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Your Idea Deserves to Exist in Metal.
From a napkin sketch to a finished functional prototype — we work with inventors, engineers, and startups to turn concepts into real, holdable, testable metal parts. Steel, aluminum, stainless, chromoly, titanium, exotic alloys, and more. Whatever stage your idea is at, we can help you take the next step.
WHERE IDEAS BECOME REAL
Every product that has ever been manufactured started as an idea in someone's head. At some point between that idea and a finished product, someone had to build the first one. That is where we come in.
At Metal Head Fabrication LLC, we specialize in taking concepts — at whatever stage they exist — and fabricating them into real, physical, functional metal prototypes. We have worked from fully developed CAD drawings, from rough hand sketches, from physical reference samples, and from verbal descriptions with a whiteboard conversation. However your idea exists right now, we can work with it.
What sets us apart from a standard machine shop is the level of involvement we bring to the process. We do not just cut and weld what is on the paper and hand it back. We work across the full range of metals — from common structural steels and aluminum to high-performance alloys like chromoly, nickel alloys, titanium, and exotic specialty materials — and we bring a fabricator's real-world knowledge of how each one behaves to every project we take on. If we see something that could be a structural weakness, a manufacturing problem, or a material choice that may not perform the way you intend, we tell you. Before the metal gets cut. Because catching a problem at the design stage costs far less than catching it after the prototype is built.
As a veteran-owned business, we bring discipline, attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to getting it right to every prototype we build. We understand that your prototype is not just a piece of metal — it is the physical proof of your idea. We treat it accordingly.
TRUSTED BY INNOVATORS
Prototype Fabrication for the Companies Building Tomorrow
Metal Head Fabrication LLC has had the privilege of working with Heron Power — a Santa Cruz County based industrial technology startup founded by former Tesla executive Drew Baglino — on the fabrication of their early-stage metal prototypes. Heron Power is developing purpose-built industrial power electronics for large-scale solar and storage systems and next-generation data center infrastructure, and has raised over $140 million to bring their technology to market.
The details of those builds are protected by a non-disclosure agreement, as they should be. What we can tell you is that being trusted to fabricate the first physical prototype for a company of that caliber — built to the precision and confidentiality standards that cutting-edge technology development demands — is not something we take lightly.
If your project requires discretion, precision, and a fabricator who understands what is at stake, you are in the right place.
WHAT WE BUILD
Prototype Fabrication for Every Stage and Every Need
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Single One-Off Prototypes
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Your first build. The one that proves the concept works, or tells you what needs to change. We fabricate single prototypes with the same attention to detail we bring to every job — because your first prototype sets the standard for everything that comes after it.
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Proof of Concept Builds
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Sometimes you need something physical to show investors, partners, or your own team before committing to full development. We build proof of concept pieces that accurately represent your design intent and can withstand the scrutiny of a presentation or early-stage testing environment.
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Functional Mechanical Prototypes
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Prototypes that need to actually work — move, support load, withstand pressure, or interface with other components. We fabricate functional mechanical prototypes built to perform, not just to look right. We pay close attention to tolerances, joint integrity, and material selection for the intended application.
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Structural & Architectural Prototypes
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Scaled or full-size structural prototypes for construction, architecture, and engineering applications. If your project requires a physical model that accurately represents structural behavior and material performance, we have the fabrication capability to deliver it.
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Decorative & Artistic Prototypes
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Not every prototype is industrial. If you are a designer, artist, or product developer working on something that needs to be visually refined as well as structurally sound, we bring the same craftsmanship to decorative and artistic prototype work that we bring to everything else.
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Small Batch Runs
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Once your prototype is dialed in, sometimes you need a small quantity — five pieces, ten pieces, twenty — before committing to full-scale production. We handle small batch fabrication runs for clients who need more than one but are not yet ready for a manufacturer's minimum order quantity.
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Iterative Prototype Developmen
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Most great products are not built right on the first try. We work with clients through multiple versions of a prototype — incorporating feedback, addressing structural issues, refining dimensions, and improving manufacturability — until the design is exactly where it needs to be to move forward.
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WHATEVER YOU HAVE, WE CAN WORK WITH IT
You Do Not Need a Perfect Plan to Get Started
One of the most common reasons people hesitate to reach out to a fabricator is that they feel their idea is not developed enough. They are waiting until the drawings are cleaner, or until they have CAD files, or until they have figured out every detail.
Do not wait. Here is what we can actually work from:
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CAD Files & Engineering Drawings
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If you have professional drawings ready, we work directly from them and fabricate to your specified tolerances and dimensions.
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Hand Sketches & Rough Drawings
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We have built from chicken-scratch drawings before. As long as the key measurements, features, and intent are there, we can work with it. We will ask the right questions to fill in any gaps before anything gets cut.
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Physical Samples & References
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If you have an existing part, a competitor's product, or a physical reference you want us to match or improve on, bring it in. We work from real-world objects as readily as we work from drawings.
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Concepts & Ideas
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If your idea lives entirely in your head, start with a phone call or a consultation. We will help you get it out of your head and into a form we can fabricate from.
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In every case, before any fabrication begins, we confirm all critical dimensions and features, clarify the material and finish requirements, and make sure we are both looking at the exact same thing. No assumptions. No surprises.
OUR APPROACH
We Do Not Just Build What Is on the Paper
When you hire a fabricator to build a prototype, you are hiring someone who works with metal every single day. That experience comes with a perspective that is genuinely valuable — and we make it available to every client we work with.
If we see something in your design that concerns us — a joint that may not hold up under the intended load, a geometry that will be difficult to manufacture cleanly, a material choice that may not perform the way you expect in the application — we say something. We do that before the metal gets cut, not after.
We are not engineers and we do not overstep. We are fabricators, and we bring a fabricator's knowledge of what works and what does not in the real world of steel, heat, and mechanical stress.
Think of it as having a second set of experienced eyes on your design at no extra cost. Not to slow the process down — but to make sure that when your prototype comes out of our shop, it performs the way it was supposed to.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Individual Inventors & Makers
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You have an idea and you want to see if it works. We are one of the most important relationships you will build as an inventor. We take first-time builders seriously and we bring the same level of care to a one-person operation as we do to a funded startup.
Startups & Product Companies
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Early-stage companies building physical products need a fabrication partner who understands speed, precision, and confidentiality. We work under NDA when required and understand the stakes involved in early prototype development.
Engineers & Product Designers
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You know exactly what you want built and you need a fabricator who can execute it accurately and communicate clearly when something needs clarification. We speak your language and we respect your specifications.
Contractors & Builders
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Custom metal components, one-off structural pieces, and specialty fabrications that do not fit a standard catalog are our specialty. If you need something built that nobody makes, we can make it.
Established Businesses & Manufacturers
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Product line extensions, replacement components, tooling, and custom fixtures — if your business needs a fabrication partner for non-standard metal work, we are available for ongoing relationships as well as individual projects.
How It Works
From Concept to Completed Prototype
Step 1 — Initial Consultation
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Tell us about your project. What it is, what it needs to do, and what stage your design is at. We will ask the right questions to understand the full scope before we give you any kind of timeline or quote. This conversation is free and there is no obligation.
Step 2 — Design Review & Clarification
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We review whatever design materials you have — drawings, CAD files, sketches, or samples — and identify anything that needs clarification before fabrication begins. If we see potential issues, we raise them here. We confirm all measurements, materials, and finish requirements before anything is cut.
Step 3 — Fabrication
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Your prototype is built in our shop with precision and care. We work to your specifications and maintain open communication throughout the build if anything unexpected comes up that warrants a conversation.
Step 4 — Review & Iteration
- Once the prototype is complete, we walk you through it together. If adjustments are needed — dimensional changes, structural modifications, finish refinements — we discuss the scope and build the next version. We stay with you through as many iterations as the project requires.
NDA & CONFIDENTIALITY
Your Idea Is Safe With Us
We understand that a prototype is often the most sensitive stage of a product's development. Designs are unpatented, concepts are unproven, and the competitive value of what you are building is at its highest.
We take that seriously. We work under non-disclosure agreements when required and treat every prototype project with the same discretion we extend to our existing clients. What you build in our shop stays in our shop.
If your project requires a formal NDA before discussion begins, bring it. We will review it and we will sign it when the terms are reasonable.
Where We Work
Proudly Serving Scotts VAlley & Beyond
Metal Head Fabrication LLC is based in Scotts Valley, California. We work with prototype clients locally and throughout the region, and are open to discussing remote consultations for clients outside our immediate service area who need fabrication work done in our shop.
Primary Service Areas: Scotts Valley | Santa Cruz | Capitola | Aptos | Watsonville | Ben Lomond | Felton | Boulder Creek | Los Gatos | San Jose | Campbell | Saratoga | Monterey | Pacific Grove | Carmel | And surrounding Bay Area communities
Not sure if we cover your area? Give us a call and we will let you know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need To Know About Metal Prototype Fabrication
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Do I need to have CAD files or professional drawings to get started?
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Not at all! We have worked from hand sketches, rough drawings, physical samples, and verbal descriptions. What matters is that we can get enough information — measurements, features, material, and intent — to fabricate accurately. If your drawings are rough, we will ask the right questions to fill in the gaps before anything gets built.
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How much does a prototype cost?
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Every prototype is priced individually based on the complexity of the design, the material, the required tolerances, and the scope of fabrication. Contact us for a consultation and we will give you a detailed quote once we understand the full scope of your project.
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Can you build under a non-disclosure agreement?
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Yes! We work under NDA when required and treat every prototype project with full discretion regardless of whether a formal agreement is in place. If your project requires an NDA before discussion begins, bring it and we will review it.
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What metals can you use for a prototype?
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We work across a wide range of metals and alloys depending on what your prototype needs to do. Standard materials include steel, aluminum, stainless steel, wrought iron, and Cor-Ten weathering steel. For applications that demand higher performance, we also work with alloy and exotic metals including chromoly steel, nickel alloys, and titanium.
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If your project specifies a material not listed here, contact us directly and we will have a straightforward conversation about whether it falls within our capability. During your consultation we will help you identify the right material based on your application, operating environment, strength requirements, and eventual production plans.
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Can you help me figure out if my design will actually work?
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We are fabricators, not engineers — but we bring a fabricator's real-world knowledge to every project. If we see something in your design that concerns us structurally or from a manufacturability standpoint, we will tell you before the metal gets cut. Think of it as a practical second opinion built into the process at no extra cost.
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What if the first prototype needs changes?
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That is completely normal and expected. We work with clients through multiple iterations — refining dimensions, adjusting features, improving structural details — until the design is where it needs to be. Each iteration is scoped and quoted individually so you always know what you are committing to before work begins.
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Can you do small production runs after the prototype is approved?
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Yes! Once your prototype is dialed in, we can fabricate small batch runs before you are ready to commit to full-scale manufacturing. Contact us to discuss quantities and we will let you know what is feasible for your project.
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How do I know my idea is safe with you?
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We work under NDA when required and treat every prototype project with complete confidentiality. We do not discuss client projects publicly without explicit permission, and the details of every build stay between us and the client. Period!
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READY TO BUILD YOUR FIRST PROTOTYPE?
Let's Talk About Your Idea!
Whether your concept is fully engineered or just getting started, we want to hear about it. Give us a call, describe what you are trying to build, and we will tell you honestly whether we are the right shop to help you get there.
Based in Scotts Valley, CA — Serving Santa Cruz County & the Bay Area