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 - 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 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 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 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.
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:
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
Rapid Prototyping
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 - 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.
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.
Materials
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.
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 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 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 - 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 - 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.