eMachineshop

[starman]

I was watching the Science channel a few minutes ago and they pitched these guys...eMachineshop

You download a design tool, design anything you want. Upload it back to eMachines and they will actually build the product you designed for you. They will quote you the cost of the product, you pay them online, and a few days later, receive the part in the mail.

The girl host designed an aluminum skateboard in about 20 minutes and was charged $260. They say they have no limitations..will build basically anything for you...I guess the cost could get in the way of some things.

They might have some application for some of us...though I would pass it along.

[POLAND_SPUD]

thx starman great find!!
this idea seems new but it makes sense

anyone has m16 plans?

[frankrede]

that is so awesome!

[starman]

Yeah, building "anything" is a more daunting task than you might think. They were talking about hardened metals, plastics, wood and combination of many materials. CNC machining has aided this process a bunch, but I'm sure there's many things that could give them some challenge.

They may draw the line at building parts for real weapons, but they didn't indicate as much. The website more than likely will outline the real limitations of their service.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

nice one, do they do international shipping?

[starman]

nice one, do they do international shipping?

Yep...

(from FAQ page)
Do you ship internationally?
Yes and shipping cost is automatically calculated in the software.

They are based in the US, BTW.

eMachineShop
31 Industrial Ave.
Mahwah, NJ 07430
Tel: 201-962-7511

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Brilliant, once a design for a working semi/auto breech is established (and it will be established, it's only a matter of time), one could then provide an online kit of parts available to those who would like to replicate it.

As long as the price is right of course, when I have a decent PC available I'll have a play with the design tool and see what can be done and at what cost.

[starman]

Brilliant, once a design for a working semi/auto breech is established (and it will be established, it's only a matter of time), one could then provide an online kit of parts available to those who would like to replicate it.

As long as the price is right of course, when I have a decent PC available I'll have a play with the design tool and see what can be done and at what cost.

From what I could tell the design tool is fairly complete and does a lot common bounds checking and materials strength calculations for you. I could see several "standard" parts developed that don't exist easily with the plumbing parts we work with commonly...parts we have to cobble together, breeches, standard pistons, etc are just parts that could be ordered and cemeted in place...and work perfectly.

My worry is pricing. One-offs are going to be pricey almost by default. I wonder if they would build counts of 100 or 1000 for significant discounts.

[POLAND_SPUD]

I am affraid that it's going to be very expensive

bcarms should design hmm let say a 2" aluminium piston valve and order 600 of them and then sell them for 15$ each

[BigGrib]

I've tried eMachineshop and it's cool in theory, i'm just not technically saavy enough to do all that stuff. but it'd be cool for someone who knows how to do it.

[pizlo]

Do they make epoxy parts?

[paaiyan]

o.O

This is EXACTLY what I need. Forget modifying a rifle stock for my paintball gun, maybe I'll just have these guys injection mold a custom one.

[SEAKING9006]

This is probably this single coolest thing I've seen here in a while. Could really help with making tiny little parts and making receivers. I could see this used in loading mechanisms for blow-forwards. (Like mine.)

[pat123]

I got a nice, free CAD program

but $172 dollars for a 2" aluminum piston with grooves A little expensive

[paaiyan]

A little expensive if you only buy one, yes.