What’s the lead-time and do those prices include shipping?
From order to doorstep usually runs 8-10 days, sometimes faster. This last order I did had six parts and the standard DHL shipping cost me $34, so about $7/part. I ordered a single machined bulkhead as a test a while back and the part was $15 and shipping $18, so you take a hit on a small order. I use them a lot for custom PCBs and DHL from China to SoCal usually take 2-3 days.
What is the best open source software folks like for
1) Creating the files to send for milled/drilled/machine stock (reductive fabrication)
2) Creating stuff using 3d printing (additive fabrication)
I'm primarily a Mac user, so I use the free/personal version of Fusion 360 for both CNC machining (step, dwg, dfx) as well as 3D printing (stl). But if your parts are simple and you are just getting started I would recommend using something like sketchup. The online version of sketchup is easier to learn and you can export to stl for 3D printing or to DFX and DWG for machining.
I love the guys at send-cut-send, but they are only cutting, drilling, and bending.
For JLC3DP and PCBway in china, I just upload a step file, specify the material and finishes, and they figure out how to make it. JLC3DP seems slightly lower cost than PCBway, but they are both very similar. Unfortunately, there is nothing even close in the USA that competes with the ease and price point of ordering for "one off" or prototype orders. Their 3D printing is also very good and crazy cheap.
They also do laser engraving and silk screening and other services. Below is a photo of a custom machined box/remote top that had to be milled to .1mm specs to slide perfectly over a PCB with switches, buttons, and LEDs sticking up. It also required a very fine 1.5mm step on the sides to slide into an aluminum hammond project box. They machined it, anodized it, and silk screened it for $40 and it fit perfect. amazing!
