A Solid Model (CAD) file (while very useful) doesn't contain all the information you need to convey what a good part is. There are an innumerable amount of things you want to convey to the manufacturer what you are looking for, from masking parts of a surface, to how parts need to be packaged, to which of the dimensions are the most important and how you should measure them (GDT etc).
There are services out there that you just upload a solidpart file and they give you a price. They are highly automated, cheap and quick. The parts are not high quality. Often their standard tool sets cant machine a feature. They communicate that and you have to make other arrangements, either alter your design, or plan on doing some post processing. I was actually supposed to place an order with one today, but had some problems with capability so I am altering the design to accommodate those limitations.
They are out there, but they are usually stuck running basic processes that are essential to products but can't be trusted with incoming hires to maintain quality. Ironically, incoming hires usually work on more bespoke projects because they aren't as essential to the business being successful (unless the process has been highly automated, and then no one gets any real machining experience). Shops are weird like that.
I ask this because if I need something machined, I just send an onshape link to a friend with a shaepoko or run a fabworks order, neither of which need 2ds. I can't do half depth through fabworks because it's just lasered, although I've had significantly fewer issues with fabworks than with shaepoko guy.
Dumb question, but can't you go from a CAD file direct to gcode in fusion for CNCs?
A Solid Model (CAD) file (while very useful) doesn't contain all the information you need to convey what a good part is. There are an innumerable amount of things you want to convey to the manufacturer what you are looking for, from masking parts of a surface, to how parts need to be packaged, to which of the dimensions are the most important and how you should measure them (GDT etc).
There are services out there that you just upload a solidpart file and they give you a price. They are highly automated, cheap and quick. The parts are not high quality. Often their standard tool sets cant machine a feature. They communicate that and you have to make other arrangements, either alter your design, or plan on doing some post processing. I was actually supposed to place an order with one today, but had some problems with capability so I am altering the design to accommodate those limitations.
Its sad, but good machinists are a dying breed.
They are out there, but they are usually stuck running basic processes that are essential to products but can't be trusted with incoming hires to maintain quality. Ironically, incoming hires usually work on more bespoke projects because they aren't as essential to the business being successful (unless the process has been highly automated, and then no one gets any real machining experience). Shops are weird like that.
I ask this because if I need something machined, I just send an onshape link to a friend with a shaepoko or run a fabworks order, neither of which need 2ds. I can't do half depth through fabworks because it's just lasered, although I've had significantly fewer issues with fabworks than with shaepoko guy.