Makexyz Connects Local Businesses with Local AM Service Bureaus

Need a part or prototype really fast? Additive manufacturing (AM) is the solution to that sort of dilemma, producing in hours what traditional manufacturing methods require days or weeks to produce. If your company doesn’t happen to own a 3D printer, the time required to receive a finished part or prototype increases by the distance between you and your service bureau.

Even with a couple extra days for shipping, the savings in time and cost are still plentiful using AM, but part of the appeal with the technology is its speed. Working with a local service bureau can reduce time lost on shipping, but requires finding just the right company to produce what you need.

Makexyz hopes to lubricate the process of finding a local printing partner with its online service. Think of it like Matchmaker for businesses. Service bureaus list what printers they have available, and companies in need of a part or prototype can search availability by printer and proximity. Instead of a few days to receive a finished product, you can sometimes get your order on the same day you place it.

“There’s a big benefit to just printing locally,” said Makexyz creator Nathan Tone. “Objects are half as expensive, and you get them twice as fast.”

Tone claims the services provided can cost less than half that of other companies, and help support businesses in your local community at the same time. The idea seems solid to me, and, just like Facebook, the more people that use it, the bigger it’ll grow.

Below you’ll find a video that discusses AM and its impact on manufacturing.

Source: VentureBeat