Thread: Ordering specific 'parts' - I can't make myself?

This might be a strange request, but I'm looking for a resource where I can order specific parts for various models that I might be building.

When I say specific, what I mean is that when I do a project, there are often parts that I cannot make/put together myself without access to very specialized, expensive equipment - For example, very small but complicated parts, whether they be made of some kind of plastic or some kind of metal, are nearly always impossible to achieve with my limited tools (If not impossible, then very inaccurate and poorly made).

This will often mean that I might have to scrap a project altogether, wasting days (maybe weeks) of work.

What I am looking for is some kind of company, where I can send them a 3D CAD file, 'blueprints', or some other kind of accurate specification/data of a part, and they will build it for me, and mail it back.

I really have no idea of where to look for such a company, and as yet have a very limited knowledge of how (even if) they operate - For example are certain companies specific to certain materials? (One might deal with plastics and another with metals?)

I would greatly appreciate any knowledge/experience you could share with me about this.

Thanks alot,
bit4bit

no-one knows of any companies I can contact?

What part of the world are you from ? Because i know there are plenty of engineering workshops here in the UK, if you are not from the UK you could try your yellow pages (or white pages ).

Same as you, England. Birmingham to be specific.

More-a-less the engineering capitol of the world. I'm sure there's something out there.

Perhaps someone like this then http://www.edwards-precision.co.uk/ . I do know of a couple of backstreet workshops down here in Brighton which are able to make anything you can think of out of metal, so i'm sure as you say in a place like Birmingham you will be able to find something local.

Sir, you are a genius! Exactly what I'm looking for - In fact that address is actually fairly local to me too, I might go and hunt them down tomorrow.

Thank you,
bit4bit.