in-browser DFM and a 2-day standard that is guaranteed as selected.

Materials
500+ sheet, plate, tube
Finishes & heat treatment
Deburr, blast, powder coat; no plating
Price policy
Instant; auto volume discounts
Inspection & certificates
Not published
Standard lead time
2 days, guaranteed
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.005" standard

Strengths

  • Plate to 1" thick and tube laser in the same quote
  • Two-day standard with the selected lead time guaranteed
  • ISO 9001:2015 certified

Limits

  • No CNC machining and no welding
  • Cosmetic parts are not protected — minor marks are expected

oshcut.com · checked September 13, 2026

04

Xometry

North Bethesda, Maryland, USA · founded 2013 · Public (Nasdaq: XMTR)

Best for: sheet metal that stops being simple — welded assemblies, hems, curls, PEM hardware, 5 × 10 ft blanks — inside the same quote as CNC and molding, with ITAR and AS9100D.

Materials
50+ CNC materials
Finishes & heat treatment
65 CNC · 59 sheet finish options
Price policy
Instant; no match policy
Inspection & certificates
Standard incl.; FAIR, CMM optional
Standard lead time
3–7 business days
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.015" edge-to-bend · ±1°

Strengths

  • Widest process range of any platform here, all in one quoting engine
  • Full compliance stack: ISO 9001 / 13485, AS9100D, IATF 16949, ITAR, CMMC L2
  • Free standard shipping on US orders

Limits

  • The shop that makes the part is not disclosed
  • Custom materials, threads, hems and welded assemblies fall out of the instant quote into manual review

xometry.com · checked September 13, 2026

05

Protolabs

Maple Plain, Minnesota, USA · founded 1999 · Public (NYSE: PRLB)

Best for: certified sheet metal prototypes on a 3-day or 5-day tier, made in its own New Hampshire factory with FAI available.

Materials
30+ CNC materials
Finishes & heat treatment
Anodize, chromate, bead blast, powder coat
Price policy
Expedite / Standard / Economy tiers
Inspection & certificates
Up to AS9102 FAI
Standard lead time
3 days; Economy 7–18
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.005" edge · ±1°

Strengths

  • Parts made in Protolabs-owned factories — repeatable process, one QMS
  • 1-day CNC and sheet metal with published expedite tiers
  • Inspection options up to AS9102 FAI on the quote

Limits

  • Factory milling envelope 22 × 14 × 3.75 in — larger parts route to the Network
  • Quotes arrive within hours, not seconds

protolabs.com · checked September 13, 2026

06

Fabworks

Ventura, California, USA · founded 1980 · Private (Sessa Manufacturing and Welding, Inc., d/b/a Fabworks)

Best for: large flat and bent parts — 96" bends and 96 × 47 in blanks — with next-day production on small orders.

Materials
Steel, stainless, aluminum only
Finishes & heat treatment
Tapping, PEM; powder coat via partner
Price policy
Instant; no match policy
Inspection & certificates
Not published
Standard lead time
1–2 days simple orders
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.002–0.005" laser · ±1°

Strengths

  • 96" bend length and 96 × 47 in parts — larger than SendCutSend publishes
  • Next-day production on small orders
  • Tube laser cutting

Limits

  • Limited material list by design
  • No CNC machining; welding and anodizing listed as coming

fabworks.com · checked September 13, 2026

07

Fictiv

Oakland, California, USA (offices in Phoenix, Guangzhou, Bengaluru, Pune, Monterrey) · founded 2013 · Owned by MISUMI Group (acquired 2025 for $350 million)

Best for: managed sheet metal programs with pre-order DFM and up to five quantity tiers in one quote.

Materials
45+ CNC materials
Finishes & heat treatment
28 CNC · 34 sheet finish options
Price policy
Instant; 5 qty tiers; no match policy
Inspection & certificates
Free dimensional report; FAI, PPAP extra
Standard lead time
CNC 1–10 days
Sheet metal tolerance
As low as ±0.005"

Strengths

  • Four manufacturing regions — tariff and capacity resilience
  • Free dimensional inspection report on CNC parts
  • Up to five quantity tiers in a single quote

Limits

  • Does not support ITAR parts or projects
  • Ships to the US and Canada only

fictiv.com · checked September 13, 2026

08

Protolabs Network (Hubs)

Amsterdam, Netherlands (cross-docks in Amsterdam and Chicago) · founded 2013 · Owned by Protolabs (acquired 2021 for $280 million)

Best for: European buyers wanting laser-cut and bent parts in 1–6 mm stock with duties covered.

Materials
75+ materials
Finishes & heat treatment
37 CNC · 17 sheet finish options
Price policy
Instant; "competitive pricing" claim
Inspection & certificates
Not published
Standard lead time
From 5 business days
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.2 mm · ±1°

Strengths

  • Five-second instant quote
  • Import duties and customs covered on EU, UK and US orders
  • Local-or-global manufacturing choice per order

Limits

  • Standard lead time from 5 business days
  • Sheet metal limited to 1–6 mm and four material families

hubs.com · checked September 13, 2026

09

RapidDirect

Shenzhen, China · founded 2009 · Private

Best for: mid-volume sheet metal from China with ISO 9001 / 13485 / IATF at company level, accepting transit and import duties.

Materials
100+ materials; 30+ CNC
Finishes & heat treatment
30 finishes
Price policy
Instant; no match policy
Inspection & certificates
FAI, CMM, RoHS on request
Standard lead time
5 days + 3–10 days transit
Sheet metal tolerance
ISO 2768-m / -c

Strengths

  • Own factories plus network — capacity for mid-volume runs
  • ISO 13485 and IATF 16949 at company level
  • 24-hour rush on simple CNC prototypes

Limits

  • Door-to-door adds 3–10 days plus customs and US tariffs
  • No ITAR

rapiddirect.com · checked September 13, 2026

10

Ponoko

Oakland, California, USA (founded in Wellington, New Zealand) · founded 2007 · Private

Best for: laser-cut acrylic, wood, composites and thin metal with same-day turnaround in the Bay Area.

Materials
250+ incl. plastics, wood
Finishes & heat treatment
Not published
Price policy
Published: from $50; −93 % at 10k
Inspection & certificates
Not published
Standard lead time
Not published
Sheet metal tolerance
±0.13 mm

Strengths

  • Broadest non-metal material range of the group
  • Same-day production and Bay Area delivery
  • Published starting price and 30-day terms for business accounts

Limits

  • Laser-focused: 2D cutting plus bending; no CNC machining
  • Same-day guarantee limited to select materials and processes

ponoko.com · checked September 13, 2026

Online sheet metal services — FAQ

What is the best online sheet metal fabrication service?

It depends on the part. For enclosures, chassis and welded assemblies with finish, hardware and heat treatment priced in one instant quote, an engineer checking the flat pattern, 4 inspection levels chosen in the form and a price-beat offer on every quote, FabDigit. For a $40 flat bracket at a published price, SendCutSend. For thick plate and tube, OSH Cut. For casting or 3D printing on the same order, Xometry. For a certified prototype on a 3-day tier from its own factory, Protolabs. The decision table maps each situation to a start.

Which online sheet metal services do bending, hardware and welding?

All ten bend. Hardware: SendCutSend, OSH Cut (400+ self-clinching), Fabworks (100+ PEM), Xometry, Protolabs, FabDigit, Fictiv. Welding: Xometry (manual quote), Protolabs (+1 day), FabDigit, Fictiv, RapidDirect; SendCutSend offers seam closing only; OSH Cut, Fabworks and Hubs do not weld (Fabworks lists it as coming). Hems: Xometry, Protolabs (5-day tier), FabDigit, Fictiv; SendCutSend and OSH Cut do not hem.

What thickness can online sheet metal services cut and bend?

Cutting: OSH Cut to 1" (steel, aluminum), SendCutSend to 2.25" on waterjet, Xometry 0.024–0.250" typical, Protolabs 0.024–0.250", Fabworks bends to 1/4", Hubs 1–6 mm, FabDigit 0.5–12 mm sheet (laser to 25 mm carbon steel, 20 mm stainless). Bending is thinner than cutting everywhere — SendCutSend bends 0.030–0.250", OSH Cut to 3/4".

What tolerances do online sheet metal services hold?

Cut features ±0.005" is the common claim (SendCutSend under 12", OSH Cut, Xometry auto-quote, Protolabs under 0.13" stock, Fictiv, Fabworks ±0.002–0.005"). Bend angle ±1° everywhere, ±0.5° at Fictiv and FabDigit. Bend-to-edge ±0.010" (Protolabs, Hubs, RapidDirect) to ±0.015" (Xometry, SendCutSend, Fabworks). Hubs and RapidDirect publish ±0.2 mm on cut features.

How fast is online sheet metal fabrication?

Standard: SendCutSend ships in 2–4 business days, OSH Cut 2 days, Fabworks 1–2 days on simple orders, Xometry 3 days, Protolabs 3- or 5-day tier, FabDigit from 3 business days, Fictiv 2–14 days, Hubs and RapidDirect 3–7 days plus shipping. Fastest: SendCutSend within 24 hours, OSH Cut same day, Fabworks next day before 9 am PT, Protolabs 1 day, Ponoko same day in the Bay Area. Powder coat adds 2–7 days everywhere.

Which sheet metal services are ISO 9001 or ITAR?

ISO 9001: OSH Cut, Xometry, Protolabs, Fictiv, RapidDirect, Protolabs Network, Ponoko (listed); FabDigit’s production partners hold ISO 9001:2015. ITAR: Xometry, Protolabs and Ponoko state registration. SendCutSend and Fabworks publish no certifications; Fictiv states it does not support ITAR.

Do I need a 3D model or is a DXF enough?

A flat DXF is enough at SendCutSend, OSH Cut, Fabworks, Xometry and FabDigit for cut-only parts. For bent parts, OSH Cut, Fabworks and FabDigit unfold a STEP automatically; SendCutSend accepts STEP too. Protolabs and Fictiv quote from the 3D model.

Looking at one vendor in particular? See SendCutSend alternatives and Xometry alternatives.

Sources

Facts read from each company’s own public pages on September 13, 2026; FabDigit runs this site and is listed first. Prices are compared as published policy, not as one number — our sampled prices are in the CNC and sheet metal cost guides. This page covers laser-cut and formed sheet metal ordered online in the US, including hardware, welding and finishing. Stamping, tube bending and roll forming are noted only where a vendor offers them online. Vendor names identify the services compared and belong to their owners. Out-of-date fact? sales@fabdigit.com.

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Upload a STEP or DXF: FabDigit prices cut, bend, hardware, weld and finish together, an engineer checks the flat pattern, and you choose the inspection reports in the form.

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