Found this on CNN this morning.
You download the software, design the part yourself and if it can be built, you send it off for a price quote!

SWEET! I will have a custom bracket made for both of my oil gauge sensors soon.

http://www.emachineshop.com/

CNN article: http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/i....html

 

I thought it was sweet too... until I thought about it. What it really is, is a very clever business plan for the owner. I don't have proof but I'd guess the output from the free software is unreadable on anyone else's system.

Also be aware all it does really is get you software. One silly little CNC bracket will STILL cost you $500.


Modified by kb58 at 6:08 PM 9/9/2004

 

Yeah I saw this a while back... heres their pricing... http://www.emachineshop.com/faq/prices.htm

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kb58 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought it was sweet too... until I thought about it. What it really is, is a very clever business plan for the owner. I don't have proof but I'd guess the output from the free software is unreadable on anyone else's system.

Also be aware all it does really is get you software. One silly little CNC bracket will STILL cost you $500.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually the prices aren't that bad and they drop with quantity.

$200 for a 10" part that has a lot of machining is resonable to me.

The thing that would make me wonder is, is there some clause that allows them to use your design and make money off of it without giving you credit.

 

That looks like it has some great potential

 

It has the same potential as any CNC shop. Free software aside, I suspect a local CNC shop's prices aren't much different. Also (I suspect) the free software locks you into dealing only with them. For people at home that's okay but it would be really poor for a business to hook up with them if the drawings aren't portable.

 

Just get the newest autoCAD available. EVERY program has a way to input AutoCAD nowdays. Then you can take it to a local shop and not have to pay design fees.

 

there are no real design fees since you do the design. However if you have tried thier software (had it for like 3 weeks) you realize just how sub par it really is. It has to be the worst cad package i have ever seen put together. And to only be able to bring in .dxf files is crap. They should incorporate file types from 3d modeling programs if they want to really have a good capable setup.

just my $.02

not bad for simple flat parts or sheetmetal however.

 

That guys testimonial on the prices page under the bosch style FPR looks good. That regulator looks sweet too, anodized and all, just like something you could buy. If you had a good idea you could probably make money off this site by selling your own parts.