Ordering a custom CNC-machined part today feels reminiscent of booking travel before the internet—slow, manual, and uncertain. Engineers accustomed to deploying software multiple times per day still wait weeks for physical prototypes, dealing with opaque pricing, unpredictable delays, and inconsistent quality. This friction isn’t just inconvenient; it quietly limits the pace of invention.

Forge Automation is changing this reality by pioneering software-driven CNC manufacturing. Instead of manual quoting and scheduling, Forge’s proprietary platform instantly translates an uploaded 3D design into optimized machining steps—automatically selecting tooling, configurations, and process sequences. It's seamless for both the user and the machinist, collapsing traditional manufacturing lead times from weeks into days.

What makes Forge especially intriguing isn’t simply faster turnaround; it’s how their approach reshapes the dynamics of hardware protoyping. Much like AWS did for computing, Forge turns traditionally rigid manufacturing infrastructure into flexible, scalable capacity. Their reserved machine model lets companies lock in guaranteed CNC capacity, effectively transforming machining into a subscription service. Engineers previously constrained by long lead times and unreliable scheduling can now iterate hardware almost as quickly as software, opening up fundamentally new possibilities in product design.

Such a reality could significantly expand the market for CNC-machined parts. Historically, CNC machining’s lead times and setup costs limited its broader use. Forge’s efficiency dramatically lowers barriers, making rapid, custom machining accessible to more products, earlier in development cycles, and at larger scales. Similar to how elastic cloud infrastructure unlocked entirely new digital services, Forge could unleash vast capability and demand in the physical-product world.

Forge’s approach distinctly sets it apart from existing competitors. ProtoLabs pioneered rapid prototyping but remains constrained by manual review and rigid workflows, limiting scalability. Marketplace-based models like Xometry and Fictiv provide breadth but struggle with consistency due to their reliance on third-party suppliers. Forge’s vertically integrated, software-first strategy uniquely positions it to offer both unmatched speed and predictable quality.

Forge Automation represents a meaningful shift toward a future where manufacturing capacity behaves less like rigid infrastructure and more like scalable software resources. Forge will redefine how and when hardware is developed, accelerating physical industries in the process.

Views expressed are my own and do not represent Pioneer Fund or Forge Automation.