Inventors Council of Central Florida


Fabrication Resources

The best idea in the world is fairly worthless without being able to fabricate it.  Here we have a listing of vendors our members have used and had a positive experience.  While past experience is no guarentee of future experience, this is a good place to start.  If you use any of these resources please tell them you found them through us.

If you have contributions to this list please contact us with a link and a brief description of the service including why you found it helpful to you and we will get it posted for you.

Manufacturing Tips

Getting your invention manufactured can be quite complicated. Brian Taylor, an international logistics expert, shared a little of his hard earned knowledge with us at our November 2018 meeting.  He gave us information on how to plan and execute the manufacturing process.  He left us with this slide deck but it does not do real justice for all we learned from him.but it is worth a look.

Build Assistance 

These are groups who are in the business of working with your concepts to build prototypes (or short runs) of your product. They have been recommended by various inventors but it is always up to you to verify they are a good fit for you. When you outsoruce your design process you need to expect to pay for the expertise and capital investment made by the company who is helping you. It is extremely rare to find a company who will provide this service for an interest in the product.

2 PI Labs Logo Bronze Supporter Level 2 PI Labs - 2-Pi Labs, based in Orlando, FL, can take your product idea from concept to working prototype and beyond. We do electronics design, embedded software development, mechanical design, product modeling, and prototyping. With in-house 3D printers, electronic PCB assembly machines, CNC mills, lathes, laser cutters and other machine processes, we can help you get your product ideas out to market faster. Contact: Create@2PiLabs.com

FamiLab Logo

FamiLAB is Central Florida’s provider of workspace, tools, and community for creative technical learning and projects. If you are looking for a great place to meet like-minded people, learn, collaborate on projects, and have access to great tools, FamiLAB is the place for you! FamiLAB welcomes makers, artists, thinkers, hackers, crafters, and everyone else – come wield your imagination in any (legal and ethical) way you see fit. Think of FamiLAB as a club for geeks!  Whether you are an art geek, hardware geek, photography geek, code geek, lab geek, or any geek in between–we would like you to join us at the lab and teach a class, lead a lecture, or simply work on a project while surrounded by awesome people. If you can think of it, come build and share it at the lab.

Lime Design Logo

Lime Design is a South Florida-based full-service Product Development Company specializing in all aspects of Product and Invention Development. Headquartered in Hollywood FL, from initial concept to manufacturing, our team provides a proven, human-centered design process. Servicing established companies and independent inventors, we empower our clients with creative design solutions to thrive in a competitive market. We keep our edge by continually adding fresh talent to the Lime Design, Engineering, and Marketing Team! We are the Versatile Design Ninjas you have been looking for.

Manufacturers Association of Central Florida Logo

Manufacturers Association of Central Florida is a great place to get directed to a Central Florida manufacturer that may be interested in producing your idea. Contact the Executive Directory, Donnie Casey at this link. He spoke with us 10/5/24 and is very excited about new projects.



Outlaw Solutions and Concepts Logo Outlaw Solutions and Concepts
Their Introductory Message
An Essential Provider of Manufacturing Technology for Plastic Product Development. We are a low cost solution provider that follows a process to help you get the information you need. We can help you answer questions like:

  • How much will my idea cost to manufacture?
  • What kind of legal protection do we need?
  • How can I find out what kind of sales volumes are needed to break even?
  • How can we find the right resources that can manufacture what we need?
  • How long will the development process take?
  • What’s the best way to confirm the product design proof-of-concept without commiting large amounts of capital? 
  • Their Location
    Seminole, FL
    Our Comments
    This is a business located in the St. Petersburg area which operates on the basis of low overhead and cost effectiveness. Our Pesident met them at the 2016 RAPiD show in Orlando. He was impressed with their ephasis on using affordable steps to move the project forward.

    Computer Aided Design 

    These are links to software packages that can be used to create 3D models of your project. It will be up to you to learn how to use them and do it yourself. There is always a trade off between sweat equity and cash.

    Fusion 360 Logo, Click for Website

    Autodesk Fusion 360 - Here is fully implemented 3D CAD package which can run on your computer or via the web. It uses a tree structure and parametrics and can be edited ignoring the tree too. You are given online storage so you can access your work from anywhere. Normally this is a subscription service but the Student version will allow a 3 year free license. They offer extensive free video tutorials. What better way to learn 3D modeling?

    Fusion 360 Logo, Click for Website

    DraftSight - This is a fully developed 2D CAD program which functions much like Autocad. It is free and has no strings attached. Dassalt Systems provides this in hopes of getting folks hooked on it and moving them into their very expensive 3D CAD program, Solidworks (see below).


    eMachineShop Logo, Click for Website

    eMachineShop.com - eMachineShop offers fabrication of your parts by 3D printing, Milling, Laser Cutting, Punching, Injection Molding, and Rubber Compression Molding. To make things easier they offer their own 3D CAD package for free. You can download it to your own computer and work off line. When online price quotes can be obtained instantly. The software even has built in checking for design errors related to your selected manfuacturing process. Video tutorials can be found on their website. The user interface is quite a bit different from most 3D CAD software.

    FreeCAD Logo, Click for Website

    FreeCAD - FreeCAD is a parametric 3D modeler made primarily to design real-life objects of any size. Parametric modeling allows you to easily modify your design by going back into your model history and changing its parameters. FreeCAD is free, open-source, and highly customizable, scriptable and extensible. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux and reads and writes many open file formats such as STEP, IGES, STL, SVG, DXF, OBJ, IFC, DAE and others. There are extensive tutorial videos on Youtube. Since this is open source the learning curve is a little more intense than mainstream packages.

    Kiri Engine Logo, Click for Website

    Kiri Engine - is a free 3D scannning app that uses your smartphone. With the free version you can scan and process as many items as you like but can only download 3 per week. The paid version has quite a bit more capability. The website has instructions on how to get good scans. Do not expect this to have the same accuracy as the $60,000 hardware but what do you expect for free?

    SketchUp Logo, Click for Website

    SketchUp - This is fun 3D CAD program which was intended for creation of digital models. There is a free version and a paid version. The free version will allow you to make nice 3D images but will not allow output of printable files such as .stl. The paid version will. The interface is pretty intuitive and easy to learn. This would be a great way to put together a quick rendering of your concept but you will be backed into a corner when it comes to converting it to something real.

    FreeCAD Logo, Click for Website

    Solidworks - This is a solid fully mature 3D CAD package and you will pay the price for it. At over $10,000 for a license and an annual maintenance fee of overe $1,500 you better be serious about this.

    Rapid Prototyping 

    3D Hubs Logo, Click for Website

    Hubs.com - This is an on-line service which allows you to select the material type and printing technology then it provides a list of vendors capable of printing your part. The network of printers range from amatures professional printing services so pricing and your experience may vary. There are ratings though so you should not be suprised.

    JMS 3D Printing Logo, Click for Website Bronze Supporter Level

    JMS3DPrinting.com - Jim Stana, retired mechanical engineer with 40 years of design experience, can help you turn your idea into a 3D printed product prototype. (up to 10 x 8 x 8 inches in size in durable ABS plastic.)

    He can create the required CAD model if you don’t have one and apply his knowledge make the parts functional. He also has extensive experience in Lean Six Sigma manufacturing and creating production cost models to see how your concept might compare with the competition. Located in Mt Dora, FL.

    P3D Creations Logo

    P3D Creations - Your one-stop maker shop for 3d printing, Laser Cutting, and CNC Milling/Routing. Whether it's a unique gift, one-off prototypes, your latest art piece, or a small production run, we can make it happen. We have access to 6 3D Printers, a 24" vinyl cutter, and a variety of machine tools. This, combined with our expertise and experience in a variety of fields, means we can help you make your project into a reality. Email us to inquire about a project or our capabilities.

    Located in Fern Park. This is part of the new wave in low cost rapid prototyping where talented folks use hobby grade printers to produce quality parts. Nick and Katie are very capable with their tools. I submitted a part to a commercial 3D printing company and they could not print it but P3D Creations produced a good one on the first shot.

    Rapid Prototyping Services Logo

    Rapid Prototyping Services - Rapid Prototyping Services brings CAD files and design ideas to life using Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM). Test fit, form, and function – and as many design iterations as you like – with functional plastic models made out of the following materials: ABS, POLYCARBONATE, ULTEM 9085 and POLYPHENYLSULFONE.

    They are located in Satellite Beach. Ken will be glad to discuss your needs and get you a part quickly. I got mine in 2 days.

    Scicon Technologies Logo

    Scicon Technologies Corporation - Rapid Prototype facility. Located in Valencia, CA and WA. Contact Jim Kelly in sales and tell him Leigh Martin from Lightfoot Ventures sent you (She promised to recommend him). He will likely give a discount if he knows you are part of the CFIC. They do SLA, SLS, CNC, RTV Urethane and Silicone casts. Very helpful and inexpensive. They will sign an NDA repair messed up files and always call you back. Even on the weekends..
    email: jim@scicontech.com, mobile (661) 209-0011, office (661) 295-8630 x 192

     Materials

    ACME Logo, click to go to site

    ACME Industrial Surplus - If you ever wondered where manufacturers unload their used stuff you gotta check this place in Sanford out. They have everything from sheet plastic, aluminum I Beams, huge metal shears, micrometers, screws, bolts, electric motors... Aw heck, just check out their website. Their pricing is reasonable too. Be prepared to wander around for a while. It is organized but very interesting.

    Alro Metals Logo, click to go to site

    Alro Metals Outlet - Are you looking for special metal types or shapes? Alro has all kinds of cutoffs of just about everything.

    Aluminum Supply Logo, click to go to site

    Aluminum Supply - Here you can get pretty much any type of aluminum extrusion. And, better yet, in any quantity. Including a single short piece. They will cut it for you. They also have cut-offs if you want to browse for that "it will do" piece.



    Repurposed Materials Logo, click to go to site

    Repurposed Materials - Save the planet and buy your prototyping material from this place. Maybe you have the right idea on how to use some of these large volume unused materials and start a whole new business. You never know what you will find.

    Reynolds Advanced Materials Logo, click to go to site

    Reynolds Advanced Materials - Supplier of plastic and rubber casting supplies. Located right here in Orlando. They even have classes to teach you how to make your own parts.





    Skycraft Logo, click to go to site

    Skycraft Parts & Surplus - Electronics parts, motors, wire, wheels, gears, fastners, plastics, metals and whatever is available here. This is one of those places where you will stay longer than planned. You never know what you will find.


    Machining

    5 axis CNC milling machine -  One of our members, Mike Hauert, has made a significant investment in a 5 axis CNC milling machine and can fabricate amazing parts for you.  He is located in Clermont FL and can be reached at:  ctemachine@yahoo.com 352-536-4428

    EMW Laser Logo, click to go to site EMW Laser has provided unsurpassed delivery and quality to the job shop laser market from Largo FL since 1991. Starting as a job shop for laser marking needs to the medical, aerospace and automotive industries and local machine shops, EMW has advanced to become one of the largest laser job shops in the southeast. They have innovated the use of lasers to engrave mold cavities for the injection mold industry, in addition to logos and graphics for EDM electrodes. Over the years, we have expanded our size and capabilities moving into laser welding and laser cutting.

    Preferred Metal Products Logo, click to go to site

    Preferred Metal Products - This is a full fledged metal fabrication production facility located in Orlando which was recommended by one of our speakers.  Their website indicates they have modern equipment and are capable of producing a wide variety of parts mostly using sheet metal bending, welding, punching, laser cutting, and polishing.  They also do full milling.

    Sewing

    EGT Global Trading Logo, click to go to site

    EGT Global Trading - specializes in offshore manufacturing services for inventions of textiles and sewn-items, bags, baby and fashion accessories, unique arts & crafts items, and household inventions. It was founded in 1997, with a goal to link U.S. inventors with Asian manufacturers, to provide an exclusive import service for sourcing, quality control, production testing and safety issues, manufacturing, international financing, shipping, customs clearance arrangements, and dock-to-door delivery. Ms. Tolchin holds a U.S. Customs Broker License, and has extensive experience with U.S. Customs and Customs Brokers.

    Edith G. Tolchin, the propriator, is the author/editor of several invention books and is a regular contributor to Inventors Digest Magazine. She regularly provides pro bono presentations for inventors’ organizations and trade shows throughout the USA on topics such as “Importing Basics for Inventors™,” “Offshore Manufacturing for Inventors™, and on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. She is an Officer Emeritus of the Board of the Directors of the United Inventors Association, and is an expert in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act’s requirements for product safety issues, the General Conformity Certificate and Tracking Labels. Suffice it to say she wants to see you succeed and has the knowledge to do it.

     
     

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