First Online Factory

By Adam Wright | Mon, 7 Jul 2008

Average 40 Hours of Engineering and Administrative Time For Single Custom Part Reduced to as little as 15 minutes

Midland Park, NJ – June 21, 2004 – eMachineShop (www.emachineshop.com) is believed to be the world’s first online factory enabling any company, organization or individual to design, price, and instantly order custom mechanical parts. From initial design 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 price quotations, and eventually get your part – often paying more than necessary while adding weeks of delay.”

As value of manufactured goods output reaches $1 trillion every month* online custom parts expected to grow exponentially.

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. eMachineShop has produced parts for electronic panels, enclosures, signs, scientific devices, parts for airplanes, cars, motorcycles and trucks, ocean buoys, sensor mechanics, cameras and many other applications.

“The value of manufactured goods in April, 2004 was $989 billion*. As the global economy continues to recover, online manufacturing services such as eMachineShop have enormous potential. Barely out of the starting gate, eMachineShop has already processed nearly 1,000 orders,” Mr. Lewis commented.

eMachineShop at-a-glance

To begin, users download eMachineShop’s free CAD software. During the design phase, eMachineShop’s automated machining expert analyzes the shape, material and finish to keep the user informed of any physical limitations, thereby making it easy for both engineers and non-engineers 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 processes include CNC milling, turning, punching, blanking, laser cutting, plastic extrusion, thermoforming, tapping, bending, water jet cutting, wire EDM, injection molding and others. 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 located at 31 Industrial Ave., Mahwah, NJ 07430. Web site: www.emachineshop.com.

*National Association of Manufacturers, Statistics section, www.nam.org.