Online Machine Shops

[CTX-SLPR]

Howdy Folks,

Has anyone used an online machine shop, specifically a waterjet place? Need to get some parts made and since I have solid models of them already it just seems easier to send something to an online jobber and have them ship me the parts.

2x2 pieces (two of two different designs), both made of 3/8in thick 409 Stainless roughly 12x6in max size. Seems reasonable for shipping costs though I guess it would be best to find someplace closer to CA than not.

Thanks,

[TheJDMan]

In my experience the online machine shops are very spendy. Depending on where you live, if you are close one there is a place called "TechShop" which is a chain of DIY machine shops around the country. They recently opened one in Arlington VA. which I use and they currently have three locations in CA and are planning to open a fourth.

http://www.techshop.ws/

Check them out, if one of their locations is anywhere close to you that would be your best bet.

[CTX-SLPR]

Thanks for the headsup on those guys. Ironic that I moved from where their newest location is (I lived in Burke) before moving to the hotbed of their activity (Bay Area). I'll do some looking into what they offer.

Thanks,

[Hemi8]

I've been using Emachineshop.com for the past year and they are fantastic, fair prices, quality work.

Mike

[CTX-SLPR]

I ordered a set of caliper brackets through eMachineshop.com and am waiting for them to be delivered. Will see how they look when they show up. I could have gone through Big Blue Saw I guess since these pieces ended up being out of A36 steel vs. the original 409/410 stainless which is why I originally discounted them.

[Craig510]

I have used H2O Precision in Hayward CA for lots of stuff at work. Reasonable prices and 5 day turnaround and they will ship UPS.

[CTX-SLPR]

Wonder if they'd meet me at the BART station with the parts if I asked them to?

[Craig510]

Wonder if they'd meet me at the BART station with the parts if I asked them to?

I doubt it. They are always pretty busy and ship stuff out daily or we would have a courier or our driver pick it up.

[CTX-SLPR]

Bringing this back up so there is both closure and updates.

So my caliper brackets turned great and a local engineer with experience with the market said he thought the prices were reasonable. I've slowly been machining the 3D profile into the waterjet cut brackets so that project is moving along very slowly but it's moving

I started work on the next bit of custom bits which is replacing the lower rubber bushings with a spherical bearing in a sleeve that fits into the frame. I went with eMachineShop again and the price per part is low ($22.50) but the setup fee is pretty high ($284.00) though they state that the setup fee is flat from 1-20 pieces. I wonder if it would be cheaper to go though someone else for some lathe work on two pieces?

[krom]

do you have any local machine shops? parts like that don't need to be done on a cnc

[CTX-SLPR]

I did go to a local machine shop and it was much cheaper, $85 a piece. We'll take care of that when I get done with my current brake and interior project if I don't get a sudden rush of cash from somewhere.