Pre-shaped stock

At eMachineShop, pre-shaped stock is material that comes in special forms other than sheets, plates, blocks or rods. For example, a round or square tube is considered a pre-shaped material. You might be able to reduce cost by specifying a pre-shaped material. For example, a shape that can be made by drilling holes in a hollow tube requires less machining time than starting with a block of material or rod. A part having a one inch square cross section may be more efficient to cut from one inch square bar stock. Note that specifying to use pre-shaped stock does not always reduce price.

To specify pre-shaped stock: 

1. For rectangular or round bars draw the outside shape of the raw stock using the Auto line type. For beams (I, T, L, etc.) - model the bounding rectangle of the beam using the Auto line type and draw the shape of the beam using Comments To Machinist.
   
2. If the stock is a tube, draw the inside using the Comments To Machinist line type. 
3. Draw any desired features such as holes, notches, slots, etc. 
   
4. Add Comments To Machinist text (e.g. "Use stock shape equivalent to mcmaster.com #123456). 
5. It might decrease cost by adding a tolerance (e.g. "ID 1.00 +/- 0.02, OD 1.10 +/- 0.02").
6. To see a 3D view you can temporarily change the Comment To Machinist line to Auto.
7. Place your order as usual - you will be credited per the actual machining cost and time savings, if any. 
8. If you want to approve the price or delivery time before your job is processed, add Comments To Machinist "For quotation only". See menu Line | Machine | Comments to Machinist about how manual pricing is done.