CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
21 June 2004
Product News
eMachineShop.com World's First Online Factory Enables Instant Design and Delivery of Custom Mechanical Parts
eMachineShop is an online factory enabling any company, organization or individual to design, price, and instantly order any mechanical part. From initial contact to placing an order, the entire process takes as little as 15 minutes.
According to Jim Lewis, eMachineShop president, "Whether you are designing a new part or are in need for more of an existing part, getting custom parts is time consuming and costly. Until now, you had to buy and learn expensive and complex CAD software, make technical drawings, locate a machine shop, find a way to transmit the drawings to the machine shop, discuss the design with an accomplished machinist, sift through numerous price quotations, and eventually get your part-often paying much more than necessary while adding weeks of delay."
Mr. Lewis added, "eMachineShop is an innovative solution offering the easiest, most cost-effective way to turn ideas into real 3D parts at both prototype and production quantities. Whether for a new invention, an existing product or construction of a space rocket, eMachineShop revolutionizes the whole process. In just it's first two quarters of operation, eMachineShop has produced parts for electronic panels, enclosures, signs, scientific devices, parts for airplanes, cars, motorcycles and trucks, ocean buoys, sensor mechanics and cameras.
To begin, users download eMachineShop's free CAD software. During the design phase, eMachineShop's automated machining expert analyses the shape, material and finish to keep the user informed of any physical limitations, thereby making it easy for engineers and non-technical people to successfully design parts.
A built-in software expert system provides step-by-step guidance through the process, often totally eliminating the need for expensive engineering support and the associated delays, saving even more time and money. For example, if a sheet metal bend is too close to an edge, the software will advise the user in seconds.
A 3D preview helps visualize the final part before ordering. From the customer's screen to delivery at the customer's door, eMachineShop takes care of everything totally transparently. "Although not as fast, it's almost like the transporter in Star Trek," said Mr. Lewis.
eMachineShop currently offers CNC milling, turning, punching, blanking, laser cutting, plastic extrusion, thermoforming, tapping, bending, water jet cutting, wire EDM and will soon add injection molding. Surface finishes include brushing, plating, powder coating, anodizing, polishing, grinding, and more. Materials range from a broad selection of metals, plastics, woods, composites and others.
eMachineShop is a subsidiary of Micro Logic, a privately held technology organization. Web site: http://www.emachineshop.com
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