eMachineShop.com

[davidtu]

Has anyone tried this? Seems kinda cool!

http://www.emachineshop.com/

[dbray]

Looks very cool, I wounder what something would cost. I might try it just to see.

Regards, Daryl

[LCHIEN]

Cost you at least $100 for setup charges... But quotes are free

Cost you at least $100 for overhead of setup charges but quotes are free.
I'm not 100% sure butit sounds like their quote software reduces operations directly to NC machine instructions.
I don't know if you've priced other machine shops but that's not unreasonable, then. A one-up at a local machine shop may charge you less for setup charges IF the piece is real simple and they can use a scrap peice of metal (you're not fussy about the thickness or exact steel or aluminum alloy for example) and they do it manually.

pulled from their site (bold and italics my annotation):

Pricing

How are your prices?
Low! The software performs many of the functions normally performed by people. Our processes are highly efficient we have a high processing volume. Our savings are passed on to you whether you order one part or one million.
The cost of fabricating your job depends on your design, material selection, quantity, machine used etc.
Simple jobs on simple machines generally start at around $100 for setup and as low as $1 per part (or even lower). More complex processes such as injection molding require tooling starting at around $500.
What types of parts are you competitive on?
We are competitive on most types of parts in small or large quantity, except currently for large heavy items with minimal machining. We suggest to review prices for a few different parts of yours at a few different quantities to get a clear picture of our pricing spectrum.
How do I get a price?
A single command in the software gives you a price in seconds. There is no time wasted with price quotations. Download the software, draw or import your design, and you'll get your price.
Can I get pricing variations?
Yes, by giving you pricing immediately you can try as many design changes as you wish to optimize your price.
What is your payment method?
The CAD software allows for ordering by all major credit cards, check or money order.

Can you price my job? Yes, but we do not accept emails requesting price quotations. Prices are provided by the software download. Please take a few moments to download the software - you'll discover an exciting new tool you can use in many ways. We will be pleased to assist you with use of the software.