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Link Profile: eMachineShop.Com
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Total of 1 comments
| User: m4040 | Rating: 3 | October 5, 2005 | | User's Average Rating: 3.0 | # of Ratings: 1 | I downloaded the software and learned very quickly that it still has a long way to go as a CAD replacement. It had bugs and quirks, and some major shortcomings, particularly when you try to go beyond a simple 2D shape.
I finally managed to come up with a design that suited my tastes (a large bowie blank). I played around with materials (I settled on 1/4" thick 5160 spring steel), and I played with machines (Laser cutting quoted out as the cheapest and most accurate way to go). I didn't need any finish, as I would be doing all the 3D shaping (grinding, sanding, heat treating, etc). The software quoted me 8 blanks for about $30 ea (not a bad price). I placed my order. The very next day, I requoted it with the software, and it spat out a completely different price where water jetting would have been substantially cheaper. I don't know why the previous price files were so out of whack.
I waited... and waited... and waited... FOR A MONTH, and then I got an email. They claimed to be out of the 5160 spring steel, and suggested 304 stainless as a suitable alternative. Let's forget the fact that their software is supposed to know what materials they have at hand, and shouldn't have let me place the order if they didn't have the stock. 304 stainless is a crap-grade of metal used in deep drawn applications like sinks and saucepans. My design was clearly a knife blank, and even more clearly NOT a kitchen sink. Okay, maybe their tech service folks don't know the difference between quality steel and pig iron, so I decided to clue them in. I suggested about a half dozen grades of steel that would be suitable for the job, including 6150, 4340, 8620, 1080, 1084, 1085, 1090, and 1095. I also told them that I would be open to other material suggestions, as long as they were relatively high carbon steel, not stainless, and to let me know ASAP what they decided upon.
Three days elapsed, and I sent a second email asking for a job status, and material. As I write this, a couple weeks have elapsed, and I have not heard back from them. I don't know what part of the country these guys are in that apparently has no steel suppliers, but here in the Northeast, I could have had pretty much any grade of steel I needed in a day or two, and could have had it either jetted or laser cut with no more than a few days turnaround time.
Simply put, emachineshop.com is a novel concept, but has horrible service, and even worse lead times. Maybe they'll get their act together someday. In the meantime, I'd recommend looking elsewhere.
-M40-
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