# Vibe Manufacturing > Independent guide to going from idea to physical product: measure, have an AI model write the CAD as code, check manufacturability, prototype, and order from on-demand factories. ## Playbook (13 steps) - [1. Measure everything](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/measure-everything): Bad measurements are the number one reason a first build fails. Capture reality before you ask a model to design anything. - [2. Have a frontier model write the design as code](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/design-as-code): Describe the part in plain language and let the model emit OpenSCAD or CadQuery. Code-based CAD is diffable, parametric and easy to fix. - [3. Use real CAD files](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/use-real-cad-files): Shapes that merely look right do not get manufactured. Factories want STEP, DXF or STL, matched to the process. - [4. Make sure it can be made](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/check-manufacturability): Ask the model to audit the design against real shop rules: bend radius, minimum hole size, tolerances, clearances. - [5. Prototype in plastic first](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/prototype-in-plastic): A desktop 3D printer tests fit overnight for a few dollars of filament, before you pay for metal. - [6. Pay an engineer for one hour](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/pay-an-engineer-one-hour): Before the first real order, a mechanical engineer reviews your files. It is the cheapest insurance you will buy. - [7. Send it out](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/send-it-out): Instant-quote manufacturers cut, bend, machine and print your part and ship it in days. - [8. Add the brains](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/add-the-brains): Most smart features run on a cheap Wi-Fi chip like the ESP32. Design the board in KiCad and control it with ESPHome. - [9. Make one, then fix it](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/make-one-then-fix-it): Your first version will be off somewhere. Order a single unit, test it, and adjust. - [10. Do the math](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/do-the-math): Add up parts, finishing, assembly, packaging and shipping. Custom products are hard to resell, so price for healthy margins. - [11. Sell the design and make to order](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/sell-the-design-make-to-order): Let customers adjust the measurements and only manufacture after they pay. Zero warehouse, zero unsold stock. - [12. Handle the boring part](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/handle-the-boring-part): If it plugs into a wall or touches kids, you need safety certification. It is slow and annoying, which is exactly why it is a moat. - [13. Scale when it works](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/playbook/scale-when-it-works): Once orders are steady, switch to batch runs and your cost per unit drops fast. ## Guides - [How to design a part with an LLM (OpenSCAD and CadQuery)](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/guides/design-a-part-with-an-llm): A practical prompt structure for getting a parametric, manufacturable design out of a language model. - [Which CAD file format for which manufacturing process](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/guides/which-cad-file-format): STEP, DXF, STL, 3MF, Gerber: what each format is for and when a factory will reject it. - [The first-order checklist](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/guides/first-order-checklist): A short checklist to run through before you pay for your first manufactured part. - [What is vibe manufacturing?](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/guides/vibe-manufacturing-explained): Vibe manufacturing is the idea that anyone can turn a described product into a real physical object using AI-written CAD and on-demand factories. ## Comparisons - [SendCutSend vs Xometry](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/compare/sendcutsend-vs-xometry): Which on-demand manufacturer fits your first part: SendCutSend for flat and bent sheet metal, or Xometry for machined and plastic parts? - [JLCPCB vs PCBWay](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/compare/jlcpcb-vs-pcbway): Two popular PCB services compared for makers building ESP32 and other smart-product boards. - [Alibaba vs domestic on-demand shops](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/compare/alibaba-vs-domestic-shops): When overseas sourcing beats instant-quote domestic manufacturing, and when it does not. ## Tools and factories - [SendCutSend](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/sendcutsend): Instant quotes for laser cut, waterjet and bent sheet metal from DXF or STEP files. - [Xometry](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/xometry): On-demand CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal and injection molding with instant quotes. - [Protolabs](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/protolabs): Rapid CNC machining, injection molding and 3D printing aimed at engineering teams. - [JLCPCB](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/jlcpcb): Low-cost PCB fabrication and assembly with a large in-house parts library. - [PCBWay](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/pcbway): PCB fabrication, assembly and also CNC and 3D printing under one roof. - [Alibaba.com](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/alibaba): Global supplier marketplace for custom parts, components and white-label manufacturing. - [Bambu Lab](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/bambu-lab): Consumer 3D printers that make overnight fit-test prototypes practical. - [Polycam](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/polycam): Phone LiDAR scanning app for capturing rooms and objects as measurable 3D meshes. - [Digital calipers](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/calipers): The cheapest accuracy upgrade in the whole process. - [Zoo (Text to CAD)](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/zoo): Generates real CAD from a text description, with an API and code-based modelling. - [OpenSCAD and CadQuery](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/openscad-cadquery): Free, open-source code-based CAD tools that language models write well. - [Upwork](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/tools/upwork): Freelance marketplace for booking a mechanical engineer to review your files for an hour. ## Business ideas - [Made-to-measure pet doors and gates](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/made-to-measure-pet-doors): A product that has to fit one specific doorway, sold with the customer's own measurements. - [Custom metal signs and house numbers](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/custom-metal-signs-and-house-numbers): Laser-cut names, numbers and logos, sold as a configurator. - [Parametric desk stands and monitor risers](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/parametric-desk-and-monitor-stands): Workspace furniture sized to the customer's desk, monitor and setup. - [Custom enclosures for smart home devices](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/smart-home-enclosures): Housings and mounts for ESP32 boards, sensors and Home Assistant gadgets. - [Replacement parts for discontinued products](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/replacement-parts-for-discontinued-products): The small plastic or metal part that broke on a product the manufacturer no longer supports. - [Mounts and brackets for niche gear](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/niche-mounts-and-brackets): The bracket nobody sells: cameras, drones, vans, boats, e-bikes accessories and workshop tools. - [Boutique electronics gadgets](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/boutique-electronics-gadgets): A small connected device: sensor, display or controller, built on an ESP32. - [Jigs and fixtures for small workshops](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/ideas/jigs-and-fixtures-for-workshops): Custom work-holding and templates for shops that make things. ## Studio and agents - [Studio](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/studio): brief, cost, matching manufacturers and quote request in one flow - [For agents](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/agents): MCP, REST and open JSON data to match a part spec to manufacturers - [Open data index](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/data/suppliers/index.json): per-country supplier JSON at /data/suppliers/{CC}.json ## Manufacturer directory - [Directory](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/suppliers): contract manufacturers by country and process, compiled from open data and company websites (see https://vibe-manufacturing.com/bot) - [Switzerland](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/suppliers/switzerland): 316 manufacturers - [Germany](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/suppliers/germany): 1357 manufacturers - [Request a quote](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/request-quote) ## For agents - [MCP server card](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/.well-known/mcp.json): read-only MCP endpoint at https://vibe-manufacturing.com/api/mcp (search_site, get_playbook_step, list_manufacturing_tools, estimate_product_cost, find_suppliers, match_manufacturers, submit_quote_request) - [OpenAPI](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/openapi.json): REST endpoints /api/search, /api/cost, /api/suppliers and /api/match - [WebMCP manifest](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/.well-known/webmcp): in-page tools ## Contact - [Contact](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/contact): message form, reply by email - [Imprint](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/imprint): legal notice ## About the data - [Methodology](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/methodology): sources, detection rules, confidence levels, refresh cycle and limits - [Open data](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/data): the directory as JSON per country, with licenses - [Full text](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/llms-full.txt): playbook, guides, comparisons and ideas as one plain-text file ## Disclosure - [Affiliate disclosure](https://vibe-manufacturing.com/disclosure): Some links are affiliate links; recommendations are independent.